Whether you want to get a health condition under control, lose weight, or just better your well-being, juicing is an excellent choice to make. You’ll find that you not only look great, but you also FEEL great after adding this to your diet regimen. We’ve compiled some tips from other juicers that will help you get started on the road to good health.
Before juicing, find out what items you need to peel and what you can leave whole. Citrus fruits generally need to have the peel removed before juicing. Be careful however when peeling, the white area immediately underneath the peel is fine to juice and it is where MOST of the nutrients are.
When making carrot juice, make absolutely sure to get fresh, healthy carrots. Signs of old carrots are rubberiness, limpness, wilted tops, and excessive cracking. Look for carrots that have a full color, are firm to the touch, and have green, leafy tops. These carrots will produce the freshest, sweetest juice.
Juicing can be expensive- if you’re making a few wheat shots a day as well as larger fruit and vegetable juices, expect your grocery bill to pile up. One way to reduce costs is to use primarily carrots, which are very inexpensive compared to the amount of juice they produce.
Begin by using color as a guide. A bright red apple, for instance, is going to have far different nutrients than a green stalk of broccoli. Using different colored produce will give you more nutrition and different flavors.
To get more variety in taste from your juicer, mix up the varieties of fruits and vegetables you put in your juicer and the variety of flavors will grow significantly. Try mixing orange, banana and pineapple for a tasty tropical treat or mix grape and cranberry for more antioxidants. These home made juices are healthier and easier to make then those sugar-filled, store bought juices.
Research the nutrients you need to be taking in to choose which vegetables, fruit, and plants you should be consuming. You don’t have to have every single one every single day, instead spread your nutrient consumption out over a week. For example, if you need beta carotene you can have carrots every other day.
Juicing is a lifestyle you dedicate yourself to, and you will notice if you miss a day. If something comes up and you’re not able to buy some fresh produce for your juice, you should have something on hand that you can use instead. You can keep some items in the freezer just in case, or even freeze some juice to tide you over.
The best place to find the freshest produce for juicing at great prices is at a local farmer’s market. Often, they are held once a week during the summer and fall months, and you’ll find everything sold on a farm, including meat, eggs, dairy, baked goods, canned goods, and TONS of fresh fruit and vegetables!
If you find pulp getting into your juice, you can use a coffee filter to remove it. You might not enjoy the consistent pulp some juices make. Just pour juice into a coffee filter to strain. Cheesecloth also works very well for this task.
Storing the fresh juice in a refrigerator is a really good idea, but keep in mind the juice will change colors. The juice will start out with a really bright color then change to brown or grey, something that is not really appealing to the eye. One thing that can help prolong the juice is to put some fresh lemon juice in the mixture. Since it is only a small amount, the lemon flavor will not overpower your juice, but it will help keep it fresh looking.
Substitute meals on occasion with your juicing. There are multiple servings of fruit and vegetables going into your mix and this can equate to a very healthy meal. Occasionally substituting a juice blend for a meal will reduce the amount of nontraditional ingredients you are consuming from processed foods and you will get more than enough nutrition.
Fats are still important while juicing. Nuts and seeds contain not only necessary fats but proteins as well. Blending nuts and seeds with your juices will give the juice extra protein, necessary amino acids which help the immune system and the brain and the good types of fat your body needs.
When looking for a juicer to purchase, check out the additional features it provides. A masticating juicer often comes with attachments to make pasta or grind foods, which can save you money by making other foods from scratch as well. Consider the juicer an investment for your whole kitchen, and pick up a few attachments while you’re out.
Start juicing! People begin juicing – adding freshly juiced fruits and vegetables to their diet – for a vast range of reasons. Some people juice to supplement their diet or detoxify their bodies. Some people are doing it for other health reasons. Juicing in and of itself will not cure ailments – yet you will benefit from juicing – with extra nutrients and more energy!
Did you know that vegetable juice helps to keep blood sugar levels from spiking? It’s true! It doesn’t have a lot of sugar, and half as many calories as fruit juice. It also helps you feel full for a long time, curbing any snacking cravings you might have. Try a mix of carrot and parsley to end any temptations!
Which fruit and vegetables you use, what additives you choose, and even when you want to drink your juice are all variables that are up to you. We hope that the advice above will help you make sound decisions which lead to a happy juicing system for you, and better health for your entire family.
