When you create your own fresh juices using a juicer, you can enjoy a powerful dose of beneficial enzymes and nutrients. If you’re juicing already or just thinking about getting started, then the following paragraphs contain a number of ideas you can apply for easier and better juicing.
Make sure and remove the greens from items like carrots and rhubarb. They can contain harmful chemicals that become toxic when juiced. Make sure to research all of your fruits, veggies and other items before juicing them so that you are aware of any important do’s and don’ts before starting.
If you want your juice to be very smooth and free of pulp, try using a coffee filter or cheese cloth to strain it after it comes out of the juicer. Also keep in mind that the softer the produce used, the thicker the juice tends to be for example, tomato juice.
Put all your fruit on one shelf in your refrigerator, preferably the top shelf. This way, nutrition and juicing will be the first thing on your mind when you open your refrigerator every day. You’ll also be able to keep an eye on how fresh the fruit is, and remind yourself to use it before it decays.
Juicing your vegetables is a great way to get the vitamins and minerals that are in them without having to actually take the time to prepare them. Many people simply do not have the time to prepare a gourmet meal each and every night. Juicing vegetables allows you to quickly and easily get the most nutrients out of them that you possibly can without spending a ton of time on them.
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.
Making excess juice to bottle and refrigerate is very handy, but you don’t want your juice to get discolored. Juice that loses its fresh, bright hue and turns to a dull gray or brown isn’t very appetizing to anyone. This situation is easily avoidable if you add a few teaspoons of lemon juice to your mixture, preferably fresh. Although the added lemon juice will not interrupt the intended flavor, it will work to prevent the color change that is so unappealing.
If you need a quick breakfast, give juicing a try. Fresh juices provide vitamins, minerals, and enzymes lacking from most quickly prepared meals. Using a powerful juicer, you can make fresh juice as quickly as a piece of toast. The high-end models even let you toss in whole pieces of fruit. There is no excuse for skipping breakfast anymore.
If you’re diabetic or hypoglycemic, just juice veggies until you speak with your doctor. Eating fruit can increase your glucose levels quickly. Be sure to regulate how much fruit and sugar you are mixing in your juices if you have medical conditions. Vegetable juices don’t carry the same concerns. They safely supply nutrients without the sugar bump in the bloodstream.
Juicing is not the miracle cure for everything that ails you! It is important that juicing is just a part of your new healthy lifestyle, from eating a healthy diet full of raw foods to exercising as often as possible. Drinking homemade juice will help boost your energy, giving you the drive to get active!
When storing the juice you’ve made, make sure the container is opaque. Sunlight and even indoor light, can cause the nutrients in the juice to convert or break down, so having it in an air-tight container that permits very little light to enter will ensure peak freshness when you drink it.
If you’d like to add protein supplements to your juice, wait a few days before you start. Your system will be getting used to the juice (which is easy as it’s half-way digested by the time it gets to your stomach!) and flushing out toxins, so give it a chance to catch up first.
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!
If you have a large batch of juice and need to store the juice for a while, adding drops of lemon juice is a good idea. They will act as a natural preservative and help the juice stay fresh. Also remember to keep the juice in a container that is air tight and refrigerated.
A great juicing tip is to not be alarmed if you see any pulp in your juice. Not only is it normal for pulp to be in juice, it enhances the flavor and also provides more nutrition. If you want the most nutrition out of your juice, keep the pulp.
When you get really serious about juicing you may wish to purchase a smaller second fridge just for your produce. This will leave you room in your main fridge for solid foods and condiments. If you get really serious, you may be able to move your solid foods to the smaller fridge! That’s probably a healthier way to live.
Doing a meal plan every week can save you tons of money on your juicing needs. For example, if you plan to use broccoli every day in juices and in meals, you can buy more of it, especially if it’s on sale this week! In fact, check flyers and include sales items as often as possible for the biggest budget savings. Many stores have them online for ease of use.
It is a pretty simple process to juice, and it is a good way to add vitamins and beneficial nutrients to your diet. If you use these great juicing ideas, you will be making great, healthy juices before you know it.