"Eat your vegetables" is a statement we’ve all heard before. While it might not have felt it at the time as you plugged your nose to eat another bite of brussel sprouts, it’s a statement full of love and good intention, wanting to instill a belief in the need for veggies at a young age. Vegetables, along with fruits, are extremely important foods that are essential to our diet. Each contains natural vitamins, minerals and enzymes that fuel our body and promote good overall health. Because of this, it may come to no surprise that juicing is a method of consuming fruits and veggies that has caught the attention of many today.
We at Sageborn believe in the incredible health benefits of juicing and want to help you get started on “drinking your veggies.”
What is juicing?
Juicing is the process of extracting the liquid found in fruits and vegetables.
Why should I juice?
Often, it’s hard to consume the amount of fruits and vegetables that our body really craves. Juicing allows us to extract vitamins and minerals that we would from a few bundles of fruits and veggies and consume them in one glass. Not only are we able to get some healthy greens into our body quickly, but it can often be easier on the digestive system. Juice provides the body with a break from working so hard to digest food simply because drinking liquid is easier. Not only that, but researchers have found that juicing allows the body to absorb the vitamins and nutrients better and quicker meaning we’re able to experience the benefits of those healthy foods much sooner.
How do I juice?
One of the best things about juicing is it’s incredibly easy and accessible. It’s as simple as heading to the grocery store and picking out any number of fruits and vegetables that look good and putting them in your cart to buy. There’s no rush to jump in, we recommend starting with ingredients you know you love and slowly working in other fruits and veggies that you might never have thought of to include. Remember to wash all produce and buy organic if possible. After that, begin your juicing method of choice, which leads us to the next section.
What kind of juicer should I buy?
Cost does not have to be a constraint when it comes to juicing as there is a number of juicers for every budget. One of the most important things to look for in a juicer is if it uses a masticating process or not. Masticating juicers, also referred to as cold pressing, is a more effective way of extracting juice from the produce because it’s a process that is slower and allows more nutrients and minerals to transfer to the juice without turning into pulp. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few juicers that we highly recommend:
- Top of the line: The Green Star Elite, $450-550
- Medium ground: Omega J8006 Masticating Dual-Stage Juicer, $250-300
- To get started: Aicok Slow Masticating Juicer, $100-$180
When should I juice?
Ideally, the best time to juice would be first thing in the morning when your stomach is still empty. The reason for this is that our bodies crave food in the morning and will absorb the first thing we put in our bodies to the fullest. If that’s true then why not start our day off with a plethora of delicious fruits and vegetables? We promise the results of daily, or even weekly juicing, will not only create healthy results down the road, but will make us feel better physically and mentally in the here and now as well.
Recommended Daily Ritual:
Begin with a simple, nutrient packed recipe. One of our favorites is the simple combination of carrot, apple, and ginger (pictured above). It’s a great go-to recipe for anytime of the year.