How many times have you told yourself that you would love to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, but you just do not have the time? Most experts recommend we consume six to eight servings a day, and that for most people, is a challenge. A solution to this problem, however, is right at your fingertips! Read on for some handy juicing hints.
Crumple up leafy greens, such as spinach, into tight balls before putting them in your juicer. Your juicer is primarily designed to deal with solid fruits and vegetables, not thin leaves. You will get better results from your juicer if you simulate this effect by squashing your leafy greens before juicing.
There are many different types of juicers to choose from, depending on the type of juice you prefer. No matter what style of juicer you prefer, avoid juicers that create a lot of heat when they run. Excess heat can ruin the valuable nutrients in the fruits and vegetables.
Wheat-grass has many health benefits such as cleansing the lymph system, and removing toxic metals from your cells. You can only ingest wheat-grass through juice, so juicing can be extremely beneficial. Be careful because wheat-grass does have a very strong taste. It is best to start out a little at a time. Each time you juice, just gradually add a little more.
Keep sugar content down by limiting fruits and certain vegetables. One of the things to watch out for when you are juicing are high sugar levels found in many fruits. High sugar levels can lead to a spike in blood sugar, so keep that in mind as you choose your ingredients. Vegetables grown underground such as carrots usually have a higher sugar content as well.
Beware of too much oxalic acid. If you have a history of kidney stones, gout, osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis you will aggravate your symptoms. Foods to avoid are spinach, chard, beets and rhubarb. You also have to remember not to combine them, or follow them with foods high in calcium, such as broccoli.
Keep a fresh stock of cut and washed fruits and vegetables on hand at all times. If you have to run to the store every time you want to make juice, you’ll never use that juicer. By having the fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to use, you will make juicing quick and convenient.
You don’t have to buy a fancy juicer to start juicing, you can use a blender or food processor just to get the hang of it. In fact, a food processor can do just as good a job as a juicer! I also picked up an inexpensive citrus juicer, though, as I found doing it manually hurt my hands.
If you are going to increase the amount of natural nutrients you take in by juicing regularly, be prepared to go through a detox phase. If your diet consists of a high level of processed foods, your body will have to go through an adjustment phase when it is faced with handling a large influx of wholesome nutrients.
When it comes to juicing, one thing that you want to keep in mind is that you want to make sure that your refrigerator will be able to hold all of your fruits and vegetables that you need. This is important because you will need a lot of space, keeping your ingredients in room temperature may cause them to spoil quicker.
Studies have shown that the optimal intake of fruit and vegetables in a day is 8 or 9 servings per day. Most people are lucky to even get 2 to 3, but by juicing you can meet your minimums easily and tastily! Make sure that the bulk of the servings, preferably 5 to 6, are vegetables.
Have you heard of almond milk? Anything that comes in liquid form can be juiced! Try adding chopped almonds to your juicer, and save the pulp for use in cookies, cakes, or breads. You might also add the almond pulp to a sugar-free banana bread to give it more flavor.
When it comes to juicing, one thing that you want to keep in mind is the fact that you do not need to depend on multivitamins or other supplements as much when using your juicer on a regular basis. This is beneficial because it will help you financially and give you a fun and tasty way to obtain the same nutrients.
Some people claim that mixing fruit and vegetables in your juice leads to indigestion as the enzymes required to break down fruit are very different than those to break down vegetables. I, personally, have never had a problem, but if you find you have any tummy upset after drinking a mixed juice then you should probably stick to one or the other.
In regards to juicing, you can simply drink the juice by itself or you can us the juice in either a frozen beverage or smoothie. This will help you to mix it up and keep things interesting and tasty.
When juicing for muscle building health benefits, go for all the dark leafy greens you can fit in! They contain all the nutrients and vitamins you lose when working out, and tossing in a scoop of protein powder (or any other supplement you pick up at the health store) will help you rebuild the muscle tissues you’ve damaged.
If you have an injury to a muscle, add more protein and ginger to your juices. Don’t over do it, though, and make sure to follow the instructions that come with your powder. Protein is the tool used by your body to rebuild damaged muscle, and ginger is a great anti-inflammatory.
Juicing your fruits and vegetables offers a quick, easy, and extremely delicious way to get your recommended daily doses of these vital foods while improving your overall health, energy level, as well as physical and mental stamina! It is no wonder so many people have turned to juicing – will you join them?
