Years ago, when I’d swapped to juicing or mainly juicing for some time, I discovered that for me (at least), watermelon juice was a delicious and gentle way to break up some unpleasant symptoms that I might have had during juice fasts.
Juicing: I’m Drinking Most of My Meals
I’ve been mainly juicing for the past week, and some days have been challenging. I imagine the added annoyances are tied to my autoimmune disease and Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). I’ve noticed that the itching has intensified in the early morning hours, typically between 1:00 and 3:00. However, unlike in the past, the itching usually dissipates within 30 minutes upon awakening, which is much better than it used to be when the pain was bone deep, in how it felt, and would last for hours.
Easing the autoimmune itch by choosing produce that reduces inflammation
A few of my favorite juices to help alleviate itching associated with some autoimmune diseases are cabbage, celery, and watermelon. Celery contains apigenin, which is an anti-inflammatory, which is just what the body can use to help heal from autoimmune diseases.
Watermelon is high in antioxidants, potassium, and amino acids. It makes a fabulous post-workout drink, and I would drink occasionally after my intense gym workouts. Since my garden apothecary is depleted of watermelon, I’ve been purchasing seeded watermelons from the store, juicing, and drinking the juice throughout my day. We consumed the last juice yesterday, so we must replenish our watermelon supply.
Health Benefits of Watermelon
- Research states that watermelon has more lycopene than any other fresh produce. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. Consuming it has been linked to heart disease, eye disorders, and cancer.
- High in Antioxidants
- Excellent source of vitamin C
- Excellent source of vitamin A
- 92% of watermelon is water. It’s an excellent source of hydration.
This afternoon, I added watermelon, celery, ginger, turmeric, lemon, and lime to my Nama J2 juicer. I made 256 ounces of juice, enough to last my daughter and me for a few days. My daughter loves the juices I prepare and drinks most of them, except spicy ones. The watermelon was purchased earlier today; I bought two medium-sized watermelons.
I also made a small juice batch this evening containing red cabbage, celery, carrot, ginger, turmeric, lemon, and lime. Cabbage juice can be an acquired taste; however, I’ve been juicing cabbage for several years, and it doesn’t bother me anymore. Not only is cabbage great for inflammation, but it’s also an excellent digestive aid, and I’ve read that it can help heal certain types of ulcers.
I typically drink my last liquids at least two to three hours before I plan to go to bed. I hope to sleep through the night without any wakeups due to itching.