Juices also give you your ‘five a day’ in a quick and easy method.

Many people have an odd assortment of fruits and vegetables lying

around the kitchen, and juicing lets you throw these all together.

You can experiment with all sorts of combinations: celery and

apple, cabbage and mango, broccoli and raspberry – the list is end-

less. You don’t even need any cooking skills!

Here’s a list of some fruits that should be at the top of any juicing

list:

 ✓ Pomegranates. Recently, pomegranate juice has become very

popular. Pomegranate juice is very pleasant to drink and stud-

ies confirm that unlike most food fads this one really does live

up to its hype. For starters, pomegranates are a ‘superfood’,

which means that they’re rich in antioxidants, more so than

other fruit. Pomegranate juice is great from pregnancy to

adulthood. At one end of the lifespan, expectant mothers who

drink this juice can help the baby’s brain to resist brain inju-

ries resulting from low oxygen supply. At the other end of the

lifespan, studies confirm that pomegranate juice can prevent

Alzheimer’s disease, helping people stay sharp in old age.

 ✓ Prunes. If pomegranates are the ‘trendy’ fruit, people often

think of prunes as distinctly unfashionable. Most people asso-

ciate prunes with alleviating constipation and other related

bladder conditions. But did you know that prunes are also

good for your brain? Prunes contain vitamin A, which not only

boosts your body’s defence system but also helps brain cells

repair themselves quickly.

 You can make your own prune juice by soaking 1 cup of

prunes in 5 cups of water for four hours. Remove any seeds,

puree, and enjoy.

 ✓ Be ‘grapeful’. Grape juice contains high levels of flavonoids,

which work to lower blood pressure and increase levels of

good cholesterol. Studies have found that grape juice can

improve memory and coordination. If you’re already a fan of

grape juice, make sure that you’re drinking juice made from

red or purple grapes because these are packed with brain-

boosting goodness. One study even found that grape juice

was better for your heart than cranberry or orange juice.

 ✓ Colour me blue. Blueberries are another superfood and are

rich in vitamin C and potassium (which helps bones). Clinical

trials found that 2 cups a day is enough to boost learning and

brain power. Even frozen blueberries deliver the same ben-

efits to your brain, so you can enjoy them all year long.

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