Green Juicing For Dummies

After about four months of green juicing, I can spot a fellow juicer a mile away at the local supermarket. Usually they will be checking out the organic Kale or Swiss Chard, not the common everyday carrots or apples. For the record, you would use carrots and apples but within limits because of the amount of sugar found in them. If your read my Who is This Guy? page you already know how I got here. If you did haven't yet then we'll wait. No, seriously go, we'll wait. Juicing is so beneficial in so many ways that it is a shame it is not a part of everyone's diet. Basically, valuable and sensitive micro nutrients become damaged when we heat our food. For years we have heard recommendations of 6-8 servings of vegetables and fruits per day. Is this even possible? Well, for many it is but for many of us living in the Western culture, it's probably not. Juicing is a great way to make this happen while absorbing all the nutrients from the vegetables. Another positive of juicing is the ability to add a wider variety of vegetables to our diets. Swiss Chard is not a vegetable I would be friends with if not for juicing but through the combination of other vegetables, it is easy to drink in the mix. I'll do a one-person Q & A to try to answer some basic questions. I will add some helpful links, juicing recipes, book suggestions and thoughts on my Green Juicing page. I don't have all the answers but I can surely help someone to find them! So, if any other questions, you can always comment and we'll try to point you in the right direction. Q & A begins....now!

Q:
Do I need a special expensive juicer to do this?

A:
 You should be ok with a basic $2000 model but you should spend more. No! Just kidding.  Obviously, you can spend quite a bit on a juicer. Prices, depending on they type, may vary from
$100- $2000. There are several type of juicers available. Two of the most popular are:
    Centrifugal Juicers- Promote oxidation which degrade nutrients and create too much heat that
      causes damage to fragile nutrients. These juicers basically grate the fruit or veggie into a
      pulp, and  then uses centrifugal force to push the pulp against a strainer screen by spinning it at
      a very high RPM. Many of them are difficult to clean thoroughly as well, which is like joining a
      gym which is one hour from your home. The distance won't stop you from going at the start but
      will become an issue on those cold Winter mornings. Trust me, you will be juicing and if
      cleaning your juicer takes as much time as juicing your veggies, you will be unhappy. You also
      want to consider that centrifugal juicers are not built to last.
   Masticating Juicers- A single gear juicer which extracts juice from veggies and fruits through the
      efficient action of a single auger. Literally chews the fibers and breaks up the plant cells,
      resulting in more fiber, enzymes, vitamins and trace minerals. They also extract more juice then
      the centrifugal juicers therefore your getting more for your money. Most importantly they operate
      at slower speeds (RPMs) then centrifugal juicers, which result in less foam and heat. Keep in
      mind, heat plus speed equals, damaged and degraded nutrients. Most of them are easy to clean
      with very few parts. Some of them can also be make baby foods, pastes, sauces and even nut
      butters. Average price is between $160 and $400.
Bottom Line: Get what you can afford right now and get started. If you truly understand this to be a
      life changing moment then by all means, save aggressively and get a masticating juicer. We
      started off with a great Breville centrifugal juicer that we paid under $150 for. We used it to the
      point when we knew it was time to commit to a healthier life and move up. But the important
      thing was we were juicing several times every day. We eventually gave the old juicer away and it
      is still being used today. Do your research on different juicers. YouTube has some great demo
      videos on juicers which show you them in action. Again, what you save now might not truly be a
      saving if your not using the juicer a year from now.
 
Q:
Do my vegetables/ fruits need to be organic?

A:
Need is the defining word here. They should, without a doubt be organic. The amount of pesticides in our foods, especially our fruits and vegetables are shocking. This is also important, because of the saturation and toxicity of the pesticides used today, they cannot be washed off. So, if your committing to a this healthier lifestyle, buy organic. What is you can't spend the extra for organic? Sadly, local markets have realized the trend towards healthier living and profit, and jacked up prices to organic products including fruits and veggies. We are blessed to have an organic farm by us which we stop at once a week to re-stock on supplies. Having lived in downtown Manhattan at one time I can tell you the price difference is HUGE. We can stock up, making 2-3 juices per day(16 oz size) , for the week, for about $60/week. You might have to be creative for this. Check out local farmers markets in your area. Only buy fruits and veggies which are in season to lower cost. I truly believe you need to factor the cost of being healthy into your final decision. Less co-pays at medical appts., less co-pays for medication, missing less time off from work, eating less junk food and most importantly, living a longer and healthier life with our families. It's a sacrifice, but most things which are worth it are. If You can't buy organic, then look for locally grown. If you can't do this still, then in my opinion, buy what you can. I will post a list of fruits and veggies which are the most toxic and must always be organic. The rest you can supplement with non- organic and just thoroughly scrub them as much as possible. A friend of mine always says, " It's better then eating a cheeseburger".

Q:
Can I just juice and not eat meals to lose weight?

A:
 You can but should not is the simple answer. Vegetable juice has very little protein and almost no fat so it is not a complete meal. Unless you fasting or detoxing (will be talked about on a later date!), supplement juicing with your healthier meals.

Q:
What vegetables do I juice? How do I know what fruits to add? Is there a recipe book?

A:
First of all, let me introduce you to 2012 and a new invention called... the Internet! Recipes are
everywhere. If you don't have Internet service then...wait...how are you reading this blog? Anyway, you also have some great magazines and books on just juicing. Honestly, it's a little trial and error at times but you will find a way to make it work. Granny Smith apples, lemons/limes or even cranberries can be added to your juice to soften the taste.

Well, I hope I answered some very basic questions on juicing. Again, it's a sacrifice of some time and money but at the end, is there really another choice?