Homemade V8 Plus Juice, nourishing and healthy serving of your favorite veggies in one delicious glass full! Along with 8 delicious wholesome veggies, this juice has fresh herbs and an apple to make it a V8 Plus juice.
Vegetable juice is probably the best way to have required serving of veggies for whole day, right at the start of day! With homemade version you can control the amount of salt and sugar. I don't add sugar in juices/smoothies. The natural sweetness of apple and tiny bit salt balances the acidity of tomatoes and makes this juice enjoyable for everyone - kids, adults or grands!
A raw diet is beautiful way to replenish your body with antioxidants, vitamins and lots of minerals in it's purest form. If I start sharing with your benefits of eating raw vegetables and fruits.. possibly this post will be longest post I will ever write. But, today, I'm here to share a homemade healthier V8 Juice recipe which is low-sodium, adjustable to your taste, and far more healthier.
First, confession time! I love V8 juices, specially vegetables and tomato juice. Even though the base ingredients in V8 series of juices i.e. tomato is made from concentrate but they taste really good. Almost like a chilled gazpacho! Actually, I may not enjoy a bottled orange juice as much as I will a bottled V8 tomato juice. I don't say orange juice is bad.. It is just my palate that likes everything savory. :)
V8 Juice Plus is my homemade version of V8 Juice that has that savory tomato-y flavor but far less sodium and really nothing from concentrate. Honestly, homemade version of V8 does need a 10 minutes effort to pick veggies from refrigerator, slice, juice and strain (if preferred)... but it's taste and healthy benefits are far more superior.
Why V8 Plus?
I call it V8 Plus for two reasons. One because I add a small bunch of herbs in juice such as parsley and basil. Original V8 juice recipe may not call for herbs but when I'm juicing a healthy concoction.. I like to keep benefits of herbs in mind.
Second reason for V8 Plus is an apple. I mean, a fruit in all vegetable juice.
Why Apple?
Well, because - an Apple a day keeps doctor away! Also, because sweetness of apple balances the acidity of lime and tomatoes which helps me keep this juice low-sodium. You know, salt balances the sour ingredients. Less sour means less salt needed.
The lush red color of original V8 juice is mainly because of tomatoes juice from concentrate. The homemade fresh vegetable juice cannot have that same color. Just so you know, I have used one pound tomatoes in 4 cups of juice. And still there was no deep dark red color anywhere. Only two things I can suggest if you are after thick slurp-y red tomato-y color juice is a) to skip all green veggies b) to not strain the juice.
Where option (a) is not my favorite, so my homemade version of V8 is rather orange in color. Option (b) is totally okay for thick juice. I usually don't strain it.. But for pictures, a glass of juice with sediments was very difficult to shoot. So,I did strain it.
Friends, summers are so hot this year. When you feel like open can of soda... opt for a healthier juice! If it can be homemade.. that is even better! Just so you know, this glass of veggie juice is paleo, gluten free, vegan, and also low sodium.
Please don't underestimate the power of a homemade juice. Since it is healthy, it does not mean it is boring! In-fact it is more versatile than you think. Like,
a) add some Worcestershire (not vegan) in it for Virgin Bloody Marry!
b) Add any leftover juice in a soup to enhance it's flavor.
c) Or add some sugar and freeze ice pops for a savory summer surprise!
I was all cozy with summer tomatoes from past few days! So a tomato juice with big punch of raw vegetable nutrients was must to hit the blog! I hope you will enjoy this V8 Juice Plus version as much as my family enjoyed it!
So, friends, hunt veggies from refrigerator and juice one V8 today!Don't worry if you have different veggies or not all 9 ingredients. It is totally okay to try a variation! Now, this makes me ask you, what is your favorite one-glass wonder for breakfast?! Love to hear some ideas!!
Wish a you happy week ahead!
Cheers! -Savita
FAQs
An occasional V8 is fine for most people, but you should still focus on having a variety of whole vegetables in your diet. A better bet would be to blend up some vegetables yourself at home. Or, even better, eat your vegetables and drink a glass of water instead.
Which V8 is actually healthy for you? ›
With a short and mostly recognizable ingredient list, V8 juice is a healthy option, says Crumble Smith, but it doesn't come anywhere close to eating real whole fruits and vegetables. “Unless you're getting the low sodium (V8), there's a ton of sodium in that,” Crumble Smith says.
What are the 8 ingredients in V8 juice? ›
Carrots, celery, beets, parsley, lettuce, watercress and spinach juice are blended to create our unique flavor. These vegetables are grown mostly in the U.S. and then driven to our processing facility in Napoleon, Ohio where they are washed, pureed, and concentrated.
Can drinking too much V8 be unhealthy? ›
Too Much Sodium
If you drink a serving of V8 in place of your regular three meals, that's 1,950 milligrams of sodium. Too much sodium raises your blood pressure, which can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. The low-sodium version, with 140 milligrams of sodium per serving, is a better option.
What is the healthiest juice to drink? ›
What is the healthiest juice? If you're looking to maximize health benefits and minimize downsides, Sharp recommends going for a vegetable-based juice or a juice or smoothie with the fruit's fibers still in tact, such as orange juice with pulp.
Is V8 good for your heart? ›
What's New and Important? The antioxidant lycopene found in V8 100% vegetable juice affects inflammation as measured by CRP levels in a sample of female patients with heart failure. Lycopene is a natural phytochemical found in fruits and vegetables.
Does V8 raise blood sugar? ›
Simple carbs, found in sodas and fruit juices, cause a blood sugar spike that peters out soon after consumption, resulting in a short-lived energy boost. V8 juice is also substantially lower in sugar compared to soda and fruit juice, making it the optimal choice if you are trying to limit sugar intake.
What are the side effects of V8 juice? ›
Acidity May Cause Heartburn
As such, some V8 drinks might stimulate heartburn, caused by reflux in which stomach contents escape into the esophagus. People with long-term reflux — gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — might be particularly susceptible to this effect.
Is V8 juice good for high blood pressure? ›
The participants in the study with borderline high blood pressure who drank one to two servings of V8 juice lowered their blood pressure significantly.
Is it good to drink V8 juice everyday? ›
Any 100 percent vegetable juice counts toward a person's daily recommended vegetable intake. However, due to the importance of fiber, many nutritionists recommend eating whole vegetables and fruits. V8 may also contribute to a person's salt intake.
Gather the ingredients. Process tomatoes, onion, 3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon celery, carrot, beet, green bell pepper, and garlic through a juicer. Stir together vegetable juices, water, lemon juice, 1 1/4 teaspoons sugar, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper in a large pot.
Which is healthier tomato juice or V8? ›
The V8 juice is a better source of vitamins A and C, while the tomato juice is a better source of potassium and iron. A 1-cup serving of V8 juice contains 72 mg of vitamin C, 2,000 IU of vitamin A, 0.73 mg of iron and 469 mg of potassium.
Is it healthy to drink V8 vegetable juice everyday? ›
Any 100 percent vegetable juice counts toward a person's daily recommended vegetable intake. However, due to the importance of fiber, many nutritionists recommend eating whole vegetables and fruits. V8 may also contribute to a person's salt intake.
Is it OK to drink V8 energy everyday? ›
V8 Sparkling Energy drinks, like many other energy drinks, typically contain caffeine and other ingredients like vitamins and natural flavors. Consuming them in moderation may be fine for most people, but drinking them every day in excess can potentially lead to health issues.
Is V8 better for you than orange juice? ›
Simple carbs, found in sodas and fruit juices, cause a blood sugar spike that peters out soon after consumption, resulting in a short-lived energy boost. V8 juice is also substantially lower in sugar compared to soda and fruit juice, making it the optimal choice if you are trying to limit sugar intake.
