I, myself am a huge fan of juicing. As a kid, I can remember staring up at my father while he whipped me up a mandatory serving of carrot, apple, celery juice– a glazed look of terror in my eyes. My, how things can change. What I’d do to go back to the days where someone “forced” me to enjoy a tall, healthy glass of fresh juice and NOT have to clean a disassembled machine for 10 minutes afterwards. It’s really not so bad though. The benefits heavily outweigh the effort required, I can vouch for that.
So, how do you know which fruits and veggies to pick? I prefer produce based on health benefits, taste comes second, but then again I don’t think there’s very much fresh food at the local grocer that could taste bad. I know it sounds scary to blend something we all know and love like, let’s say…apples, with kale or cucumber but I promise it’s quite nutritious AND delicious! Don’t be afraid to keep trying different combinations until you find something that suites your palate. Certain vegetables may take some getting used to but just think of how happy your insides will be!
Below are some tips on how to select the best produce possible to maximize your juicing experience and provide you with the most nourishment. I’ll also include my absolute favorite recipe for a delicious juice that will always start your day off right. Which combinations do you use when you juice? Do you have a recipe you’d like to share? Comment below with your favorite concoctions!
T I P S
- Always opt for the freshest looking produce. Don’t bother with anything that’s beginning to wilt or lose color. Fruits and veggies should look vibrant with no signs of bruising or decay. The nutrients will be much more potent this way, vastly improving the health benefits.
- Buy from your local farmers market. If you must go to a store, purchase organic produce.
- Buy a juicer that suits your individual needs. If you live alone, chances are you don’t need an industrial size machine. It’ll just take up space and tack on some extra clean up time in the process. Remember, bigger isn’t always better.
- Research which fruits and vegetables aid in whatever your current ailments may be (cold, flu, energy, acne, diet, cancer, etc)
- Try to avoid adding more than one or two fruits to your juice. They contain more sugars than vegetables do but also provide a good source of vitamins and sweetness.
- Dont’t over-juice. More juice does not necessarily equate to additional health perks. Limit your intake to 8-16oz per juicing (once a day should be plenty). If the sugar content of the fruits or veggies you’re juicing are high, it could cause some surges in your blood sugar. Additionally, there is only so much your body can process at once so over juicing is quite ‘fruitless’. *See what I did there? 😉
- Do not replace eating veggies with juicing, you still need fiber! (try adding some of the pulp back)
- Since juicing is a method of nourishment and cleansing, the best time of day to drink one is in the morning, before your first meal. This will allow your body to absorb the most nutrients.
- Juices should be drank immediately (within 10-15 min) and not stored for later unless sealed in an air-tight container and refrigerated immediately.
- Rotate your greens! If you love using kale (like me), remember to switch it up regularly with spinach, chard, mustard greens, or dandelion greens, etc. to prevent any vitamin imbalances and give your body an array of minerals.
- It may sound ridiculous but swishing the juice around in your mouth before swallowing it actually releases digestive enzymes in your saliva that helps deliver all the good stuff, so chew your juice, kids!
- Feel free to use your leftover pulp for other quick and easy recipes like pulp-sicles, muffins or soups.
T O P 10 F R U I T S & V E G G I E S
- Citrus Fruits
- Kale
- Carrots
- Beets (include the leaves)
- Dandelion Greens
- Celery
- Berries
- Apples
- Cucumber
- Herbs – mint, parsley, cilantro, ginger
D E Z I ‘ S M O R N I N G G L O R Y
1 apple
1 lemon
1 lime
handful of kale
half of a cucumber
ginger (use your discretion)
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