Juicing makes it easier to digest and absorb large amounts of nutrients in the body. One glass of fresh juice can give you more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than you might eat in a whole day.
Benefits to Juicing
Juicing is not the fix-all for health but is a start and a good healthy choice. It’s a way to invest in yourself and your family.
Fueling the body with naturally occurring vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and enzymes boosts one’s overall health.
The benefits of juicing are healthier skin, mental clarity, and more energy. It boosts the immune system and even helps with weight loss.
Types of Juicers
There are two main types of juicers out there, the centrifugal juicer and masticating juicer. Many different brands within these two types are available.
- Centrifugal Juicer – The centrifugal juicer sheds the produce into a pulp, then separates the pulp for the juice.
- Pros for this machine are that it works at a high speed. It makes the juicing process a lot faster. The cost for this machine is on the lower end for juicers.
- Cons for the centrifugal juicers are that the juice breaks down faster, the juice will have foam, it is loud, it doesn’t break down leafy greens well, and it is a pain to clean.
- Masticating Juicer – A masticating juicer is a cold press juicer. It grinds the produce slowly and then presses the liquid out.
- Pros for the masticating juicer are a quieter machine, the juice will last up to three days in the refrigerator, and it is easier to clean.
- Cons for this juicer are that you need to prep food more, it takes longer to press the juice, and its cost is higher than its competitor.
Tips for Juicing Success
Don’t use avocados or bananas to juice, they are too mushy and have little liquid within the fruit. You can always eat these fruits or blend them into your juice.
Don’t waste the pulp. Use it in your compost or feed it to your livestock. You can also dehydrate it to make crackers or seasoning.
Juicing FAQs
Can I Juice without a Juicer?
Yes, you can. You will need a blender, cheesecloth or strainer, and a container to catch the juice. This way may take a little longer and may not extract all the liquid out of your fruits and vegetables, but it can be done.
Simply prepare and blend your fruit in a blender, then strain it through the cheesecloth into a container. As the juice strains through, you can squeeze and press the pulp to extract as much juice as possible.
Do I Need to Drink Fresh Juice Right Away?
Drink your fresh juice soon as possible. Oxidation will begin to deteriorate the beneficial nutrients, so juicing the night before to drink the next day won’t provide the same benefits.
If you aren’t able to drink it right away, it’s still safe to consume. Fresh juice can be refrigerated for 48-72 hours or can be frozen so it does not go to waste.
