Juicing is one of the best things we can do for our health. It’s extremely alkalizing, and it’s pretty much a straight shot of enzymes, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Juicing works by extracting the fluids from fruits and vegetables by slicing, grinding, or squeezing, leaving behind the fiber. Because there is no fiber to digest, the juice is quickly delivered to the bloodstream for a concentrated dose of nutrients. Juice oxygenates the entire body and eliminates toxicity. When you juice, you are able to efficiently consume virtually the nutritional equivalent of eating the produce. So, drinking the juice of a head of Italian kale, 6 carrots, and 2 Fuji apples for breakfast (my personal favorite at the moment) is like chomping down all of that produce. Not a bad start to the day!

Juices vs. Smoothies

I always get asked if juices are the same as smoothies. THEY ARE NOT! A smoothie is a blend of fruits and vegetables, so it includes the fiber. Does this make it better or worse than a juice? On the one hand, the nutrients, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins do not get as quickly or fully absorbed as the juice because of the fiber in the smoothie. You are also usually able to “consume” more produce in a juice than a smoothie, which will fill you up faster (as it is heavier). On the other hand, the fiber in the smoothie is beneficial in acting as a broom and sweeping the intestine to get waste matter moving and out of the body. While I love and consume both juices and smoothies, I will say that I personally have seen far more benefits juicing than blending. However, if you are just starting on your detox journey, smoothies might be a good place to start since they're more filling and can help you transition to a more juice-based diet without shocking the body.

When and how often to juice

Juice should always be consumed on an empty stomach, preferably as our first meal. This way, we can ensure that it is being efficiently absorbed. If we have eaten, depending on the food, we usually want to wait a few hours before having juice to make sure the food we ate has left the stomach.



We also want to avoid eating right after drinking a juice. Again, because we want to allow the body to properly absorb the juice, we want to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to eat, depending on how much juice we drank.



How often should you juice? Just like anything in life, consistency is key! In order to reap the full benefits of juicing, it is best to juice everyday.

Benefits of juicing

The nutritional profile of juice really levels up our health. One study found fresh fruit and vegetable juices induce a prebiotic-like effect; a mere 3-day juice-based diet “altered the intestinal microbiota associated with weight loss, increase in the vasodilator NO, and decrease in lipid oxidation.” As we know, a healthy microbiome contributes to good mental health, glowing skin, and increased energy levels. Chlorophyll-rich green juice is a potent blood builder and cleanser, as it prevents the absorption of dioxin and other harmful chemicals found in everyday foods. Lastly, the concentration of antioxidants found in fresh fruit and vegetable juices makes them effective at neutralizing free radicals which prevents cell damage.

Juicers

It is best to prepare your own juice. This way, you can control the quality and quantity of ingredients. There are few ways to get ripped off more than ordering a $10 juice at a juice bar and receiving a mostly cucumber drink (mostly water, cheap, and not the most nutrient dense) 🙃.



In terms of juicers, there are two main types: masticating and centrifugal. There’s a lot of debate between which is better. Masticating juicers work by slowly grinding the produce and then squeezing the juice out through a mesh screen. Centrifugal juicers work by shredding the produce and then spinning at a high speed to extract the juice. Masticating juicers extract slightly more nutrients since they produce very little heat and allow for the juice to stay fresher for a little longer than centrifugal juicers. On the other hand, centrifugal juicers are faster and require less prep time since the produce chute is usually bigger, so they are definitely more convenient. The difference between them is marginal, and the important thing is that we are juicing in the first place! These are the juicers I recommend:

Centrifugal:

https://amzn.to/36p7Yck



Masticating:

https://amzn.to/2TW3lDT



Tips

Some tips when it comes to juicing:

Chew your juice. Digestion begins in the mouth with salivation. It’s important to make chewing motions to salivate and release digestive enzymes.

Drink it right away. Enzymes are very delicate and die within 15-20 minutes. Because of this, we want to drink our juice right after we make it.

Enjoy it! Make yummy juices that you actually want to drink. Check out my IG stories for inspo and try this out:



Green Juice

Two handfuls spinach

1 lemon, peeled

5 celery stalks

1 cucumber

⅓ bunch parsely

1 green apple

Happy juicing!



Love,

Zeina