Juicing!
BAH!
HUMBUG!
That was the old Alyssa.
Tis nothing but a passing fad. It’s probably not even good for you!
Those crazy health nuts!
Hopefully you’re NOT like the old me. The one who wasn’t very open to new ideas or trying new things.
Hopefully, you’re here because you believe in the healing power of fresh unadulterated fruits, veggies, herbs, roots, & spices. Or at least you want to believe.
Fruits and Veggies.
Micro-nutrients.
God’s medicine.
Well, you are in the right spot my friends!
Have we got a show for you!
Veggie Tales! Veggie Tales! Veggie Tales!
Veggie Tales.
There’s never ever ever been a show like Veggie Tales.
Oh there’s never ever ever been a show like Veggie Tales!
It’s time for Veggie Taaaaaa aaaaaaa aaaaaaaa les.
Sorry. I couldn’t help it. Please at least tell me that you sang it in your head?
Winter Is Coming!
If you live in Michigan, you know it’s pretty much here… It has already snowed, and I’m putting up the tree!
Let’s clarify one thing before we go any further…
November 1st – 21st = Christmas
November 22nd = Thanksgiving
November 23rd = Black Friday (DEALS DEALS DEALS)
November 24 – December 30th = Christmas
NOBODY IS SKIPPING THANKSGIVING HERE, OK?
Fight me.
Now that THAT’S settled…
Have you been thinking about what you want to purchase when those deals hit (before the turkey is even cold)?
In my experience, I have found that the kitchen appliance deals are the BEST on Black Friday.
I also predict record breaking online sales this year. I went out (briefly) last year, and I instantly regretted it.
It was cold.
It was messy.
People were stupid.
I couldn’t find what I wanted anyway.
I should have stayed home in my over-sized turkey pants with a glass of vino in my hand and stuck to shopping from the comfort of my home and computer screen.
If you are thinking about getting into juicing…
…this is the PERFECT time.
If you are not thinking about getting into juicing, then start thinking about it.
January is coming. If you are like me, then you will probably start to feel guilty about all of the general mistreatment you put your body through from the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas…the food…the alcohol…the food.
The sitting around in your pajamas on the couch for days on end watching Teen Wolf with your sister and gorging yourself on Christmas cookies…
The WINE. Oh the wine…
I’m already feeling guilty, and it hasn’t even happened yet.
So. You’re here because you already know the benefits of juicing, and you want to get into the HOW TO.
If you do NOT know about the benefits of juicing, it is time to get on the bandwagon.
I’m not a doctor or a scientist or a nutritionist.
I can try my best to explain all this stuff that I have been learning about for the past 5 years or so, but it’s probably best if you do a little research for yourself.
Start by turning on Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead on Netflix.
I know the title sounds extreme, but it will seriously motivate you in the health department.
An Australian guy (not too shabby looking if I do say so myself) cures his autoimmune disorder (that he’s had for almost 10 years) by juicing and then switching to a plant based diet.
He goes to Dr. Joel Fuhrman in New York for help. I read Dr. Fuhrman’s book Eat to Live a few years earlier, so when I saw his name in the documentary description, I knew I had to watch.
Check out Dr. Fuhrman’s book here:
Eat to Live: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, Revised Edition
(I was channel surfing one night in 2013, and I saw him on a rerun of Dr. Oz. This was during my years of searching for health answers – see Why I Removed My Implants.)
I had also previously watched Food Inc. and Fed Up. Highly recommend those as well.
Where to start? What kind of juicer do I buy? How do I juice? WHAT can I juice? Will it even taste good?
Friends, I have been there before. I have done all the research. I have juiced all of the produce (well a lot of it anyway).
My family calls me “The Juicing Queen,” and they made up a nice little {mean} song to go with it. Oh well.
Decide on a Juicer
Sounds easy until you start looking.
There are two different kinds of juicers. Centrifugal and Masticating.
The first juicer I bought was the centrifugal kind. It rapidly spins and shoots fiber out one end and juice out the other.
Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus 850-Watt Juice Extractor
Great for a beginner.
Great for juicing tougher produce (carrots, beets, etc).
Juices quickly.
Good price point.
Not so great on the leafy greens.
LOUD.
Clean up is not my favorite.
Because of the speed and the spinning, it exposes your juice to more oxygen (oxidation) and your juice loses nutrients fast.
FOAM.
I started juicing for both my mom and me. The clean up on this one got me. I burnt out.
This Black Friday, I have my eye on this bad boy 😉
As you can see, this is a masticating Omega Juicer. It kind of slowly crushes up the produce. You still get pulp out one end and juice out the other, but better 🙂
Great juice yield with leafy greens (the nutrients you need/want the most).
Can juice wheatgrass.
Less noise.
Easier clean up.
Multiple Functions (Make juices, nut butters, pasta, etc.)
Higher price point.
Not as great on the hard/tough produce.
This baby is the MOTHER of all juicers. I am committed, so this is the one for me. I consider it a lifetime investment in my health.
This is an investment in YOU. Your future. Your health. Self-care people. Comes from self-love. That’s the way I see it.
It’s hard. MAN is it SO hard. Especially when it comes to food and alcohol.
Click the button above for my juicing supplies shopping list!
Ok. Now you’ve got the juicer. “How does this juicing thing work?”
Carrot, Apple, Lemon Juice. One of my favs!
Eventually, you’ll get the juicing thing down. Most recipes include apples or cucumbers. You need a fruit or veggie with high water content. Then you need some greens. Usually a little citrus. Maybe throw in some ginger or turmeric to spice things up a little.
I can’t wait to make ginger shots with my new juicer you guys! So excited 😀
(You need a masticating juicer for those.)
If you need a guide to get started, I recommend Joe’s book. It is FILLED with recipes, and he walks you through the steps of doing a juice fast too.
The Reboot with Joe Juice Diet: Lose Weight, Get Healthy and Feel Amazing
Going cold turkey is hard, but it’s very effective.
Buying the Produce
There are some fruits and veggies that you will just plain old want to buy organic. I know. I know. I sound like a snob, but I don’t care.
Have you ever heard of the Dirty Dozen? The Clean 15?
You’re trying to get healthy here…not load your body up on pesticides.
Storing the juice
You’re gonna play around for a while and experiment, but eventually you will want to make some juice in bulk.
You need glass bottles that seal.
Pratico Kitchen 18oz Leak-Proof Glass Bottles, Juicing Containers, Water/Beverage Bottles – 6-Pack
It is important to fill the juice to top. Less oxygen in bottle = fresh juice for longer. Juice starts to lose nutrients as soon as you juice it (if that makes sense). Drink within 72 hours at the latest.
I am considering purchasing some mason jars for this too.
Items to make juicing easier
Apple Corer (no need to peel).
Simple, but effective.
Apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide. If you’re juicing a lot of apples, get those seeds out. Plus, anything to save me time.
Citrus Juicer
OXO Good Grips Small Citrus Juicer with Built-In Measuring Cup and Strainer
Again, simple yet effective. I love the little cup on the bottom to catch the juice. Beats trying to squeeze it over a bowl.
Bottle Cleaner
I Challenge You..
Stop thinking about taking charge of your health, and JUST DO IT ALREADY.
If you want more fruits and veggies in your life, but you hate the taste, then juicing is your gateway!
If you want more fruits and veggies in your life, but you hate mindlessly munching on salads for 1.5 days per salad, then try adding juice!
Do your homework.
Watch the movie.
Read the book.
Buy the juicer.
Commit to a healthier YOU today.
You will not regret it.
Also the juice tastes good 🙂
Your taste buds will change as you cut out the fat, the sugar, and the processed foods. You’ll start to like those veggies if you stick with it! I promise!
If you are interested in joining me for a juicing challenge in the near future (a way to be accountable), then throw your email down below. I will be in touch! Start thinking about it and prepping for future post-Christmas YOU.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may make a small percentage of income on the sale at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I have used or currently use and ABSOLUTELY love. Income earned from affiliate sales helps to offset the cost of maintaining this blog. You do not have to purchase anything through my link, but if you do, I would be grateful.
Another Disclaimer: There are no health guarantees when juicing. I am not a doctor or a health professional. I am not a scientist or a nutritionist. You gotta do the research and do what’s right for you.
