Juicing 101: The Dos & Don’ts Of Juicing
Juicing is becoming increasingly important among those of us who don’t claim to be extreme health nuts but are simply looking to make better food choices here and there. If done correctly, juicing can add variety to your diet while sneaking in the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs.
“Juicing can be an easy way to slurp down fruits and vegetables, but it doesn’t replace the consumption of whole fruits and vegetables in the diet,” explains Angela Ginn, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Baltimore, Maryland.
“I have three rules to juicing. The first rule is 80 percent vegetables and 20 percent fruit. Vegetables are less calories – that’s why it should be 80 percent of your juicing recipe.”
“The second rule is to watch the portion size. Aim for 8-12 ounces for your daily intake. The third rule is to remember to enjoy colorful fruits and vegetables in its natural form – 2 to 3 servings of fruit per day and 4-5 servings of vegetables per day. To reap all the health benefits of juicing, it’s important to have a variety of produce.”
Here’s a few great recipes to keep your body working at optimum performance
Mean Green Weight Loss Machine (Weight Loss)
Apples – 2 medium (3″ diameter)
Celery – 4 stalk, large (11″-12″ long)
Cucumber – 1 cucumber (8-1/4″)
Ginger Root – 1 thumb (1″ dia)
Kale – 6 leaf (8-12″)
Lemon – 1/2 fruit (2-3/8″ dia)
Apple Sharp (Alzheimer’s Prevention)
Apples – 5 medium (3″ dia)
Celery – 2 stalk, large (11″-12″ long)
Oranges (peeled) – 2 fruit
Summer Strong (Arthritis/Bone Strengthening)
Basil (fresh) – 3 leaves
Blueberries – 1.5 cup
Cayenne Pepper (spice) – 2 pinches
Lime – 1/2 fruit (2″ dia)
Watermelon – 5 cup, diced
Dos
- Invest in a good-quality juicer (cold pressed is preferred among many juicers).
- Your juice should be green in color.
- Most (80-90 percent) of your juice should consist of green vegetables.
- Drink your juice on an empty stomach to get the most out of it.
- Drink your juice right away – the longer you wait, the more the nutrients will start to breakdown.
- Take the time to completely wash off all your fresh produce.
- Peel oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits and remove the pit from plums, peaches, apricots, and… Page 1 of 2
