Juicing for Health – Is It Really Worth the Effort & Time?

Juicing for health has become a popular trend, with some people claiming that it can offer all sorts of health benefits, ranging from weight loss to improved immunity and energy. But is juicing really worth it? In this guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of juicing, what you should consider before getting started and how to get the most out of your juicing regime.

I’ve decided to test the health benefits of juicing for myself and I’m sharing my personal experience, results, tips, recipes and more.

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What inspired me to start juicing?

It was an anecdotal story from an acquaintance, who’s also a trained nutritionist, who related her own health benefits she saw with the introduction of a daily intake of celery juice. Finding I struggle with consuming enough vegetables in my daily meals, I thought I’d give juicing for health a try and see if I can experience a positive outcome as well.

Here’s what I’m hoping to accomplish with juicing:

• reduce my inflammation
• help balance my hormones
• heal my gut
• reduce my psoriacis or ezcema

What are the Benefits of Juicing?

I’ve told you my personal goals for juicing, but what are the benefits? There are many potential benefits to juicing, ranging from better digestion to improved immunity. It can also be a great way to cleanse the body and help maintain a healthy weight. Juices can be packed with vitamins and minerals, providing your body with an easy-to-digest powerhouse of nutrition in minutes. Plus, juicing can provide an easy way to increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables that may otherwise be difficult to consume due to time constraints or dietary restrictions. Juicing, according to the Juice Guru, can help detoxify, balance hormones, reduce inflammation and help with focus and productivity.

How to Get Started with Juicing for Health?

For anyone considering incorporating juicing into their routine, there are a few important steps to take. Start by researching and selecting a good quality juicer for your needs and budget. Since I already have a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer, I decided that a masticating juicer attachment would be the most affordable option.

Then start assembling all the essentials — fruits, vegetables, and other additives like herbs or nuts. Research recipes that appeal to you and experiment with different blends to discover your favourite tastes and combinations. Be sure to inform yourself about proper techniques for prepping produce and cleaning the machine afterward. Finally, remember that when it comes to making healthy juice, fresh ingredients will always be your best option.

I recommend investing in a recipe book that will help you along. I use and highly recommend The Juice Guru.

Proper kitchen set-up is crucial for successful juicing

Assemble all the necessary ingredients and tools beforehand – this will prevent unnecessary scrambling later on. Clear out any clutter from your work area and make sure the countertops are clean. This will provide a more hygienic environment to prepare the juice plus it’ll also save you time because everything you need will be in one spot. Finally, keep a cloth nearby to quickly clean up any spills that could occur during the juicing process.

How to Choose the Right Ingredients for Your Needs

To get the most out of juicing, it’s important to include a variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure a balanced nutrient intake. Consider adding dark green leafy veggies like spinach, kale or collard greens which are packed with vitamins A, C and K. Adding sweet fruits like apples can make drinking your juices more enjoyable, while tart citrus fruits like lemons or limes provide vitamin C for immune system health. Include fibrous vegetables like celery and cucumber for added fibre benefits. Avoid sugary additives or artificial flavours as these will reduce the health benefits of the juice.

If you want to add some anti-inflammatory fruits and vegetables, try:

• celery (this is the one I’m trying at the moment)
• cantaloupe
• lemon
• pineapple
• kale
• cucumber
• spinach
• beets

If you want to detoxify your body, try adding some of the following fruits and veggies:

• apples
• beets
• ginger root
• lemons

What are some of the cons of juicing?

Well to start off with, juicing uses up a lot of product, so it can get quite expensive. My best tip here is to use locally grown, in-season fruit and vegetables when available. If you have a home garden, even better!

Juicing creates a lot of pulp waste. That pulp contains good fibre. You can save carrot or celery pulp to flavour soup stock. You can also use the juicing byproduct to add to your garden or houseplants as compost. If you juicing carrots, save the pulp for carrot cake or carrot muffins.

It’s important to realize that when you are juicing, you are not getting dietary fibre, you are only the soluble fibre. Dietary fibre is important for your digestive system, it’s the one that acts like a scrub brush for your intestines. Make sure you are still eating enough whole fruits and vegetables for that dietary fibre.

Fruit can contain high amounts of sugar. Although your body might process these sugars differently than glucose, it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

Tips for Making Your Juicing For Health Routine Easier & More Effective

Making your own juice can be a time-consuming process, but there are a few easy tips that can make the experience easier and more efficient.

• Invest in a quality juicer like a masticating or twin gear model that extracts every last drop of juice from fruits and vegetables. Stock up on ice trays to store fresh juice for future use.
• Plan ahead to avoid having to buy ingredients at the last minute – choose what type of produce you want to include in your juices for the week and buy accordingly (pro tip: you’ll go through a lot of produce). Use my handy meal planner to plan ahead with a weekly meal plan and grocery list.
• Prep your fruit and veggies the evening before when possible to make the juicing process faster in the morning.
• Have your juice first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach so it will absorb the nutrients more efficiently.

Favourite Recipes For Juicing For Health

I keep it simple. Juice half a bunch of celery and enjoy celery juice first thing in the morning. Wait 30 minutes or more to eat breakfast. Pure celery juice has many benefits, including improving digestion, and reducing inflammation, is great for your skin, and is also a great source of vitamins and minerals.

For a sweeter, perhaps more palatable version, juice 2 apples and 3 or 4 stalks of celery. This will dilute the effectiveness of celery juice but will taste better. Stir and enjoy.

For green juice, try a couple of sticks of celery, a lemon, spinach, two green apples and cucumber.

My kids have been enjoying our new juicer as well. They prefer fruit juices such as a mix of oranges, grapes and pineapple, but when they are not looking, I can sneak in a handful of spinach, or a carrot and they will never know!

Juicing For Health For Two Weeks & Here’s What I Found

The first thing I noticed when I started juicing for health was that I was way more energetic, like my younger self. Another thing I noticed was that I didn’t seem to crave junk food, not even coffee! I’d like to think I’ve seen some improvements with my psoriasis or eczema and my skin in general but I think I’ll need to stick with it for several more weeks before I can really tell. My weight hasn’t budged yet and I haven’t balanced my hormones either, but at this point, only time will tell.

So, there you have the low done on juicing for health. Before you leave, check out my juicing recommendations:

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