Fresh is always better than processed, right? Yes! That is definitely right! Fresh bread is always better than store-bought bread; freshly grated cheese is better than pre-shredded cheese, etc. Well, fruits and veggies are better fresh rather than frozen, and so are the juices that they produce. If you do not feel like eating a whole apple, orange, banana, cucumber, etc., all you have to do is juice them. Juicing fresh veggies and fruits allow all of the vitamins and antioxidants to pool together into one awesome tasting solution! This article is here to explain to you all of the benefits of juicing your fruits and veggies rather than eat them whole. You will definitely be surprised what a cup of fresh fruit juice can do for you.
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.
When making home-made juice, it’s by far the best to drink it fresh. If you must store it, use an opaque, airtight container with no air inside. To remove air, you can either add filtered water or use a food saver to suck out the excess air. Don’t store fresh juice for more than 24 hours, even under these conditions.
Give yourself an area in the fridge just for your juicing ingredients. Maybe they’ll get their own produce drawer, or half a shelf, but making room is important. When you see that space become empty you will know that you’re running out of food, and you’ll also have a much easier time putting it away after shopping.
If you can’t afford to juice with organic fruit and vegetables, don’t worry about it. It’s nice to have pesticide-free items, but you can only work with what you have available. Wash your produce in a mixture of 8 cups of water with 3 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and 3 tablespoons of baking soda to get all the nasty stuff off. Rinse your produce well before using.
Start slow when juicing. Juicing takes a while to get used to. Gentle vegetables are cucumber, celery and carrots. Carrots have a lot of sugar so do not use too much of them. Mix it up with various vegetables. Juicing too much at the start can cause you to feel sick to your stomach. Your body will tell you if you are juicing too much.
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.
When it comes to juicing, one thing that you want to keep in mind is the fact that certain juicers can be extremely loud. This is important to consider if you make your juice at odd times or if you live in apartment style housing. Be sure to read reviews to see which juicers are quieter.
When you are making your own juice, the best vegetables to use are organic vegetables. By using organic vegetables, you are maximizing the benefits of juicing. When non-organic vegetables are used, you are adding unhealthy pesticides and chemicals into an otherwise healthy drink, which depletes the benefits of creating your own juice.
Healthy juicing for kids can seem like a daunting task, leading people to only give them fruit. Try carrot juice! Most kids absolutely adore it, and you can sneak many other vegetables in it without your child even noticing. You can also try having two or three fruit with wheatgrass, or protein powder, and the fruit will overwhelm the taste of anything you add.
Juicing will remove some of the fiber from the fruit and vegetables you’re consuming, so it’s important to supplement your fiber intake through the other foods you eat. Aim to ingest only whole grains and avoid white items like bread, pasta, and rice, as they don’t contain enough fiber to be healthy.
Organic produce should be your goal when purchasing produce for juicing. Not only will organic foods be sweeter and have a bolder taste, but they also have a higher nutritional value thanks to the soil that they are grown in. The lack of chemical pesticides also means that they will be healthier for you to ingest.
While carrots are indeed a high glycemic vegetable, studies have shown that carrot juice can actually help keep blood sugar levels stable. Including it in your juice, can sweeten up bitter vegetables like dark leafy greens, plus, it adds a smooth texture to the drink. Even a diabetic can appreciate that!
Juicing is a lot of fun, but it can turn disastrous if you don’t take care of your equipment! Make sure that you clean out the pulp reservoir every time you make juice, and sterilize all your tools from knife to cutting board to extraction container each time you use them.
All in all, fresh is better than not fresh. Fresh foods contain no added preservatives or sugars or salts that are not necessary to your diet. Freshly juicing your fruits and veggies offer an immense amount of benefits to your body, inside and out. The next time you go and buy a bottled juice, just remember what is in there is not as good for you as you may think. Just remember to juice and reap all of the wonderful benefits!