Dear LPG,

I recently remembered my smoothie maker and decided to give it another go.  I bought it about two years ago and tried it for a short while, but having rediscovered it at the back of a cupboard recently; I thought it might be a good idea to get on the smoothie bandwagon again.  Sometimes, even though it is winter,  I don’t feel like a fully-fledged breakfast, lunch or dinner and the whole point of getting the thing in the first place was because  a healthy drink can sometimes  be a good substitute.   The juicer came with an interesting booklet which I revisited, but I also took a look on line and found some information there which I would like to share with LPG readers.  Here are some of the facts that I came across.

It can sometimes be difficult for some of us to chew and swallow some foods. Some of the most common causes of these problems are tooth decay, broken and missing teeth, poorly fitting dentures, dry mouth, or fractured jaw. What it happens, smoothies and juices can be the answer to guarantee that we get the right level of vitamins and other nutrients in our diets. What is more: some fruits and natural drinks made of them can be good for some specific illnesses. Here you can find some examples:

• A juice naturally made of grapes, blackcurrants and apple provides a lot of vitamins E and C, which are the most efficient vitamins for “fighting” against aging. Well, we cannot avoid getting older, but we might age a bit more slowly.
• Juice carrots, cabbage leaves and cucumber to make a drink to restore iron levels related to anaemia.
• Juices made of carrots, garlic and parsley have anti-oxidant and anti-viral properties.
• Make a smoothie of plain yoghurt, pineapple and a bit of water that will help you restore good bacteria in the gut, which can be especially helpful after diarrhea.
• A cranberry and watermelon juice can help with urinary infections.
• Melon juice is diuretic and contains magnesium and potassium, which is good for a balanced hormonal system. It you juice it with apple and broccoli, you’ll get some anti-cancer nutrients too.
• Leeks have amazing anti-inflammatory properties, so juicing it with carrot and parsley can be helpful for joint pain.
• If you juice blackcurrants with spinach (which is full of potassium and it helps control blood pressure) you will get a drink that might be good for your heart and circulation.
• Are you constipated? The juice tomatoes, spinach, and carrots.

These are just a few suggestions and, of course, a juice or a smoothie cannot replace clinical treatment. As always, just ask your doctor if you have any questions.

I have tried some of them and although they have somewhat interesting tastes they are surprisingly palatable.

   OY, Blythe Hill