First Posted: 6/10/2013
Juicing has been around for ages but recently it has gained a lot of momentum and is one of the most popular fads in America. No matter where you go, it seems like everyone is talking about juicing and how it’s the greatest thing in the world.
Juicing has been something I have wanted to try for quite some time, but because a proper juicer costs a few hundred dollars, it hasn’t exactly been a priority. Luckily for me, after a month of trying it out my mom and dad decided they weren’t all that into it so they passed on their top-of-the-line juicer to me! Since I just starte,d I don’t feel any different, but I’m hearing that after about a week you feel lighter, have more energy and even start thinking a little clearer. Sounds good to me!
The first juice I tried was called the “Green Machine” and it actually tasted pretty good. In it was the following: three stalks of celery, two cups of spinach, two cucumbers and one green apple. Adding a green apple takes away the bitterness and balances everything out, but you’re really supposed to juice mainly vegetables. I plan to start out slow and juice for breakfast every other day. Eventually, I would like to juice every morning.
So why juice? Juicing is one of the most efficient ways to get concentrated nutrients into your body. When the liquid is extracted from fruits and vegetables, all of the fillers are left behind, meaning you get more concentrated vitamins and minerals. With proper exercise and juicing I hope to lose some weight and to also have a little more energy. Plus, I just planted my garden – what else am I going to do with all of those vegetables?
The great news about juicing is that it’s just as good for the environment as it is for you. We all know that the meat industry has a significant environmental toll as raising animals requires much more land and resources than raising vegetables. By cutting out meat a few days a week (or altogether) and replacing it with juicing, you’re cutting back on water pollution, air pollution, soil erosion, and energy use.
In case you’re curious, I have the Omega Vert Low Speed Juicing System. This guy isn’t cheap, but it works great. Instead of grinding the vegetables, this juicer squeezes them, which allows the vegetables to maintain pure color and keep their nutrients and vitamins. I will warn you, though, cleaning these things is not fun.
I’m not a nutritionist but I wouldn’t recommend going extreme and living on juice alone, despite what all the raw food enthusiasts might say. Moderation is definitely the key. Juicing works best when combined with a regular, healthy diet.
Have you tried juicing? Let us know what you think! Is juicing just going to be another trend or is it here to stay?
