It took me a long time to try juicing. If I am being totally honest, I was overwhelmed and intimidated by the different types of juicers and the time it was going to take me to make one glass of juice. I soon realized it can be quick and simple! I have been attempting to juice every morning before I consume breakfast. Drinking juice on an empty stomach allows for nutrients to be easily and quickly absorbed into the blood stream. This may be helpful to give you extra energy or to replenish nutrients when you’re not feeling well. 

Juicing is a controversial subject in the nutrition world. Today there are numerous juice fasts and cleanses available. Personally, I never recommend replacing a meal with a juice. I use it as added nutrition in my daily diet. A glass of your favourite greens/fruits is a better choice than store-bought pasteurized juices containing artificial flavours, additives, preservatives, and often as much sugar as soda with no nutritional value. Pre-packaged raw juices are a good option when you’re short on time. Read labels carefully. Look for juices that are labelled raw, organic, and unpasteurized. 

If you’re going to make your own juices, I recommend a masticating juicer. They extract more nutrients because they operate at slower speeds, so you get more nutrition per glass. Nutrients don’t oxidize as quickly so these juices can be stored in a sealed container for up to 24 hours. 

My Detox Juice recipe:

1 cup of spinach or kale

4 celery stalks

½ large cucumber

1 apple, cored

2 large carrots, with greens removed 

¼ lemon, peel removed

½ inch ginger root 

Directions:

1.     Wash all produce well.

2.     Prepare the produce by cutting into pieces that fit into the top of your juicer. 

3.     Add one ingredient into the juicer at a time.

4.     Stir and pour into a glass and consume immediately. Or you can refrigerate in a well-sealed container for a short period of time. 

Tips for Juicing

1.     Drink your juice fresh. Vitamins and minerals can be destroyed over time the more it is exposed to air and light. To get the most out of it, drink your juice immediately. 

2.     People cannot live off of juice. It is not a meal replacement. It is a great way to add extra nutrients and minerals to your diet but there is little protein, fat, or fiber.

3.     Choose high quality produce. Going organic can be expensive but worth it long term. Prioritize your organic selections using the “Clean Fifteen” and “Dirty Dozen”.

4.     Be adventurous. When starting out, you might prefer sweeter juices with apples, pears, lemon, and ginger. Eventually you want to work towards a 3:1 ratio – three vegetables to one piece of fruit.

Benefits of Juicing

1.     Fast and easy absorption of nutrients

2.     Glowing skin and eyes

3.     Increased energy levels.

4.     Strengthened immune system. 

5.     Improved appetite control and less cravings. 

I encourage you to add juicing into your routine. Let me know if you notice any of the health benefits I listed!

Love,

Sarah