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.
Try to use locally-grown fruits and vegetables in your juicing. The best option is to use produce that you’ve grown yourself. Every mile that a piece of fruit needs to be transported to get to you increases the carbon footprint of your glass of juice. It also increases the chance of your produce becoming contaminated with bacteria or chemicals.
If you are adding juices to your diet for health purposes, focus on adding green vegetables to your recipes. Use the juice from vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli or Swiss chard, for about fifty to seventy-five percent of your drink to give the boost of nutrition. The other 25-50% should be made up of your favorite fruits in order to better the taste.
When you start making your own juices, try adding a vegetable in the mix that you tend to avoid. Vegetables that you do not like alone might end up tasting great to you when mixed in a juice with other flavors. This is a great way to get nutrients you otherwise wouldn’t.
Sometimes we all get sick, even the healthiest of us! Maybe it’s not an illness that is holding you back, but instead you’ve injured yourself, and you just can’t get out of the house. Juicing does not have to be forgotten! Use whatever you happen to have in the house, or ask a neighbor if they have some items you could use.
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.
There are a million-and-one recipes of items to include in your juicer. You can try a combination like apple with carrot and ginger, or celery and pear. My favorites are apple with lemon and pear, apple with cinnamon and honey, and, my daughter’s favorite, banana with mango and orange. Try new ideas to find your own favorites!
It’s just as important to consume a rainbow of different fruits and vegetables in your juicing endeavors as it is in your daily meals. Make sure to use a wide variety of produce so that you can be sure you’re getting all the vitamins and nutrients that you need every single day.
Not only will you save money by juicing and not having to buy expensive juices at the store, but you’ll also be able to reduce your vitamin and supplement intake. Being healthy will also mean you’ll take less prescription drugs, saving you even more money just by keeping in good shape!
When it comes to juicing, one thing that you want to keep in mind is the fact that you may wish to invest in an expensive set of knives. This can be very beneficial because with nicer tools, your juicing experience will become that much easier to do and you will find that you are much more efficient.
Don’t juice fruits that don’t have a higher water content, such as bananas and avocados. They’ll do better in a blender. In a juicer, they will just cause friction and interfere with the juicing of the other fruits that you put in. You don’t want to break your juicer, in the process.
In regards to juicing, it is important to consider the benefits that coconut can provide to your juice. Coconut is a natural way to enhance the sweetness and overall flavor of your juice. Even if you do not care for the taste of coconut, you can try adding small amounts to give you good results.
Jerusalem artichokes are an excellent addition to the juice you make as they will kill any craving your sweet tooth throws at you! They aren’t the most flavorful food, though, so add other items like lemon juice and carrot to make a drink that you’ll enjoy and will keep you healthy.
Ready to juice – don’t for the sugar cane! Juice from sugar cane can help with building a healthy immune system, in addition to, soothing the stomach. Although sugar cane is not a typical item that most people choose to buy, it is a good one to juice!
When buying a juicer, get one that is easy to clean. If it’s too much trouble to clean it out after using it every day, you’ll quit. The easier that juicing is, the more excited you’ll be every time you do it. Make sure to scrub out the nooks and crannies so no mold develops.
Juicing gives your body the freshest nutrients but it is also a good way to control blood glucose levels. Juice from stores contain a lot of carbohydrates which increase your BGL because carbohydrates turn to glucose. Juicing at home gives you control over what goes into your body.
If you’re looking for something sweet and healthy to add to your juice, try adding some coconut. Coconut will sweeten your juice by giving it a tasty flavor, and it can also be a great source of fat. You can add whole coconut or you can shred it.
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!
