Liquid Emeralds
Liquid Emeralds
Do you have a juicer sitting somewhere in storage? Or were you thinking of buying one and needed a little inspiration? Well here it is...
I acquired a juicer through marriage, and besides the guy I married, it's a treasure in our household. Before that, I blended my veggies, but the extra pulp and fiber made it hard to enjoy. I got it down the chute because I knew it was good for me, but since I didn’t enjoy it, I stopped doing it.
Benefits:
With juicing, you don’t get that insoluble fiber, but there is plenty of soluble fiber. Not to be too TMI, but your bowels will thank you in the morning. It is nutrient dense and rich in enzymes. A small glass is all you need. It will make your skin glow. You can choose your own produce and make your own creations. We tend to do 100% organic vegetables. Our last batch included spinach, kale, snap peas, lettuce, celery, and cucumbers. We flush out the juicer with about half a cup of already bottled Aloe Vera Juice. It was delicious! Carrots and orange bell pepper will also add some sweetness with and a side of beta carotene. You can add any fruit, but it will increase the sugar level in the juice. But if it’s too hard to drink without sweetness from fruit, do it so you can enjoy it. If you want to make a habit out of juicing (or anything for that matter), it has to be enjoyable.
Juicers:
Centrifugal juicers are the least expensive option on the market. They work best for juicing carrots, apples, cucumbers, celery, and other hard fruits and vegetables, versus high-fiber leafy greens like wheatgrass and kale. Pros: they are quick to use and easy to clean and assemble. It takes up less counter space. Affordable.
Cons: Their fast blades tend to be loud and add heat to the juice, which can destroy enzymes and nutrients. Drinking it immediately is best. Fast blades also create less yield.
Masticating juicers is also known as a slow juicer because it takes more time for the juicer to process the material, thus a higher yield. It “chews” the fruits and vegetables by using one gear to crush and press the juice through a strainer. Pros: otherwise known as “cold pressed”, this process avoids heat to produce a high volume of nutrient packed juice. You can juice all fruits and veggies including leafy green vegetables. The juice is good for up to 3 days. It has more parts than a centrifugal, but easy to clean. Unlike the centrifugal, it is not loud. May also work as a food processor or grinder. Cons: It is more expensive than the centrifugal, and slower to process the juice. You have to cut the produce into small pieces.
Triturating Juicer is a twin gear juicer that has a screen and two gears very close to each other to crush and grind every ounce of juice compared to the others. Pros: High quality juice with no heat (cold pressed). The slow process and twin gear yields a lot more juice. You can juice all fruits and veggies including leafy green vegetables. It is good for up to 3 days. Unlike the centrifugal, it is not loud, and even quieter than the masticating. May also work as a food processor or grinder. Cons: They are expensive and have many parts to clean and assemble. It is slower to process the juice, but faster than the masticating. They are big and heavy.
Juicing is a lifestyle choice. What fruits and veggies do you like? Nailing down your favorites will help you with the selection process. If you want to start juicing but not sure if you want to commit to the lifestyle, start with the centrifugal and graduate from there. But these juicers are not the best for leafy green veggies. Want to juice leafy greens as well? Start with the masticating juicer and graduate from there.
We have the triturating juicer by a company called Green Star. Personally, I would have never thought of buying something so expensive to make juice, but I am so grateful to have it. I love it. We make enough for a 32 oz jar, and have a small glass everyday until it is gone. I think it is important for our health, so it’s worth it. In the bigger picture, since we do it a couple times a month, it is a cheaper route than buying green juice at a store.
We tag team : One of us juices, the other cleans it. To be honest, pushing the veggies onto the juicer is fun, and the clean up is not bad at all. It smells wonderful and fresh making it and cleaning up. Storage is another consideration to choosing the right juicer. Ours has a permanent spot on our kitchen counter because it is big and heavy, and we use it enough to earn it’s spot there. Juicing is just one of many ways to create good health. I know I am getting my greens, and easily digestible in juice form. Drink up your emeralds!