Why Should You Juice?

The virtues of juicing are a popular topic among its health-conscious supporters in gyms, juice bars, and health resorts everywhere. But what are some of the actual benefits that have led so many people to make it an essential part of their current lifestyle? It all starts with the powerful nutritional value you’ll find in every glass.

What is juicing?

Juicing is basically the extraction of juice from fresh whole fruits and vegetables. Since there’s no heat or processing to destroy them, the full complement of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and biophotons (light rays of energy absorbed by plants) are preserved. The result is that raw juice delivers a variety of rewards for your overall health.

How Juice Helps the Body

Incorporating juicing into your nutrition program can provide lasting benefits that will help you get on a healthful eating track.

1. Absorbing healthy benefits is easy and immediate. Juicing allows pre-digestion of fruits and vegetables, meaning you can fully absorb vital nutrients much more rapidly and completely than solid foods.
2. The advantages of plant foods are maximized. Fruits and vegetables support your immune system while boosting energy and mental clarity. They also provide antioxidants and nutrition that help address toxicity and lack of nutrients, which are two fundamental factors implicated with chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, chronic pain and fatigue, arthritis and fibromyalgia.
3. Your intake and variety of fresh produce increases. A study from the Produce for Better Health Foundation reveals that just 1 percent of adults (and 2 percent of children) meet both their recommended daily fruit and vegetable targets! Juicing not only makes it easier to up your consumption, but it can also allow you to try fruits and vegetables that you might not enjoy eating whole.

Getting started

Once you’ve made the commitment to start a juicing program, setting yourself up with what you’ll need is a simple process.

1. Invest in a juicer that you like. No matter how much or how little you spend, it’s essential to get a juicer that you will use every day. A juicer that has a chamber where you can place all your produce and turn on juicing for you, like the Nama J2, is the easiest to use. Ease of cleaning should also be factored in.
2. Figure out recipes that taste good. That point may seem obvious, but your chances of sticking with a regimen go up greatly if you enjoy what you’re drinking. Focus on dark, leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, spinach and parsley that you don’t get enough of in your regular diet. Due to its sugar content, fruit should be used sparingly for a touch of sweetener. You can also avoid pesticides and additives in your juices by using organic produce.

Juicing is a great way to energize and heal yourself, flush away toxins and implement a program for optimal health. Set a goal to make an essential change in your lifestyle and you’ll begin to see juicing’s incredible benefits in as little a a week or more. Happy juicing!

Great Juice Recipes!

Root Veggie Cocktail

• 3-4 carrots, scrubbed well, tops removed, ends trimmed
• 1 cucumber, peeled
• 1/2 beet, scrubbed well (may include stem and 1-2 leaves)
• 1/2 lemon, peeled
• 1/2 apple
• 1-inch chunk ginger root, scrubbed, peeled if old

Cut produce to fit your juicer’s feed tube.  Juice all ingredients and stir.  Pour into a glass and drink as soon as possible.

Salsa-in-a-Glass

• 1 medium vine-ripened tomato
• 1/2 cucumber, peeled
• 1 small handful cilantro
• 1/2 lime, peeled
• Dash of hot sauce (optional)
• Basic Juice Recipe
• 3-4 carrots
• 1 small to medium cucumber (peel if waxed)
• 1/2 apple

Ginger Hopper

• 1/2 apple
• 4-5 carrots
• 1-inch chunk ginger root

Cut produce to fit your juicer’s feed tube.  Juice apple first and follow with other ingredients. Stir and pour into a glass; drink as soon as possible.

 Happy Morning

• 1/2 green  apple
• 4-5 carrots, well scrubbed, green tops removed, ends trimmed
• 3 fennel stalks; include leaves and flowers
• 1/2 cucumber
• Handful spinach
• 1-inch piece ginger root