Juicing = Life
Some of the benefits of juicing revolve around the idea that the juice is basically a type of pure, clean, living water, that is organic and packed with nutrition. The belief that the juice is living refers to the fact that active enzymes are found in the juice. The concept, which labels the juice organic, refers to the fact that the nutrients are highly bio-available and easily utilized by our bodies. When we juice we separate the enzymes, minerals, nutrients and water from the fiber. This juice is digested in minutes and allows for a more efficient utilization of nutrients by sparing our body from the bulk of digestion, a process itself that requires a great deal of time and energy. Juicing however should not be done at the expense of eating raw fruits and vegetables each day! Our bodies do need this fiber to help keep the colon clean and functioning properly. We need to consume a variety of vegetables and their juices in order to ensure we are getting an adequate amount of all nutrients. This includes even trying to rotate varieties of individual vegetables! Organically grown food is always preferable (see my section on diet). Juice as much as you can comfortably drink without forcing each day, at least a pint or two. I feel the consumption of vegetable juice to be more important than fruit juice, perhaps on the order of 3 to 1. Triturating or pulverization is the method used by the best juicers. They are most able to release the vital nutrients into the liquid and will generate a fiber free juice. These machines are the most expensive type of juicer, but I feel it is worth the investment. Next best is the type of machine that uses the centrifugal method. This is the type I used when I first started juicing. These machines work well, are durable, and cost much less. However, some fiber is left behind, and this method is less efficient. Any fresh, raw juice is better than no juice at all.
My favorite juice recipes:
Green Drink: 1 cup of spinach, 1 cup of water, 1 frozen banana, 5 strawberries, 1 raw egg. Place all this in blender and blend for one minute. Pour in glass and top with ground flax seeds.
Passion for Juice Master: 1/4 small pineapple, 1 apple, 1/4 banana 200 g. natural yogurt, 1/2 t.spirulina. Instructions : Juice apple, pineapple and blend with yogurt, banana and spirulina
So berry good: 1/4 pineapple, 1 handful of blackberries, 1 handful of blueberries, 100g. yogurt, 4 ice cubes. Juice the pineapple and place in blender with the other ingredients.
The Tom Snooze: 4 med. tomatoes, 3 apples, 1 lime, some mint leaves, small piece of ginger.
Juice the tomatoes, apples and lime and chop the mint and ginger. Place everything in a pan and gently in fact very gently heat until warm. Stir Occasionally.
The pretty Lady: 2 apples, 3 carrots, piece of brocolli, handful of kale. Juice the lot.
The iron skillet: 2 cups of spinach, 1/4 of pineapple, 6 carrots, 2 apples, 1 inch of ginger. Juice the lot.
Fruit Drinks:
Sherbert lemonade: 2 yellow apples, 1/3 of a lemon, ice. Juice the lot and pour over ice.
Love Tonic: 1/2 fresh pineapple, 1 handful of raspberries, 1 handful of strawberries, 4 ice cubes. Juice the pineapple and pour into the blender. Add Raspberries, strawberries and ice and blend.
Turbo charge smoothie: 1/4 cucumber, 1 stick celery, 1/2 small pineapple, 1.5 cups of spinach, 1/4 lime peeled, 4 yellow apples, 1/2 of avocado, ice. Juice the cucumber, celery, pineapple, spinach, lime and apples. Place juice in a blender with avocado and ice and blend for 45 seconds.
Lemon ginger zinger: 2 yellow apples, 2 carrots, 1 in. of ginger, ice. Juice the lot and pour over ice.
Summer Crush: 2 apples, 1 handful of blueberries, 1 handful of raspberries, 1 handful of strawberries, ice.
Juice the apple and blend with the berries and ice in blender.
Cranberry Delight: 1 mango, 1 orange, 125 g. cranberries, 1 t. of manuka honey, 1/2 in. of ginger, ice. Peel the mango and remove the stone. Peel the orange leaving the white pith on and juice it with the ginger and cranberries. Pour into a blender with honey and mango and blend.