Circulation boosting zinger juice

Improve your circulation and put a spring in your step with resident GMTV nutritionist Amanda Hamilton's warming juice recipe

In traditional Chinese medicine it is understood that staying warm as the temperature drops is vital. But there is more to staying warm than a cashmere hat and scarf.

Inner warmth requires spices and foods full of hot 'yang' energy to heat up the body from the inside. In Chinese medicine, foods that promote sweating to dispel cold are recommended such as onions, ginger and chilli.

If you are forever on the go add some warming ginger to a fresh juice to get all the benefits without taking too much time. Alternatively, pick up some fresh ginger root and make a ginger infusion with some honey or maple syrup to sweeten. It will do more for boosting your inner fire than a milky cappuccino.

As far as the nutritionist's larder goes the perfect partner for ginger is the humble carrot. Carrots contain large quantities of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene which helps with eyesight and provides a good base to mix in and experiment with other flavours, especially ginger. To absorb more of the beta carotene try juicing to release more of the nutrients which are trapped in the fibre.

Carrot and ginger zinger

Ingredients:

1/4 inch piece of ginger

1 apple

4 carrots

Cut the ginger (you can leave the skin on). Core the apples. Slice off the tips of the carrots and put through juice extractor.

Amanda Hamilton is resident GMTV nutritionist and also presents BBC2's 'Something for the Weekend' every Sunday. Away from TV, she runs a selection of exclusive detox retreats in the UK and Europe and is launching Baby Too! Bootcamp in January 2010. For more information visit www.amanda-hamilton.co.uk