Juicing 101.
We are all too familiar with juice cleanses as they become increasingly more popular, but what are the actual health benefits of daily pressed juice? You don’t need to do an intense cleanse to reap the benefits, not only can they be expensive, but also who wants to drink a liquid diet for 3 days straight? Here is a little juicing 101, some simple ways to juice at home (even without a juicer) plus the benefits of adding fresh pressed juice to your daily routine.
How.
Buying bottled pressed juices can be pricey, so making them at home is a much more cost-efficient option. It is also a great way to use up produce you already are buying so nothing goes to waste. Although having a juicer is ideal to do this (here is the one I use) you can still make fresh juice without one. All you need is:
Blender
Fresh produce
Filtered water
Cheese cloth or produce bag
Jug
Fill your blender with the chopped/peeled fruits and vegetables you would like to use, then cover with filtered water to just above the fresh produce line and blend thoroughly. Once you are finished blending, you can pour the mixture through a cheese cloth or produce bag into a jug and voila! Fresh juice without the juicer. The pulp can be saved so nothing goes to waste, I like to freeze mine and add it to smoothies.
Why.
Now that we have talked about the how, let’s talk about the why. There are a ton of benefits to drinking pressed juice on a daily basis- it is a delicious and highly absorbable way for your body to get a ton of nutrients, as well as:
Immediate energy due to the high absorption rate of the nutrients
Hydration on a cellular level
Alkalinizing to the body; helping to fight disease and support strong bones
High source of antioxidants; fighting free radicals in the body and supporting healthy skin
Supports liver function and detoxification of toxins/pesticides/hormones that can build up in our tissues, such as skin
Feeds your body’s good bacteria, helping to suppress pathogenic bacteria and boosting your immune system
Rich source of enzymes and fibre that support healthy digestion
What.
And now, the best for last- the what. Some of Mooi’s favourite juice combinations include;
Lemon, ginger, apple, parsley, celery, cucumber, kale
Lemon, ginger, turmeric, carrot, beet, grapefruit
Lemon, kiwi, green apple, ginger, celery, kale
Pomegranate, beet, carrot, apple, lemon, ginger, celery, kale
Lemon, lime, fresh mint
These are some of my go-to’s, but you really can juice almost any produce, and I suggest trying different combinations. Fruits tend to give the most sweetness, along with carrots and beets, so by balancing out your sweet fruits and vegetables with lots of water rich green vegetables you can maximize nutrient density.
Most of us do not get our daily recommended serving of fruits and vegetables so this is a great way to achieve that. Usually my juices consist of using up whatever is in my fridge but I always make sure to try and have a good ratio of both fruit and vegetables. Whether you are looking to reboot and detoxify your system, or simply wanting a delicious way to get your daily fruit and vegetable intake up, juicing is a great option.
