If you want to really give your diet a healthy boost, try making your own fresh juices at home. You can take all of the fruits and veggies that you love and turn them into delicious, nutritious juices. If you’re not sure where to start, this article will show you how.
If you are planning on juicing citrus fruits only, or primarily citrus fruits, consider purchasing a juicer that is designed just for citrus. Many juicers have trouble with the amount of pith in a citrus fruit. In addition, juicers with metal surfaces will become corroded over time after repeated exposure to citrus fruits.
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.
Drink your juice on an empty stomach, such as first thing in the morning or about half an hour before a meal. This allows your system to better absorb the nutrients in your juice, without the interference of other foods. Juice drunk on an empty stomach can enter your system in as quickly as thirty minutes.
Mix leafy green vegetables with something sweet. Leafy vegetables have a strong taste and may be too much for you to start with, on their own. Luckily, juicing is a great chance to mix your foods; so temper that strong vegetable taste with something sweeter like apples or carrots. Plain water might work as well.
After you’re done juicing, make sure you wash all of your juicing equipment. In addition, some vegetables and fruits will stain the juicer if it sits too long before cleaning.
Be aware that citrus fruits do not always work well in all juicers. Because of the consistency of the pulp in the fruit the juicer can get clogged with the pulp or rind. If using a standard juicer, peel the fruit and cut into small pieces; otherwise get a citrus juicer that you will use for these types of fruit specifically.
While you may want to keep some extra juice on hand in the fridge, remember that you should drink it soon. Valuable nutrients will begin to be lost as the juice sits. Make enough extra for your next snack time and keep it to that. Making juice for the next day will rob you of the nutrients you were juicing for in the first place.
Don’t be afraid to juice melon! Cantaloupe and honeydew are very tasty ingredients, but keep in mind that they’re soft and will produce a thick juice. Watermelon, on the other hand, will produce a very watery juice. Make sure to get a seedless melon to make it easier for you to use.
Did you know that vegetable juice helps to keep blood sugar levels from spiking? It’s true! It doesn’t have a lot of sugar, and half as many calories as fruit juice. It also helps you feel full for a long time, curbing any snacking cravings you might have. Try a mix of carrot and parsley to end any temptations!
An important part of your juicing routine should be proper dental care. Fruit acid and sugar can soften or possibly erode your tooth enamel. Try to incorporate juice into your dental schedule by drinking the juice a few minutes before your morning brushing. This will also give you a healthy kick start to your day.
It’s best to avoid juicing fruits and vegetables that have a low water content. Avocados and bananas, for example, are quite dense and don’t have much water in them. They will clog up your juicer and you won’t get much juice out of them. If you really want to include them, blend them first and then mix them with juices from other produce.
When you’re creating juices for healthy benefits, you should use at least half or two-thirds dark green vegetables, like kale, chard, broccoli, or parsley. Also use herbs juices including mint, rosemary, and basil. Look for dessert recipes online to see great fruit and herb combinations you might like!
In regards to juicing, it is important to consider the fact that the nutrients in many of the ingredients you use, will have a direct impact on your appearance. This is important because you want to look and feel your best and juicing will help you do so because of the natural and cost efficient benefits to your nails, skin and hair.
There are many spices available that help boost your metabolism and get your body burning fat, so include powders like chili and cumin in your juice if you’re looking for weight loss or maintenance. You can also juice garlic and onions as they help your body battle the fat too!
Juicing is a great way to treat acne from the inside out. Try including foods like apricots, carrots, grapefruit, mango, pumpkin, strawberries, or watercress, as they all include the best vitamins and nutrients to battle the causes of pimples. They also taste great, so it’s a far more enjoyable way to treat your skin than smelly chemical creams.
A good juicing tip is to make sure you clean your juicer right after you use it. Cleaning your juicer right after use will prevent particles from hardening, which will make the juicer much easier to clean. You’ll save a lot of time and energy by doing this.
Masticating juicers are a great type of juicer if you are trying to find out what kind of juicer is the best choice. Masticating juicers are gentle and make juice without destroying or removing valuable nutrients of the fruits and vegetables. This also helps to the juice stay fresh longer.
As you’ve seen, making your own fresh, nutritious juices at home couldn’t be easier. There’s nothing stopping you from turning organic fruits and veggies into your very own taste treats. Just remember the tips you’ve learned from this article and you can boost your diet with all the juice you can drink!
