It’s a question people often ask – what different types of vegetables are used to make classic V8 Juice?
When Frank Constable created V8 Juice in 1930s Chicago, little did he know it would grow into a world-leading brand.
The product may have changed slightly over the decades, but the idea behind V8 Juice remains the same – fresh fruits and vegetables packed into a mouth-watering drink that not only tastes delicious but comes with a wide range of health benefits.
The same eight, nutritious ingredients Constable blended to make his veggie concoction are still found in every vitamin-packed carton of V8 Juice today – tomatoes, beetroot, carrots, celery, spinach, parsley, lettuce and watercress.
Not only is V8 Juice delicious to drink on its own or as a base ingredient for a Bloody Mary cocktail, but it is also extremely versatile and can be added to an assortment of recipes from stews and curries to pasta dishes and even decadent desserts.
If you are looking to introduce fantastic flavour and glorious goodness into your cooking, V8 Juice is the answer. Just one 150ml glass of V8 Juice provides one of your five-a-day.
Here we take a close look at the five different plant families each delicious vegetable in V8 Juice falls into and the health benefits they provide.
1. Apiaceae/Umbellifers: carrot, celery and parsley
These three vital V8 Juice ingredients fall under the same Apiaceae or Umbellifers category. It is the 16th largest family of mainly aromatic, flowering plants and contains more than 3,700 species.
A range of other well-known household herbs and vegetables also belong to the Apiaceae family including chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel and parsnip. However, there are a significant number of wild plants in the Umbellifers category which should be avoided, such as giant hogweed and poison hemlock, which pose a serious danger to health of both humans and animals.
The case for carrots
The humble yet versatile carrot provides a host of health benefits. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, a compound the body converts into vitamin A which is important for eyesight. The old saying that carrots can help you see in the dark may not be a myth after all! Carrots are a good source of fibre and vitamin C and may help reduce cholesterol levels. They are said to be beneficial for gut health.
Sensational celery
Celery, with its mild, slightly peppery taste, is bursting with vitamins and minerals including potassium and calcium which are important for a healthy heart. It also contains folate and vitamin K which assist with the formation of red blood cells and with blood clotting and has a low glycaemic index which may reduce blood glucose levels.
The benefits of celery don’t end there – it is a good source of fibre and it contains anti-inflammatory properties. However, celery is high in oxalates so may not be suitable for those with kidney-related problems.
Perfect parsley
Whether French curly-leaf or Italian flat-leaf, this herb packs a serious flavour punch and provides plenty of nutritional value. It was once believed to be one of the most powerful ‘disease-fighting’ plants used in the treatment of high blood pressure, allergies and inflammatory diseases in days gone by.
Parsley is rich in vitamin K which is beneficial to bone and blood health and is a good source of vitamins A and C with their antioxidant properties. It is also packed with flavonoids.
2. Amaranthus: spinach and beetroot
Amaranth is the common name for plants or shrubs from the cosmopolitan genus, Amaranthus, which contains 2,040 species. The plants are typically annuals or short-lived perennials and include the delicious V8 vegetables spinach and beetroot, while seeds such as quinoa are also edible.
Spinach for strength
This leafy, green flowering vegetable comes in three varieties: savoy, semi-savoy and smooth leaf. With its light and delicate flavour, it is a popular ingredient in both food and drink recipes including V8 Juice.
Spinach is rich in iron and is known to boost energy and strength, as famously portrayed by the cartoon character, Popeye. It also contains lutein and zeaxanthin which contain anti-inflammatory properties and are important for maintaining healthy eyesight.
On top of this, spinach contains calcium, magnesium, minerals and a bunch of vitamins and is an excellent source of vitamin K, all of which are important for maintaining healthy bones.
Beetroot for a boost
Beetroot is a genuine veggie all-rounder as the leaves are bitter while the root is sweet. It can be roasted, pickled and blended into soups or used in drinks like V8 Juice.
This low-fat vegetable is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Betacyanin – which gives beetroot its rich purple colour – has anti-inflammatory properties too. Nitrates, which have been linked to lowering blood pressure, are also present in this purple veg.
Beetroot is believed to raise energy levels and aid muscle recovery, making it a firm favourite with athletes like British multiple Paralympic gold-medallist, David Weir who drank a glass of it every day.
3. Solanaceae: tomato
This family includes a wide range of tasty favourites including tomato, aubergine, bell peppers and chilli peppers. It contains around 2,700 species and is present on all continents other than Antarctica.
Timeless tomato
The tomato is technically a fruit but is considered a vegetable in culinary circles. It’s been a common food item for thousands of years; it comes in all shapes and sizes and can be grown in greenhouses year-round.
The humble tomato is the main ingredient used in V8 Juice and is rich in potassium, which is key to a healthy diet. It is also thought to be beneficial for eye and skin health, is a good source of vitamin C and K.
4. Brassicaceae: watercress
Watercress belongs to the Brassicaceae family and is a flowering plant whose hollow stems float in water. The family contains 4,060 species including cabbage, cauliflower, kale, bok choi, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
Wonderful watercress
One of the oldest-known leaf vegetables consumed by humans, watercress has a peppery, piquant flavour like many of its relatives such as radish, mustard and wasabi. This bundle of green gorgeousness contains many vitamins in minerals and, gram-for-gram, more calcium than milk, more vitamin C than oranges and more vitamin E than broccoli.
Watercress comes with an extensive list of benefits that improve the health of your skin, eyesight, immune system, bones and digestive system. It also contains those all important nitrates.
5. Asteraceae: lettuce
The family Asteraceae contains more than 32,000 known species of flowering plant and is only rivalled by the Orchidaceae which has 26,000 species. Asteraceae are mostly herbaceous plants with the common characteristic of possessing tiny florets.
Lovable lettuce
Lettuce is so much more than a crunchy ingredient in most salads – it is great in sandwiches and soups and especially in V8 Juice. It has been farmed by humans since Egyptian times and is a highly versatile and healthy leaf vegetable.
Antioxidants like zeaxanthin and lutein give lettuce anti-inflammatory qualities. Fibre, calcium, potassium, iron and a range of other important vitamins and minerals are also present in lettuce. Despite all this goodness, lettuce also does not contain any fat or cholesterol.
V8 Juice as part of your 5-a-day
A balanced diet including plenty of fruit and vegetables is healthy and good for you. However, only 30% of UK adults consume the recommended daily amount. Just one 150ml glass of delicious V8 Juice counts as one of your five-a-day and is packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Pick up a carton from supermarkets across the UK.
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