ABC Juice (Apple Beetroot Carrot Juice)

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 a smoothie or juice, 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!

What is ABC Juice?

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.

Juicing

My three kids are very much into homemade juice these days and I am all about it. Juicing is a fun and delicious way to get a quick nutrient boost. They love to pick their favorite fruit and vegetable combinations. And while they tend to choose all fruit, I can usually convince them to sneak a veggie or two in. This apple beetroot carrot juice is no different!

I am generally more of a smoothie person, but every now and then I love to add fresh juices to my diet. As part of a balanced diet, they are a wonderful way to increase your nutrient intake efficiently in an enjoyable way.

My kids get so excited when they hear the juicer going! They love pushing produce through and watching the vibrant, colorful juice come out. It is a really fun way to introduce fruits and veggies that they normally might have been more hesitant to try!

Reasons to Juice

I have an entire post covering the benefits of juicing in more detail, but the main takeaways are:

• 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.

I recommend using red beets rather than golden beets for ABC juice. Not only are red beets sweeter than golden beets, 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!

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.
• I personally do not like the "froth" or "foam" and usually leave that behind in the pitcher (the pitcher catches it automatically as you pour it into your glass).
• 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.

How to Select and Store Beets

Beets are available year-round. Choose beets that are round, firm and smooth with non-wilted leaves. For red beets you want to look for a deep red color on the exterior.  Smaller beets are generally more tender.

Beets last a long time when stored properly. To store beets, first remove the beet leaves and leave one inch of the stem intact. You can save the beet leaves and use them raw or cooked. Store the actual beet root in a bag in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Scrub and wash well before using the beets in any recipe.

More Beet Recipes

Have more beets you are looking to use up? Try these recipes:

Smoothies: Enjoy beets in a creamy pitaya beet smoothie or beets & greens detox smoothie.

Snacks/sides: Mix up your hummus game with a beet hummus like no other or pair an entrée with a side of vegan beet tzatziki salad.

Pasta: Impress your friends with a beautiful vegan pink pasta which uses beets and cashews for the sauce.

Print

• Apple
• Lemon
• Valentine's Day
• Gluten-Free
• Nut-Free
• Paleo
• Refined Sugar-Free
• Vegan
• Blender
• Easy
• Kid-Friendly
• Quick