For those prepared to put in the effort, nutritionist Yara Radwan advises making smoothies rather than juices. Smoothies include the pulp of the fruit, too, and are prepared in a blender, not a juicer.
“They’re healthier because they have more fibre, which helps to regulates blood sugar,” she says.
Radwan recommends one smoothie a day to help keep the doctor away, and suggests experimenting with vegetables, as well as fruit.
“Most people are used to having a milkshake with bananas,” she says. “They don’t realise that, in fact, many vegetables, which they might not like in their solid form, taste delicious in a smoothie.”
Smoothies, she adds, are also an ideal way to encourage children to consume more antioxidants, especially in frozen form.
“I suggest making children smoothie lollies in different colours – green, orange and red – as children are more likely to eat them if they’re brightly coloured,” she says.
Out and about
The Raw Place
With a range of 15 cold-pressed juices, 8 signature specialities, 10 smoothies and 14 powders (including unusual options such as hemp protein and bee pollen), everyone from the juice novice to the health freak is catered for. If you are feeling sniffly, try the 8oz Thyme for ginger (Dh25), which contains ginger, thyme, orange, lemon and honey.
In the capital, there are branches in WTC Mall, Al Muneera, Abu Dhabi Golf & Equestrian Club and Adnoc HQ. Its first branch in Dubai has just opened on Jumeirah Beach Road. Delivery is available with a minimum spend of Dh100 and a fee starting at Dh20. www.therawplace.com
Ordering in
Go Organic ME
As well as the Ayurvedic juices, this Dubai delivery company provides at least 20 types of juices. We like the sound of the beet-a-licious liver tonic (Dh45), which claims to nurse your liver with ginger, beet, grapefruit, apple, cucumber, lemon and orange. Monthly subscriptions are available, with prices ranging from Dh170 for four 500ml juices to Dh2,200 for 57 juices. www.goorganic.me
Choose your own
Nolus
This popular Californian-Afghani restaurant is one of few places in the UAE that offers a "pick your own ingredients" smoothie option. For Dh31, you can pick one "base" item, such as almond milk or coconut water, one "power boost", from a choice of powders, seeds or quinoa, four fruit and vegetables from a choice of 15, and one optional natural sweetener. Nolus has branches at Al Bandar and at the Galleria Mall in Abu Dhabi. www.nolusrestaurants.com
Capsules
Juice Plus+
This company provides what it calls “the next best thing to fruit and vegetables” – fruit, vegetable and berry blends of juice powders. Unlike traditional vitamin supplements, the capsules are wholefood based, and claim to pack in a wider variety of vitamins, antioxidants and phytonutrients. Soft-chew versions are available for children.
Juice Plus will be launched on Monday, January 16 at 9.30am at Carluccios at the Eastern Mangroves, Abu Dhabi.
artslife@thenational.ae