I first started juicing about 4 years ago...but it was just for pleasure..meaning: I only wanted to make juice for fun, not for any health reasons.
I bought my Jack O Lane juicer from Target ($99) and went to town on it once every blue moon. Now I've learned that juicing is vital to optimal nutrition.
These days there are countless juicers and recipes on the market to suit any budget and taste.
There are two different types of juicers in our home.
- Centrifugal juicer - Jack O Lane (~$99) - spins the fruit/veggie around a spinning screened cone with a blade at the bottom.
- Masticating juicer - Omega ($350) - squeezes the fruit/veggie through a press/screw apparatus. This juicer is good for wheat grass and other herbs.
| Jack O Lane Juicer |
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| Omega - Masticating Juicer |
| Fresh Juice!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Caleb using the masticating juicer (Omega) for parsley |
Why is juicing helpful to our bodies?
- Juicing makes nutrients easy to use by the body.
- It gives our liver a break from having to digest all the wonderful cup cakes we eat.
- It's a good way to cleanse.
When you make fresh juice (vegetable or fruit) you want to drink it ASAP. Fresh juice has living enzymes that aide in digestion and the available vitamins are susceptible to oxidation. No heat treatment...no processing...nutrients are just waiting to be absorbed into your body! You can't beat it. Once you start making your own juice, the processed juice from the store will not compare in taste and benefit! Note that masticated juice can last up to 24 hours in an airtight container.
| Drink fresh juice ASAP...straws take it down faster! :) |
A draw back to juicing is the waste that is generated from the fiber/pulp left over. You should use it for soups, salads, smoothies or compost it. I've tried to use the waste from juicing to make soup....it was a disaster. I could not get the right flavor profile or consistency I was looking for....so now..to the compost heap it goes! Oh..and the clean up can last longer than actually making the juice....
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| Veggie pulp |
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| Compost heap at a farm |
But remember it's back to the basics...it takes time and effort to get positive results the NATURAL way.
If you're new to juicing take it slow. Start off with drinking fresh juice 2-3 times a week and see how you fare. If you feel like you want to do a juice fast then your intake will increase. Some recommend not mixing fruit and veggies but personally I've never had any adverse reaction to doing that.
You should start with single or few ingredients. Carrot is always a good juice to start on.
| Juice |
I found an awesome recipe on the Science of Herbalism's FB page called: 'Sweet Potato Blast' - first time juicing a sweet potato and it was scrumptious! Very sweet!
- 1 sweet potato (I left the peeling on for more fiber)
- 4 carrots
- 2 apples
- 1 thumb sized piece of ginger
- 1 lemon (peeled)
Happy Juicing!!! Let me know about your juicing experience!
Peace and blessings!
This is good stuff. I go through my spurts where I juice here and there. I have the Jack La Lane juicer, which is a toy compared to my sister's Breville. It has speed adjustment and is much more powerful. I hope to get that soon. As for the pulp, I've always wondered what to do with it. I vaguely remember my parents making patties out them. I need composting 101...and a garden...ahhh aspirations:-D. That should be your next blog, especially for those living in colder regions. Even though my parents compost, they live in central Fl....not the same setup for a new Yorker.
ReplyDeleteHi Wazt - thanks for your feedback! I live in the NY area too so I'm with you on the need for a urban composting method. My goal is to do a better job composting this summer when the weather finally breaks. We've been collecting compost all winter and and dumping it in the back yard a few times when the weather briefly warmed up. I will do a post on composting. My parents have a farm in the south and are composting experts. Patties? That's a good idea! Add some nuts or mushrooms and that may work! I'll also look into the Breville.
DeleteHey guys! If you don't have a juicer you can start out making smoothies in a blender. Still start with simple recipes like: strawberry, bannana and apple juice with chia seeds. Then grow from there. FYI...spinach is one of the most bland green veggetable you can find. You can add it to any smoothie and can barely taste it...but you will STILL get all the benefit of it. Happy soothie/juice making!! :)
ReplyDeleteI will let you know how the 'Sweet Potato Blast' is! I can't wait to try. And yes I will stay clear of cupcake juicing. :p
ReplyDeleteLOL! Please let me know how it goes...I loved the SP Blast! Careful on the ginger though. If you add too much it could be polarizing.
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