As concerns about health and nutrition continue to rise, so has the custom of making fresh-squeezed juice at home. Juicing offers a convenient and healthy way to lose weight, stay fit and avoid artificial additives and preservatives. Homemade juices can include both fruits and vegetables. From apples and oranges to tomatoes and celery, the following article provides you with all the information you need on juicers, juicing and juices.
Reuse the pulp from your vegetable juices to cut down on waste. You can use vegetable pulp as a base for soups and stews, to add flavor and texture. In addition, the pulp can be used as the base for a compost, which you can then use in your garden to grow even more fresh vegetables.
To eliminate the pulp from your home made juice, use a cheesecloth or coffee filter to strain the pulp out. If you choose to remove the pulp from your juice remember that you are also removing many vitamins and minerals. For the healthiest juice, drink it with pulp and all.
The best kind of juicer to buy is one that will masticate the juice. This will allow you receive more of the natural vitamins, as well as let you store the juice for longer periods of time with out ruining anything. These types of juicers will basically “chew” the food till it is in juice form.
Find support in a friend, family member, or co-worker for the changes in your life pertaining to your health, including juicing. Having to tell them that you haven’t been juicing will embarrass you after all the great things you said about how it will change your life, leading you to get back on track.
When juicing and learning how to do it, do not start with dark green vegetables from the get go. Gradually introduce vegetables such as kale, mustard greens, swiss chard, wheat grass and dandelion greens. Only use 1/4 cup of any of these dark green vegetables at one time, as they are extremely powerful and have a cleansing effect on the body.
Ask your friends and family if they’d like to go in on purchases in bulk at local farms with you so you can buy more and get larger discounts. Apple farms, for example, will sell you bushel after bushel for decreasing costs per pound. Take a few cars up, load the back with apples, and share with everyone! They don’t have to be juicers to enjoy fresh produce.
When juicing, it’s very important to drink the juice as soon as possible while it is fresh. This will ensure that you are receiving the maximum benefits. Some nutrients begin to be destroyed right away through oxidation. If drinking immediately is impossible, store the juice in an airtight container and drink within 24 hours.
Are you gluten intolerant? Anyone with celiac disease will love juicing as it’s a healthy way to have a treat in your diet. You can even include wheatgrass and it’s nutritional benefits as gluten is only found in the seed of the plant, not the stem or grass leaves. Enjoy!
When you have been diagnosed with diabetes or hypoglycemia, consult with your doctor before you start juicing fruits. Blood sugar levels can rise rapidly from the drinking of fruit juice. Keep track of what goes into your juices to make sure you are not exceeding your daily nutritional needs. Vegetables can supply you with the nutrients you need without causing undue risk.
A single cup of juice will be equivalent to a much larger amount of actual vegetables or fruit, meaning one cup of juice can also be equal to make more servings on the food pyramid. For example, a single cup of carrot juice is equivalent to four cups of diced carrot!
Keep your juicing regime simple. If you make it too complicated you’ll be less likely to stick with it. Instead of using elaborate juicing recipes with several different types of produce, just stick with 2 or 3 vegetables. Apples blend nicely with many different vegetables and lend a bit of sweetness too.
A great juicing tip that can help you save time is to start eyeballing the amount of foods you’ll need to make the amount of juice you want. A pound of raw produce for instance, will typically make at least one whole cup of juice. Knowing these tricks can help you save time.
In regards to juicing, you may wish to consider the potential benefits of using organic produce. This is important to consider because organic produce will contain little to none of the pesticides that are used on regular produce and they may also contain more powerful nutrients due to the soils that they are grown in.
Make sure you invest in the right juicer! Consider factors such as your budget, the features you are looking for, how often it will be used and how many people will use it to find the perfect juicer for your home. Choose a durable model that does not generate too much heat!
Do not make the same juice blend every day. You have a juicer, so get creative. You will gain the best benefits from drinking different fruits and vegetables every day, not drinking many in the same juice. Trying different juices everyday is more exciting and allows you to get creative.
Homemade fruit juices, vegetable juices and mixed juices are nutritious, delicious and, best of all, completely natural. Juicing gives you the freedom to make your own unique blends, as well as all of your family’s traditional favorites. As the above article has illustrated, juicing is limited only by your imagination. Bottom’s up!
