So many great athletes and age defying gurus have been proponents of juicing for optimum health and fitness. If you are looking to add this kind of regimen into your daily life, check out the rest of this article. It is full of tips, advice and information on juicing and how you can do it yourself.
Make sure you drink your juice as soon as you make it, or at least as soon as you can. Fresh-squeezed juice will start to lose some of its nutritional value as soon as you make it. The best way to get all the nutrients from your juice is to drink it immediately, rather than saving it for a later meal.
Don’t forget to wash your produce prior to juicing, and use organic products where possible. So many people seem to think that since it’s going to turn into juice, they don’t need to wash their fruits and veggies. Just because it’s liquid, doesn’t mean the chemicals present on the peels are going to go away. Clean your fruits and vegetables thoroughly before juicing.
As soon as you are done making your juice, thoroughly wash your juicer. Juice from certain vegetables and fruits can also leave stains on the juicer.
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!
Some items just aren’t made for the juicer, especially if they’re soft and mushy. For example, you’ll never be able to make a juice that is mostly banana, but you CAN put a half of a banana in a juice made with other firmer produce. Peaches tend to give the same result.
It’s best to remove the stems and leaves from fruit and vegetables before you juice them. Some items, like beat tops, can be left in if you so desire. Do some research to find out which leaves are edible, or worth eating nutrition-wise, and which to throw away. Stems could cause damage to your machine, so throw them away regardless of nutritional value.
If you have any questions about juicing you can always ask online. There are many juicing groups and forums available and their members will typically have the answer, or at least know how to find it. Draw on their collective years of experience to make your experience a positive one!
To get the most out of your new juicer be open to trying fruit and vegetable combinations that you would not normally consider. Start out with basic juices, such as carrot or cucumber, but then get creative. Experiment with different vegetables and fruits. You can even use fresh herbs.
When figuring out your recipes and buying produce at the market, remember that approximately one pound of vegetables and fruit will lead to one cup of juice. Softer fruits will yield about as much juice as is equal to their weight as they won’t lose much pulp, while harder vegetables will produce a lot of pulp and produce less juice.
Make sure you drink your juices as soon as you make them. Time is important for juicing because the valuable nutrients will become oxidized when exposed to the air. So you always want to drink your juices quickly. If, for some reason you can’t, then try to store the juice in an air-tight container to minimize oxidation.
One of the best juicers that you can use in order to have high quality juice are masticating juicers. These juicers operate on a more gentle process and therefore preserve the juice’s valuable nutrients. Another advantage of using this kind of juicer is that it enables you to store the juice for a much longer period of time.
In regards to juicing, it is important to consider the fact that juices can actually work to prevent cancer in your body. The benefit from this is obvious and it does so through the maintenance of proper pH levels. Many types of produce also work to rid the body of toxins.
When you’re creating juices for healthy benefits, you should use at least half or two-thirds dark green vegetables, like kale, chard, broccoli, or parsley. Also use herbs juices including mint, rosemary, and basil. Look for dessert recipes online to see great fruit and herb combinations you might like!
The best place to get your herbs, vegetables, and fruit is from your garden. Planting and tending to them will also give you exercise! If you live in an apartment or condo, grow some plants on your balcony. If you don’t have a balcony you can find local co-op gardens which will permit you to take some of their produce in return for pitching in and working for a few hours a week.
If you have an injury to a muscle, add more protein and ginger to your juices. Don’t over do it, though, and make sure to follow the instructions that come with your powder. Protein is the tool used by your body to rebuild damaged muscle, and ginger is a great anti-inflammatory.
Dark leafy greens will stay fresher if they are stored in a sealed, zippered bag. Wash the greens first and make sure they are thoroughly dry before sealing them in the bags.
Doing a meal plan every week can save you tons of money on your juicing needs. For example, if you plan to use broccoli every day in juices and in meals, you can buy more of it, especially if it’s on sale this week! In fact, check flyers and include sales items as often as possible for the biggest budget savings. Many stores have them online for ease of use.
Adding juicing to your life will make a dramatic impact. You will feel healthier, younger and more fit than you can remember. Just by following the advice that you read here will get you off to a great start towards a lifetime of happy juicing and the benefits that come with it.
