Ahhh juicing. When people think about juicing, a lot of times images of health fanatics and hippies come to mind. Wait.... did I just describe myself? Haha! No, seriously, it’s understandable why some people are so resistant to juicing. I sure as hell was. But what I learned is that juicing not only is delicious, but I feel GREAT afterwards.
Over the years, I would come across someone who mentioned that they juiced and would encourage me to try it. Of course I declined, not finding thick, green liquid very appetizing. But it wasn’t until I witnessed someone juicing and saw what was going into the machine that I willingly took a sip. It was delicious! Before long, sips here and there escalated to small glasses of my own. Within a month I took the plunge and bought my own. Being the cheap ass that I am, I bought a little, white Black & Decker juicer for around $35. It is now my “baby” and meets my needs perfectly.
The great thing about juicing is that you get the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables without actually having to eat them. I can juice and take it with me on the go. Also, because the stomach isn’t actually breaking down food, the nutrients are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. The energy and mood boost is better than coffee and it’s healthy! It’s also a great way to keep hunger at bay when in between meals.
Now there are some who just don’t like vegetables. I get it. I used to hate vegetables too. With juicing, you can add a piece of fruit or two to sweeten it up. Just like any other recipe, you can alter it to suit your own tastes. Take carrots for example. I love the flavor of carrots and want all the nutritional benefits that they have to offer. Cooking them is okay, but a lot of nutritional value is lost with cooking. At the same time, I really don’t like the texture of fresh carrots. By juicing them, I get to enjoy the flavor as well as the health benefits of them without having to eat them!
About the pulp. Some people throw it away. I don’t. Usually what I do is keep it in the fridge (not more than a couple of days) then when ready, add an egg or two and make scrambled eggs or use the eggs as a binder and make vegee patties. This way nothing goes to waste and I’m still getting the fiber and some nutrition.
For some people who are not accustomed to juicing, they may experience a headache after drinking juiced fruits and vegetables. I did in the beginning. Really all it is, is because there is so much sugar (with fruits) being delivered to the body so quickly it’s a bit overwhelming at first. If this happens to you, simply add a little water to the juice and drink it a little slower. I don’t get headaches any more and love the energy rush.
I love experimenting with new recipes. Some are better than others. Due to the amount of sugar in fruit, I try to limit them and use them as flavor enhancers rather than alone. Those fruit calories can sneak up on you!
My personal favorite juices are any combination of the following, but I usually get whatever is on sale.
Carrot
Tomato
Cucumber
Spinach
Kale
Apple
Strawberry
Kiwi
Pear
Any melon
Here’s a link to a site I use to get juicing recipe ideas. They tend to use a bit too much fruit for my needs so I ease back on the fruit. But if you’re just getting started, this is a great site. Oh yeah, I’m not endorsed by this site at all. I just like it. They also have a lot of articles and other info pertaining to juicing.
https://juicerecipes.com/
If you haven’t tried juicing, I strongly suggest you do. It doesn’t have to be an every day thing. But any way to eat healthier is a step towards a healthier you! - DeAnna
