This refreshing and revitalizing juice made from apples, beets and carrots is a delicious way to start off your day or enjoy as a post-workout snack. It can be made using a juicer or a blender. Reap the health benefits that this detoxifying "miracle drink" has to offer!
No matter the time of year, I always look to start my day with a nutritious drink. Whether it be smoothies or fresh juices, I feel good knowing I'm packing in nutrients and also fueling up with energy using whole, plant-based ingredients.
Apples and carrots have often found their way into my morning beverages, but beets didn't used to make the cut. Don't get me wrong - I absolutely love beets. But for mornings, it just wasn't one of my top-of-mind ingredients.
That all changed when I was introduced to this ABC drink. Using apples, beets and carrots (along with some lemon juice and fresh ginger root), I got hooked on all the flavors going on in my mouth at the same time. The vibrant color just screams freshness and its natural sweetness blows my mind. My kids love it too!
Apples, Beets and Carrots!
The "ABC" stands for the combination of apples, beetroots and carrots, as these are the main ingredients of the this simple recipe. ABC juice is oftentimes touted as a miracle juice because it is packed with vitamins and minerals that help nourish the body in a number of ways.
Given my background in public health, of course these health benefits interest me (more on this below). However, I am actually in love with the taste of this amazing drink more than anything else! It is sweet, tart and even a little spicy all at the same time. And there really is nothing that can compare to fresh homemade juice.
Why I love Juicing
I have an entire post covering the benefits of juicing in more detail, but here are the main takeaways:
- Quick and easy way to get nutrients from a variety of produce at once
- Great for adding veggies to kids' diets without added sugar
- Hydrating and refreshing
- Perfect for using up produce that is about to go bad
One knock on juicing, however, is that it does not activate your digestive system since it removes the fiber from the fruits and vegetables. I get tons of dietary fiber, so I don't worry about removing it every now and then from the juice.
Just 5 Ingredients
I recommend using red beets rather than golden beets. Not only are red beets sweeter, but they also give this drink that unique vibrant red color!
For the apple, choose whichever type you like! I honestly switch it up depending on what I have in my fridge. Honeycrisp and Gala apples are super sweet, which my kids love given the juice has no added sugar. However, Granny Smith apples add a little more tart and work wonderfully here too. There is no wrong apple to use!
How to Make ABC Juice
This juice recipe is easy to make whether you are using a juicer or blender.
If using a juicer, just cut the produce into small enough pieces to fit through the chute!
If using a blender, blend the ingredients with water, then strain through a nut-milk bag.
Juicing Tips
- Beets can get messy, so a good idea is to start with beets in the chute with the tamper inserted BEFORE turning your machine on.
- Add ice cubes to the pitcher of your juicer for best results/flavor. I love my juice very well chilled as opposed to room temperature.
- Rinse all the parts of your juicer right away. It is SO much easier to clean it this way versus letting the pulp cake on and having to scrub later. If you do forget you can soak the parts in your sink or even throw in your dishwasher.
ABC Juice Benefits
One of the reasons this "detox drink" is so popular is due to the many benefits that people claim it provides for overall health. From claims of aiding in weight loss and digestive health, boosting immune function and energy, slowing down the aging process, lowering blood pressure, enhancing athletic performance and promoting skin health, I can understand why people are flocking to this juice combination!
And while these claims sound wonderful, there is no magic drink that by itself is going to cure everything. This drink is certainly healthy and offers many essential nutrients, but you still need to complement it with a balanced and nutritious diet.
I rely on more evidence-based research and focus on the nutritional aspects of each ingredient to determine the health benefits. Let's look at each ingredient below:
Health Benefits of Apples
Apples are full of health benefits and powerful disease-fighting nutrients in addition to tasting amazing! They keep you hydrated because of their high water content, they’re low in calories, fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free and full of fiber and immune-boosting vitamin C.
Health Benefits of Beets
Beets add a naturally sweet, earthy flavor and vibrant color to any dish. They are low in calories and known to be an excellent source of folate and a good source of potassium, vitamin C and dietary fiber. Beetroot juice was also shown to lower blood pressure in men (source).
I do want to note that there are also some side effects of beets. First, although harmless, is that consuming beets can temporarily turn your urine to a pink or even a slight reddish color. Secondly, consuming beets frequently can cause kidney stones for those prone to oxalate-containing kidney stones because they are high in oxalates.
Health Benefits of Carrots
You may have grown up hearing about the positive effects carrots have for good vision (and that's true!) but they do so much more. Carrots are low in calories and offer dietary fiber. They're high in beta-carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A. This is good for eye health but also your immune system as well as healthy skin. Go carrots!
Health Benefits of Ginger
According to the National Institutes of Health, ginger has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties for controlling the process of aging. Ginger can treat a wide range of diseases via immunonutrition and anti-inflammatory responses (source). In many countries, ginger is also used to boost the immune system. Plus, ginger is wonderfully soothing on an upset stomach and is often used to calm nausea.
ABC Juice (Apple Beetroot Carrot Juice)
- Total Time: 2
- Yield: 10 ounces
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This refreshing and revitalizing juice made from apples, beets and carrots is a delicious way to start off your day or enjoy as a post-workout snack. It can be made using a juicer or a blender. Reap the health benefits that this detoxifying "miracle juice" has to offer!
Ingredients
1 small green (or red) apple [~ 6 ounces]
1 large raw beetroot (or 3 small) [~ 8 ounces]
2 medium carrots [ ~ 5 ounces]
½ lemon [~ 3 ounces]
1-inch knob of fresh ginger root (optional)
Instructions
Using a juicer:
- Wash and dry the produce. Cut any pieces that aren't small enough to fit through the chute of your juicer. There's no need to remove any peels or skin.
- Run the apple, beetroot, carrots, ginger and lemon through the juicer on the highest setting. Sandwich the ginger between the carrots and lemon for best results.
- Enjoy immediately, or save in an airtight mason jar for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
Using a blender:
- Wash and dry the produce.
- Add the ingredients along with ½ cup of water to a high speed blender and blend until no smooth.
- Pour the juice over a nut-milk bag to catch the pulp with a bowl underneath. Squeeze and twist in both directions until all the juice is drained through. You can also use a fine mesh strainer and the back of a spoon to press the pulp into the strainer to release the liquid into the bowl.
- Enjoy immediately, or save in an airtight mason jar for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
Notes
If using a juicer, add ice to the pitcher to chill for best results and flavor. Also, feel free to leave the "froth" or "foam" that the pitcher catches while pouring into your glass behind.
This recipe yields 10 ounces of juice without the foam or pulp.
Weight measurements are to be a guide. This recipe does not have to be exact and you can adjust the ratio to your liking.
- Prep Time: 2
- Category: Juice
- Method: Juicer or Blender
Tayler says
I've been making this juice every morning and it's so good! Healthy AND it actually tastes good!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Taylor! So happy to hear you have been enjoying it daily!