What you should know, but didn't know to ask...

Juicing for Health

A Juicer surrounded by healthy fruits and vegetables, isolated on white.

Getting Your Vitamins from Food

Fifty percent of Americans take vitamins. Pills, gummies and capsule supplements have created a billion dollar industry on the notion that you don’t receive all the nutrients you need from food so you should supplement them with a multi-vitamin.

Yet, there is no hard medical evidence to support the notion that vitamins have any great health benefit due to differences in quality, and absorption rates. It is important when taking vitamins that they are high quality or they may do no good. Many researchers believe that the greatest health benefit from taking a vitamin is mental because you think you are being healthy by “getting all your nutrients.”

While the medical industry is on the fence regarding the value of supplements in a diet, most can agree that your best natural alternative is getting your daily dose of vitamins from food is the most advantageous option.

If you are looking for specific juicing ideas that will help support pressing health concerns, a good place to start is in your local bookstore with books on the use of medicinal herbs, greens and other foods that can become a part of a juicing program. Natural alternatives have been around for thousands of years. Just ask the ancient Chinese, Indians, Arabs, and Greeks to name a few.

Check these books out:

So, what’s the quickest way to get your vitamins from food? Juicing.

Benefits of Juicing Fruits and Vegetables

When you run fruits and vegetables through a juicer you are getting the very best nutritional parts of them. In juice form our bodies can absorb and process the good stuff more quickly.

Main benefits of juicing include:

  • Weight loss
  • Immune system boost
  • Clearer complexion
  • Increased energy
  • Disease prevention

It is not uncommon to hear stories where juicing contributed to the healing of common diseases:

  • Alanna Kivalya claims she cured her thyroid disease by changing her diet.
  • Ann Cameron claims carrot juice cured her lung cancer.
  • Kristine Matheson, who was given six months to live almost two years ago, claims she cured her cancer by eating only fruits and vegetables in raw form.
  • Hanna ended her suffering of psoriasis in 30 days on a juicing cleanse.

How to Get Started

You need two things to make a green juice: (1) vegetables (2) a juicing machine. The Internet is full of delicious recipes, and you can purchase a juicer in stores like Wal-Mart, Target or Bed Bath & Beyond from $30 to $400 dollars.

When purchasing a juicer, consider the following factors, since it can be an expensive investment:

  • Noise – How loud is the juicer? Many juicers are very loud when grinding down vegetables.
  • Parts – Does it come with many parts? Juicing can be messy, requiring hand cleaning of all the pieces after each use.
  • Juice quantity – Cold press juicers are more expensive but yield more juice. Read more about cold press juicers vs. centrifugal juicers.
  • Number of uses – How often will you use the juicer? Are you a newbie or a pro?
  • Prep time – Does your juicer require the veggies be cut into small pieces? Some machines are not able to handle the grinding of the food unless it is cut up, adding to your prep time.
  • Speed – Look for a machine with a low speed to reduce oxidation.
  • Height – How high above the counter is the spout where the juice comes out? Some earlier versions are not tall enough for a large glass forcing you to use more than one glass, or a bowl.

It is difficult to argue against the health benefits of green juicing. If making the juices proves too much of a commitment, check your local listings to find a green bar near you. Many fitness gyms house juicing bars that you can go to without being a fitness member. Whole Foods and other local supermarkets are a great place to start, as many sell fresh pre-bottled green juices on their shelves. It doesn’t matter if you make your own juice or purchase it from someone else. The important part is getting those greens.

Additional Resources

Videos

Books

Apps

  • Juice, by Mindbloom, available on iTunes for free
  • Juicing, by Mark Patrick Media, available on iTunes for a fee
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