Whether you’re attempting to fit your five fruit and vegetables into your daily diet, or maybe your healthy kick downfall is snacking on chocolate, homemade juices and smoothies can be an easy way of staying full without piling on the pounds. Making your own juice recipe isn't hard as long as you have a decent juicer and fresh fruit and vegetables. With added benefits of fresh vitamins and minerals, we’re going look at a new recipe each week to help you stay fighting fit. This week… Dragonblood Juice… Which aims to help increase energy levels and reduce inflammation Ingredients:

• 4 leaves (92g) of red cabbage
• ½ Lemon with rind
• 2 medium (356g) pears

Method:

1. Chop the lemon and pears into chunks, leaving the skin on. Put into blender or juicer.
2. Add red cabbage to the mix.
3. Turn on blender and blitz. Add water if consistency is too thick for your taste.

Health Benefits: As well as being packed with anti-oxidants that help cleanse the liver, pears are rich in fructose and glucose, which helps give you a quick and natural boost of energy. Pear juice can also help reduce inflammation on the joints. Drinking lemon juice can also help control high blood pressure, dizziness and nausea. The vitamin C kick is also beneficial to those with respiratory problems while aiding digestion and constipation. This juice is great for improving energy levels, and cleanses the liver – perfect if you’re overcoming a weekend hangover.