Guide to Juicing

Looking to add juicing into your daily routine but feeling a bit overwhelmed because you don’t know where to start? Fear no more! Here is my Juicing 101 guide to help you out (please note that this is merely my own formula when it comes to juicing, feel free to tweak as you see fit):

Choosing the right juicer for your needs is an easy task once you have decided exactly what type of end result you are looking for. There are 2 different types of juicers out on the market: Masticating and Centrifugal. Both are great options so no need to feel like you are missing out if you buy the other. Here is a comparison of each type:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have owned both now and I must say that I am very happy with my Omega juicer (pictured to the left) in comparison to the Breville centrifugal juicer (pictured to the right). I did pay more for it ($250) so you might need an extra month to save up your pennies–I had to. It does take a lot longer to juice but I find that I get more out of leafy greens, actually I get something from leafy greens whereas the centrifugal that I had gave me mere drops from an entire bag of spinach. What I like about the Omega is that it keeps more of the nutrients in tact because it is a lower speed of rpms and it doesn’t heat up the juice. Also, it is an easier clean-up (especially when you can have your significant other do the cleaning–now that’s a sweet deal!) Matt is not included in the box though, sorry ladies…

Regardless, the centrifugal juicers have great benefits to them too: Budget-friendly (you can get a decent juicer at the cost of $100) and it juices very quickly. Perfect for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on this appliance and don’t have too much time/patience to spare waiting for the juice to come out (then again, the clean up time can make up for it)…

Once you have purchased the right juicer, start stocking up your refrigerator with the organic produce of your choice. I tend to follow a basic equation for juicing that looks like this:

STEP 1: I make sure to start of with at least one leafy green. My favorite go-to’s are spinach and kale but feel free to find your own personal favorites from the selection below:

 

STEP 2: Next, I like to add 1-2 vegetables into the mix. I’m not a fan of celery despite the great benefits so I tend to avoid it, however I tend to favorite cucumbers, beets, and carrots. I’m branching out so lay off me! I’ve been trying to rotate in my daily juice the following:

STEP 3: For sweetness, you will want to add a fruit. I try to limit it to just 1 to make sure I’m not ingesting too much sugar in one cup but there are days where I go for 2 (I know, I’m living on the edge):

STEP 4: Lastly, I love adding extras. Ginger is my jam so I add it into practically every juice. Get creative though. Research how each addition benefits your health and get crazy with throwing them in depending on your health needs:

 

Hydrate Juice Recipe

Makes 16 oz with the Omega masticating juicer

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 c. kale
• 1 green apple
• 3 carrots
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1/2 green bell pepper
• 1-2″ knob of ginger