If you’ve been reading this blog since the beginning, you know that I started “Holding Her Own” talking about juicing and how it changed my entire lifestyle (as well as my family’s) for the better. We eat differently, we think about food differently, and juicing also jump-started our journey toward a more natural, holistic lifestyle.
As I’ve heard from so many of you over the past couple of months, my belief in the importance and the power of juicing has only been solidified. Many of you have shared stories of losing 100+ pounds, curing debilitating diseases, and reclaiming your lives. Thank you so much for sharing your stories, and yourselves. Please keep them coming!
So clearly, when thinking about where to begin for our “Get Fit for Spring” series, it seemed only natural to start back at the beginning. It has been said that juicing is the single most important thing you can do for your overall health in terms of healing and disease prevention.
Here are some of the most compelling reasons to juice:
Weight loss (that stays off)Flatter tummy, lose belly fatBrighter, tighter, glowing skin
Shinier, silkier hair
Sleep better
Increased energy
Better emotional health
Boosting immunity
Better digestion
Cancer prevention
So how do you get started juicing?
(1) Go get a GOOD juicer. If you’re not sure you’re going to like juicing, or you think may not stick with it, borrow one from a friend first or make a few visits to your local juice bar before investing. But, whatever you do, don’t buy a cheaply made juicer! If the chute isn’t big enough for a whole apple, you will quickly lose interest because the massive amounts of chopping will prove to be too time-consuming. Additionally, if you don’t get an all stainless juicer, you will spend an enormous amount of time hand washing your juicer. Get one that’s stainless and can go right in the dishwasher.
When you’re ready to buy a juicer, a great place to start is the Breville Juice Fountain Plus. This juicer was featured in the juicing documentary “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead,” and holds true to the hype – an excellent juicer for an affordable price of around $150. For a higher end home juicer, the Breville Juice Fountain Elite and the Omega Vertical Masticating Juicer are excellent choices in the $350-$400 category.
(2) Once you have your juicer, choose a good, staple green juice recipe and start juicing in the morning only. (Find a couple of my favorite recipes here). After a few days, you can start replacing breakfast and lunch with juice (if you’re juicing to lose weight) and can work your way up to a 3-, 7- or 10- day fast if that’s a goal of yours. A fast can be an incredible way to cleanse the digestive tract as well as to jump start a whole new lifestyle!
(3) Remember the 80/20 rule. You’ll want to juice about 80% vegetable juices and only 20% fruit juices. Consuming too much fruit juice can hinder your weight loss results and can also cause dramatic spikes in blood sugar.
(4) Also remember that fresh juices are always best, but if you must make ahead, here’s a general rule: juices made with a centrifugal juicer last no more than 8 hours and those made with a masticating juicer last no more than 24 hours. If juices must be stored, they should be kept refrigerated in air tight stainless steel or BPA free containers.
(5) And lastly, always clean your juicer immediately after using it. Bacteria can begin to grow within minutes, plus once the tiny particles begin to dry, they’re much harder to remove later.
Here, I’ve compiled some of my favorite (and the most popular) recipes that I’ve shared on the site thus far:
Beet, Apple and Blackberry Juice
3 small beets
2-3 apples
8 oz. blackberries
1/2 inch fresh ginger
Sunshine Special
3 Carrots
1-2 Apples
2 Celery stalks
1/2 Lemon
Green Lemonade
3-4 large stalks Kale
1-2 handfuls Spinach
2 Apples
1/2 Lemon
Red Devil
1/2-1 Orange, peeled
2 Carrots
1/2-1 Beet
Ginger (thumb sized piece)
1 tsp cayenne pepper
Mean Green Juice
Collard Apple
Spicy Veg
2 tomatoes1/2 red pepper1 cucumber3 stalks of celeryhandful spinachhandful parsley1/4 tsp cayenne pepperSleepy Time
4 stalks celery1 cucumber1 in. piece of gingerPear Perfect
Pineapple Berry