Juicing is a way of obtaining your daily dose of vegetables and fruit in just one glass. It has numerous health benefits and can be very helpful for those that want to avoid processed foods and are working towards being healthier. Here’s how to get started.
Things You’ll Need
There are a few things that you’re going to need in order to get started if this is your first time juicing. Here’s a quick run-down of everything you can expect to need before starting off the juicing process.
A Good Juicer
This is imperative for making juice at home without having it turn out poorly or taste bad. There are numerous juicers on the market with varying prices from very cheap (usually less than $100), up to around $300 for high-end juicers. Prices can also go up into the thousands for super expensive models. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but you do need to make sure that you have sufficient features in a juicer and it’s well made.
Alternatively, you can opt for a nutribullet which is more affordable and is actually pretty good. When deciding on using a juicer or a NutriBullet, keep in mind that different juicers will leave different amounts of pulp in the juice. This can be a deciding factor; some people prefer pulp while others do not.
The Produce
Depending on what kind of juice you want to make, you’ll need certain kinds of produce.
For example, carrot/orange/ginger or apple/beet/cucumber are some options for veggie juices while citrus fruits are great for pineapple lemonade or other tropical type juices.
Different recipes will require varying types of products so be prepared to do a little bit of research here! Shop smart by selecting the product that is in season. Remember to wash everything thoroughly first as you don’t want to drink dirt, bacteria, or pesticides!
The Juicing Container
This is the fun part! You can either use mason jars or any other kind of glass container to hold your juice and drink straight from it or else transfer it to smaller containers for drinking. It also depends on the type of juicer you have whether you’ll need something additional such as when using a slow juicer you will need a pulp catcher while when using an extractor simply save all of your pulp in a bowl which makes it easier to clean up later.
Benefits of Juicing
Benefits abound when getting into juicing! Not only will it help you to detox your body and to cleanse, but also gives you a way to get in the veggies that you might have otherwise not eaten. It’s also made as an alternative for those who don’t want to eat processed foods such as juices found on the shelves of grocery stores. Most definitely a benefit if this is your goal!
Juicing helps to get rid of water weight to help flush out toxins and cleanse your body which can lead to faster weight loss, especially with all those veggies.
The Process
Juicing at home vs buying store-bought juices are pretty similar; it’s just that making your own is obviously going to be more fresh, healthy, AND cheaper (it’s less expensive if you have a juicer already). You can use any kind of juicer you like– whether that be a centrifugal, masticating, or cold press juicer. Once you have chosen your product, clean it up and start chopping. Here are some tips on how to juice:
For fruits, cut into sections as this will make it easier for the juices to flow out while keeping the rind intact. The first chunk will usually include soft fruit such as grapes which is followed by tougher ones such as apples. As a general rule, softer fruits go in first while harder fruits come later. Don’t forget to peel citrus fruits before putting them in your juicer.
To cut down on foam try adding a few ice cubes – this helps to cool down the juice significantly and separates any unwanted foam so you don’t have to worry about it.
When making juices with veggies, be sure to cut them into small pieces as well, especially if you’re using something hard (such as a carrot). The smaller the pieces, the more they will fit in your juicer which means less waste!
Juicing is a great way to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. If you’re interested in getting started with juicing, all it takes are some basic supplies (and fruit!), a good blender or food processor, and commitment!
