Let me go out on a limb here and tell you that I am NOT starting 2015 off on a juice cleanse. …Say whaa? I know this statement might shock some people because… isn’t everyone on a juice cleanse right now?!
My philosophy when it comes to food and health is that all of us have to listen to our own bodies and make our own decisions about what’s right for us. And, juice-only cleanses don’t feel right for everyone.
I’ll be the first one to say that I love juicing, eating lots of fresh seasonal foods and taking care of my body, but that doesn’t mean I’m going on a juice-only diet. From where I stand, I would rather incorporate juicing into a seasonal-based, clean diet because this is what makes me feel my best. I wanted to make the distinction between juicing (incorporating juice into your diet) and juice cleansing or “detoxing” (going on a juice-only diet) because these are different activities and juice cleanses aren’t right for everyone. (But if you ARE currently on a juice cleanse or wanting to try one, that’s perfectly okay too!)
So, let’s talk juicing.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
- Drinking fresh vegetable juice allows you to consume more fresh vegetables, which we all know are full of good things like vitamins, minerals, and beneficial enzymes.
- Fresh vegetable juice is very alkalizing, meaning that it helps to strengthen the body and keep it healthy. I’ve also found personally that it helps to reprogram my taste buds and make me crave healthier foods. (win-win!)
- And, since the juicer extracts the insoluable fiber from fruits and veggies, fresh juice is very easy on the digestive track (making it perfect for anyone with digestive issues) and it makes the nutrients easy to absorb.
WHY DO I LOVE JUICING?
I’m a bit of a veggie fanatic as it is, but incorporating a fresh vegetable juice into my routine has helped me to get more veggies into my diet, which in turn dramatically boosts my energy and helps me to feel my best.
I began juicing in 2007 when I started working at an organic, raw juice bar and that experience changed my life. With the New Year approaching, a lot of us are using this as a time to make bigger changes and I personally found that the key to changing my diet and improving my own health has always been to focus on adding fresh foods, rather than subtracting the “bad” ones.
This focus on adding instead of subtracting is one of reasons why many of my past health coaching clients and readers have been so successful at creating their own juicing habit. As you add more fresh and whole foods into your diet, your taste buds naturally start to crave “bad” foods less. It’s like magic!
Are you ready to get started with juicing? Let’s talk about the next steps!
1. HOW TO JUICE?
When you are first getting into juicing, I would recommend either visiting a local juice bar (if you have one available in your town/city) or buying a cheaper juicer model. Juicers can range from $50 to $500 depending on the model and brand. Most people do not need to invest several hundred dollars into a fancy juicer if they are just getting started, especially since you can always invest in a better model if you need to later on.
Before you run out and purchase a juicer, I would recommend reading my post on how to pick the best juicer for you or going with a simple model that’s affordable. I personally started with Jack LaLanne’s juicer and recommend this to beginners because it’s one of the cheaper models and works great (mine has lasted for years).
2. WHAT TO JUICE?
I recommend drinking 100% vegetable juice or including low-sugar fruits in your juice, such as green apples, lemon, lime, berries, and grapefruit. Since juicing extracts the insoluable fiber, this makes the natural sugars in fruit absorb more quickly causing your blood sugar to spike. And since juice is easy to drink (compared to eating the whole fruit), it’s very easy to consume more sugar than you realize by drinking fruit juice.
Of course, if you are new to juicing or are drinking juice as a treat, it’s really fun to add fruit to mix it up a bit. When you are just getting started, you might want to try adding half of a sweet fruit (like pears or red apples), then switching to low-sugar fruits as you get used to the taste. You can also “sweeten” your juice by including naturally-sweet vegetables like beets and carrots. You’ll find a variety of juice recipes at the end of this post for some healthy inspiration!
3. WHEN TO JUICE?
I like to drink my juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. This helps to awaken my digestive system gently and it’s really helpful to reduce my overall coffee intake.
If the morning doesn’t work for your schedule, then find the best time that works for you. It’s more important that you are able to incorporating juicing into your day in a stress-free manner than falling off the juicing wagon because it doesn’t work for your schedule.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Are juices and smoothies the same thing? Which one is better?
Juicing is different than smoothies because juicing uses a juicer to extract the fiber while a smoothie uses a blender to retain the fiber. Thus, smoothies tend to be much thicker. I personally like a mix of both and I don’t think one is necessarily better than the other because they each have their own benefits. (If you want to learn more about green smoothies, check out my Green Smoothie 101 video)
Are pre-bottled juices beneficial?
I often get questions from readers asking about the juice that’s sold pre-bottled in grocery stores. This isn’t the same thing as fresh juice because as juice sits, it begins to oxidize and loses nutrients. If you want the best bang for your buck, skip the bottle and juice it yourself! If that’s not possible and a pre-bottled juice is your only option, try to look for one that is 100% vegetable juice to skip all the extra sugar.
Do I need to do a juice cleanse or juice every day to get the benefits?
Fresh juice is very alkalizing and detoxifying and most people can get the benefits without going on an extreme juice cleanse. I always recommend adding juice to your existing diet, instead of using it as a meal replacement. This helps to prevent any “detox” symptoms like headaches or body aches and makes juicing much more doable for the average person. You also don’t have to drink juice every day; even drinking juice 2 – 3 times a week will make a big difference!
Here are a few of my favorite juice recipes:
- Ginger Carrot Orange Goodness
- This juice is perfect for beginners because it’s a sweet and spicy combination that is fabulous for easing into juicing. I love the natural sweetness from the oranges and carrots and it’s a perfect combo with the healing powers of ginger!
- Mojito Juice
- Can you think of anything more fabulous than a healthy green juice that tastes like a cocktail? This green juice is a mild choice for beginners and it can be made sweeter by adding fruit if desired.
- Love Your Liver Juice
- I love this juice for its sweet, earthy taste and its health benefits specifically aimed at the liver. The liver is the most important organ for metabolism and detoxification so if you are looking to lose weight and clean up your system, this juice is for you!
- Mean Green Juice
- This juice is perfect for intermediate juicers who are looking for a fresh-tasting juice with an edge. I love the mellow flavor from the cucumber combined with the zing from the ginger and green bell pepper.
- The Flu Buster
- I’m not going to lie: this juice is intense and is definitely recommended for the intermediate to advanced juicer. This juice isn’t one of my typical daily juices, but I love it for warding off a cold.
- Cucumber, Fennel, and Ginger Juice
- This simple combo is perfect for hydrating the body and digestive support. Fennel is great for digestion and detoxification while ginger is helpful for battling nausea.
- Easy and Affordable Green Juice
- If you’re worried about getting started with juicing because it seems too expensive or too hard, this is the juice for you! Only 3 ingredients and it only costs $2/serving!
I hope this inspires you to get started on your own juicing journey or to strengthen your current juicing routine! If you are new to juicing: what fruits and veggies are you most excited to try in a juice? And for you advanced juicers: what are your favorite juice combinations?
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