Juicing Part 2: Why Juice?

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Last week, we looked at how to start incorporating juicing into your regimen. This week, we are going to look at some of the reasons to juice and suggestions on how to make your juicing a little less costly.

Reason 1: Juicing for Weight Loss

If done correctly, juicing can be an incredibly effective way to lose weight. However, most fruits contain a lot of natural sugar, which can make weight loss difficult. Therefore, you’ll want to be sure to use juicing recipes that include lots of nutritious vegetables and only a little fruit for added sweetness if weight loss is your primary goal.

Most juicing recipes that are designed for weight loss are very nutritious and satisfying. After all, if your weight loss-juicing regimen doesn’t fill you up, you’re more likely to reach for bad food choices. You may to experiment to find combinations that work best for you.

When selecting ingredients for your juicing recipes, use fresh produce that has been cleaned thoroughly. Whenever possible, buy organic locally grown fruits and vegetables.  Buying locally grown foods that are currently in season means they won’t spend days in transit to your local store. This will limit the amount of harmful chemicals and pesticides you consume.

Reason 2: Juicing for Kids

If you have kids, you already know getting them to eat enough fruits and vegetables can be a challenge. Perhaps you’ve already tried clever tricks to sneak in extra servings with their favorite meals. Fortunately, juicing is a great way to disguise healthy foods and make them look like a delicious treat instead.

Yes, juicing can be a fun way to help your children get the extra vitamins and minerals their growing bodies need. The trick is to find juice combinations that are delicious and nutritious. This is a win-win combination: your kids will think they’re getting a yummy treat, and you’ll be happy knowing they are finally consuming their healthy fruits and veggies.

Depending on the age of your children and any underlying medical issues they may have, you will want to talk to their physician before making any drastic changes to their diet. Of course, a little moderation and common sense will go a long way as you start to adopt healthy lifestyle changes that work for your entire family.

Getting Started

Successful juicing with kids is quite simple: Kids like stuff that tastes good. So, when you first introduce juicing to your children, use fresh fruits and/or vegetables they already like. If they hate broccoli, don’t assume they’ll suddenly love it in liquid form.

You should also start out with simple juices made from one or two ingredients, rather than complex flavor combinations. This will allow your child to experience how delicious fresh juice can be, which will make them more likely to try other combinations in the future.

Then, once you’ve identified your child’s favorite juices, use them as a base to create a variety of flavor combinations. Slowly add a small amount of other fruits or vegetables to further enhance the flavor profile and nutrient content of the juice.

Finally, get them involved! Many children love to experiment in the kitchen. Show them how the juicer works and allow them to see and experience the wonderful colors and flavors you can create. Letting them be part of the process and adding a little variety can go a long way.

Here are a few simple juice combos your children might enjoy:

• apple juice
• pineapple and carrot juice
• orange juice
• orange and carrot juice
• pear juice
• apple and grape juice

Reason 3: Juicing for Anti-Aging

The better you take care of your body and give it what it needs to regenerate itself, the better you will look and feel in the long run. A healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals is an important part of this equation. Juicing can help with that. As a result, it can help minimize the negative effects of the natural aging process.

Aging Gracefully

Juicing can provide many of the essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and enzymes your body needs to keep itself in peak form. These fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens are also packed with antioxidants and other substances that neutralize free radicals in your system, which helps counteract the natural effects of aging.

Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are especially beneficial in your battle to age gracefully. Fruits such as oranges, cherries, apples, blueberries, melons, bananas, berries, kiwi, and mangoes are believed to contribute to anti-aging properties. The best vegetables include carrots, squash, red and green cabbages, broccoli, and spinach because they provide anti-aging benefits.

Don’t be afraid to experiment a little to find your favorite flavor combinations. As with children, once you find a  basic juice you really enjoy (e.g., apple-carrot), use it as a base to build upon.

Reason 4: Juicing for Detoxification

Juicing is a great way to detoxify your body and improve the way your body absorbs enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. The result is a stronger immune system and higher energy levels.

As previously noted, consuming juice made from organic fruits and vegetables allows your body to operate efficiently. Your lungs, kidneys, liver, skin, and digestive system all play an important role in eliminating waste and unwanted toxins.  The better your nutrition, the easier it’ll be for your body to do its job and “flush out” any toxins.

As an added bonus, some people who follow a detoxifying juicing regimen claim they no longer have cravings for processed or artificially sweetened foods. This makes it much easier to stick to a healthy diet long term.

Ideal juicing ingredients for detoxification include lettuce, dark green kale, carrots, beet greens, cilantro, parsley, celery sticks, collard greens, endive, spinach, dandelion greens, purple and green cabbage, and lemons.

Reason 5: Juicing for Disease Prevention

By now, we’ve established that juicing can be an integral part of healthy lifestyle. Providing the nutrients your body needs can help you enjoy a healthier, longer life free from  complications of chronic or life-threatening diseases. Juicing is an easy and cost-effective way to provide the nutrients your body needs to accomplish this.

Specific Vegetables and Fruits for Prevention

There are many recommended juicing combinations that claim to help your body fight off disease. For example, beets (aka beetroot) are very popular in juicing recipes aimed at preventing disease. They are believed to dramatically reduce the risks of heart disease, strokes, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. The bright red juice contains key nutrients, which can also help reduce blood pressure.

Pomegranates are considered another disease-fighting juicing ingredient thought to lower cardiovascular risks. In addition, tomato juice combinations may help reduce the risk of heart disease and control diabetic symptoms. Tomato juice can also reduce the risk of developing diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease. This claim is based on the high levels of lycopene found in fresh tomatoes.

Additional ingredients that can be used to help prevent disease include broccoli, butternut squash, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, carrots, cucumber, and celery. Look for juicing recipes featuring these ingredients.

Again, these recommendations aren’t meant to replace qualified medical advice, but instead are to be used as guidelines to help you establish a healthy, well-rounded diet.

How to Save Money on Juicing (and Smoothies)

We have discussed how smoothies and fresh juices provide a great way to add a variety of vitamins, essential minerals, and beneficial phytonutrients into your diet. They are also easy to make and provide a convenient source of nutrition on the go. However, enjoying your daily dose of smoothies/fresh juice can be challenging if you’re on a budget. However, eating healthy doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive either. Check out these six budget-friendly tips and learn how to save money on juicing & smoothies.

1, Take Advantage of Clearance Sales 

Some grocery stores hold regular clearance sales for almost-expired produce make room for fresh stock. The stores discount these items to encourage buyers. As long as you plan to use this clearance produce within 24-36 hours, you won’t have to worry about throwing away decayed food. Clearance sales can be a great bargain especially for fruits and vegetables that you plan to use immediately.

2. Buy Frozen Fruits

Frozen fruits, especially those retailing out of season, tend to cost less than fresh produce. this is because frozen items have a longer shelf life than fresh food. The added advantage of frozen fruits is that they cool down beverages without the watered-down taste that comes from ice cubes.

3. Refrigerate Perishables

One way to ensure that money doesn’t go to waste is by making sure your smoothie and juicing ingredients don’t go bad before their time. This can be achieved by refrigerating perishables. Fruits will continue to ripen or deteriorate when left on the counter top. Therefore, they should be refrigerated to increase their shelf life and minimize wastage.

4. Start Small with the Greens in Your Juices and Smoothies

If you are new to green smoothies, begin with small amounts in your smoothie/juice. After all, you won’t be saving money by throwing away an entire glass of something you don’t drink. Therefore, make the prudent choice and start with smaller quantities. You can add more gradually as you become accustomed to the taste.

5. Grow Your Own

Starting a home garden can be an economical and enjoyable hobby. Even if it takes years, consider planting a berry bush or some fruit trees in your backyard. If you want ingredients that take less time to grow, vegetables such as carrots, spinach, kale, chard, lettuce, and parsley are good choices.

6. Get a Masticating Juicer

For those who want to save money on juicing, a simple trick is to extract as much juice as possible from your fruit. While they cost more, masticating juicers squeeze out more juice compared to their centrifugal counterparts. As a result, you end up with a drier pulp and more juice from less produce. Over time, a masticating juicer will pay itself off since you will use less fruits for juicing.

Making juicing and smoothie preparation budget friendly is worth it and can help you incorporate either method into your routine.

Loving Life—The Reboot!

Dominique

This publication is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Medical advice should always be obtained from a qualified medical professional for any health conditions, symptoms associated with them, dietary changes, or exercise regimens.