The health benefits of juicing are resounding to say the least. Though many of you may be considering juicing, it can be overwhelming for those that are just beginning the process. From initial purchase to methods and cleaning, this article will provide you with tips and advice you need to get started in the world of juicing.
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.
If you are diabetes or otherwise sensitive to sugar in your diet, be careful with juicing. Many fruit juices will be very high in sugar, resulting in a spike in your blood sugar levels, especially if you drink juice on an empty stomach. Try diluting your juices with water to reduce this issue.
Store your home made juice in a nontransparent, air-tight container with no extra space for air. To prevent extra air from ruining your juice, add filtered water to the top of the container, or use a food saver to remove the extra air. Fresh juice can be stored up to 24 hours.
Use cucumber as a great flavor disguiser when you are juicing greens. Cucumber is excellent at masking the strong flavors inherent in greens. A juice’s health benefits aren’t going to do you much good if you can’t stand to drink it. Cucumber also has the extra added benefit of being chockfull of important vitamins and nutrients itself.
Mix leafy green vegetables with something sweet. Leafy vegetables have a strong taste and may be too much for you to start with, on their own. Luckily, juicing is a great chance to mix your foods; so temper that strong vegetable taste with something sweeter like apples or carrots. Plain water might work as well.
Keep a fresh stock of cut and washed fruits and vegetables on hand at all times. If you have to run to the store every time you want to make juice, you’ll never use that juicer. By having the fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to use, you will make juicing quick and convenient.
Be aware that citrus fruits do not always work well in all juicers. Because of the consistency of the pulp in the fruit the juicer can get clogged with the pulp or rind. If using a standard juicer, peel the fruit and cut into small pieces; otherwise get a citrus juicer that you will use for these types of fruit specifically.
You don’t have to buy a fancy juicer to start juicing, you can use a blender or food processor just to get the hang of it. In fact, a food processor can do just as good a job as a juicer! I also picked up an inexpensive citrus juicer, though, as I found doing it manually hurt my hands.
Know where your vegetables grow to decrease sugar content. Vegetables that grow underground such as carrots or beets, will contain a higher level of natural sugars than above ground veggies. While natural sugars are good for you, they must be taken in moderation like anything else. Keep a proper blend of upper and lower-ground vegetables to prevent overdoing the sugars.
When juicing for your health you should drink the juice as soon as it’s made. Refrigerating the juice or leaving it on the counter will allow it to lose nutrients as they break down within the juice. Drinking it immediately will be just like eating all those fresh ingredients whole!
When coming up with a combination of fruit and vegetables to juice, consider their textures to make a smooth, drinkable product. For example, soft fruits like bananas and peaches make a very thick juice. Apples and pears, on the other hand, make a very thin, watery juice. Mix the two items together to make the most enjoyable texture to drink!
When it comes to juicing, one thing that you want to keep in mind is the fact that the type of juicer that you will want to avoid are the centrifugal juicers. Usually these are cheaper but end up either not being able to extract certain juices or not being able to retain nutrients from other ingredients.
If you can’t find organic produce to use in your juices, make sure that you peel your fruits and vegetables before juicing them. Most of the pesticides on conventionally grown produce is on the skin, and washing isn’t enough to remove all of the residue. Peeling will eliminate the bulk of these contaminants from your food.
Drink your juice as soon as you make it! If you store your fresh juice in the refrigerator, some of the nutrients will dissipate, so it’s important to drink it right away. The longer you put off drinking it, the less nutrition your body will receive. So, make sure you try your best to drink your juice as soon as you make it.
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.
You know juicing is tasty and healthy but you also need to know how to take care of your machine. Always clean the juicer immediately using it so particles do not get hard. Take the machine apart as instructed and rinse completely or put in your dishwasher. Clean the screen with a vegetable brush.
There are numerous benefits to juicing. Not only do you get the nutrition your body needs, but by juicing your own produce, you are completely in control of the ingredients you decide to ingest. By following the tips and advice in this article, you will be on your way to a healthier and more active life.