A juicer is an appliance so you should treat it like one. When shopping for a juicer you want to make sure that you get a good quality one. This is crucial to avoid frustration and it is absolutely necessary if you plan on using your juicer on a daily basis. Cheap and badly manufactured juicers are more likely to break and don’t have as powerful of a motor so juice is not extracted as efficiently. A good juicer will pay for itself with its superior efficiency and ensure that you are more likely to stick with juicing for the long term benefit of you and your families health. Take the Aicok for example, the current king of juicers from a price to practicality standpoint. Its motor delivers really clean juices from a relatively low entry cost.
Prepare Foods Properly Before Juicing
Non organic produce needs to be washed more thoroughly than the organic sort. Many people do not even bother washing organic produce before juicing. Carrots should have tops removed. Carrot greens are toxic and should never be juiced. Stone fruits such as peaches, plums, and nectarines should have all the pits removed. Some juices allow for larger pieces of fruit and vegetables while others require that they be cut into smaller chunks. Never try to force your juicer to accept fruit and vegetables larger than what it was intended to. This is a good way to wear out your juicer.
Fresh Juice Is Best
The fresher the juice the better it is for you from a nutritional standpoint. If you are short on time and need to prepare juice ahead of time then be sure to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator to best retain its nutritional benefits and flavour. Juice should not be stored more than 24 hours.
Avoid Sugary Temptation
Although fruit is delicious and can add a lot of flavour to juice recipes, it should be used sparingly most of the time. If you are consuming mostly fruit when juicing you are adding a lot of sugar to your diet. Sugar has a lot of calories as well. Try recipes that combine your favourite fruit with less sugary and calorie dense vegetables such as cucumbers and kale.
Drink Your Juice On An Empty Stomach
Fresh juice is best consumed separately. Consuming with a meal can lead to nausea and or heartburn. Juice is incredibly concentrated nutrition. Just like you might get a stomach ache eating a rich dessert after a large meal, rich juice can cause the same types of problems. Try to plan your juice between meals, consuming it no more than 20 minutes before a meal.
Try Different Juicing Recipes
It is easy to get into a routine of using the same juicing recipes. A variety of fruits and vegetables is better for you nutritionally then only a couple. Also you might have a hard time getting excited about juicing if you just do one or two recipes a week. There are thousands of great juicing combinations. You can also experiment and create your own unique recipes. Be sure to share great combinations with others or seek out some tasty recipes online or in one of the many juicing books available.
Cut Costs By Buying In Season Fruits and Vegetables
Costs of fruit and vegetables that are not in season where you live can be much higher than if you use those that are. Changing your juicing recipes on a seasonal basis makes a lot of sense and it encourages you to try new recipes. You can significantly decrease the cost of juicing by being flexible.
Utilize Community Supported Agriculture
In many areas you can sign up for a community supported agriculture program. These programs allow you to receive a box of fresh fruit and vegetables on a weekly or biweekly basis. This can help save time and money as well because you don’t have to go searching for the freshest in season fruits and vegetables. Many CSA programs allow you to substitute or eliminates some foods from your weekly box if there is something you are allergic to or just don’t like. Programs like this mean you are supporting your local agricultural community and farms and encourage you to try new and interesting fruits and vegetables. The cost of these programs also allows you to eat organic produce for less than what you can get it for at a super market. Some programs also allow you to add products into your box so you very well might be able to get everything you need to juice for the week in one box.
Clean Your Juicer Well
A clean juicer makes for great tasting juice every time. If your juice doesn’t taste good or “off” the cleanliness of your juicer might be a prime suspect. We all get busy and forget things at times but getting into a good cleaning regime for your juicer is an essential part of the juicing lifestyle.
Juice Is Not A Meal Substitute. Don’t Treat It Like One.
Although juice is nutritious it should not be considered a meal substitute except for the rare occasions when someone is doing a juice cleanse. Everyday juicing is part of a healthy diet and can help reduce your appetite when meal times come around. Juice should be consumed as a snack or supplement between meals.
Store Juice In Glass For Best Results
While fresh juice is best, if you need to store juice for up to 24 hours, use glass. Juices are often acidic so plastic and metal are not good storage options because they can leach flavours and sometimes even chemicals into your juice. The longer the juice is stored, the more likely it is to pick up these unwanted additives.
Prepare Fruit And Vegetables Ahead Of Time
While juice should not be stored for long periods of time, you can do some of the preparation work for juicing ahead of time. Fruit and vegetables can be washed, tops can be chopped off of carrots, apples can be sliced, etc. If you don’t want fruit to turn brown before you juice you add a little lemon juice before storing. Planning ahead makes it easier to fit juicing into your lifestyle.
Use Leftover Pulp As Garden Fertilizer Or Food For Backyard Chickens
The leftover fibre from juicing can be composted for a rich fertilizer for your household plants, landscaping, or garden. This makes juicing an environmentally friendly way to get great nutrition and a healthier lifestyle and all natural fertilizer at the same time! If you live in a township and have a few chickens, juicing pulp can be a healthy addition to their diet and reduce your feed costs.
Run Your Juicer For Ten Seconds After You Are Done
Cleaning your juicer will be a lot easier if you give it a few seconds extra before turning it off. This also makes sure that you get all the juice you can out of what you put into it.
Use Crushed Ice For A Refreshing Summer Juice
Crushed ice can add texture and delicious coldness on a warm day. Keep some crushed ice on hand for a great summer juicing experience. In fact there are many delicious recipes out there that will make you think you are indulging rather than drinking a healthy and nutrient rich supplement.
Juice With Your Family
Delicious juices can be a great part of a complete and balanced diet for everyone in your family. Juices can be used as treats in place of soft drinks or sugary mixes. It can also be a good way to make sure even those that don’t care for too many fruits and vegetables get an adequate amount of these important foods in their diet. With so many great recipes out there there is something for even the pickiest of tastes.