The health benefits of juicing have been talked about for decades. Despite that, many people have never tried juicing in their own homes. At-home juicing is as easy as preparing your morning smoothie and may be a better option for you.
All that is required is a little research to determine what will work best for your life. Today, we are taking you through the benefits of juicing and how to pick a juicer that will yield the desired results.
What Are The Benefits of Juicing?
Juicing offers many of the benefits that eating whole fruits and vegetables does. The vitamins and minerals extracted through juicing help to give your body a health boost.
The downside? Juicing also removes the healthy fibers that are essential when it comes to keeping you full and promoting a healthy diet.
Juicing supporters claim that removing the fiber from fruit and vegetables allows for better nutrient absorption and is easier on sensitive stomachs. This information is anecdotal and does not have any scientific backing.
That said, juicing can still be part of a healthy, balanced diet. The key is to think of juicing as a meal supplement rather than a replacement. Juicing alone will not keep you full, but it can be a fun way to add vitamins and minerals to your meal.
How Do I Juice?
In the juice world, there are two methods of juicing. The first – and arguably more common – method is centrifugal. These are the juicers you probably grew up seeing. They create juice using a high-speed blade that is powerful enough to chop up whole fruits and vegetables. The machine will then strain the pulp from the juice.
Centrifugal juicing is popular because it is so simple. It is quick, and most machines come with machine washable parts that are easy to clean.
The second method is much less common but is growing in popularity. Cold pressing is another method of making high-quality juices at home. Unlike a centrifugal juicer, which relies on chopping and grinding, a cold press juicer uses a hydraulic press that squeezes the juice from the produce.
Cold-pressed juice tends to be healthier because the juice is extracted without any heat that causes the produce to oxidize. However, the process does take longer than a traditional centrifugal juicer.
Because it is more highly processed juice made with a centrifugal juicer, they will last longer in the refrigerator. Cold-pressed juice is best enjoyed within a day or two.
What Juicer Is Right For Me?
Now that you understand the different types of juicers, it’s time to pick one out for your home! Juicers, like any major kitchen appliance, can be a bit of an investment, so it is important to pick one that will make you happy.
Best Centrifugal Juicer
In the juice world, no juicer is more powerful than the ones made by Breville. Their Juice Fountain Cold Plus is no exception. This juicer stands out by offering unique cooling technology that allows you to have juice with the speed of a traditional centrifugal juicer without the overheating that leads to vitamin and mineral loss.
Best Cold Press Juicer
If you’ve seen celebrities or influencers touting the benefits of juicing, it’s likely that you’ve seen them using the Nama J 2. This deluxe cold press juicer is designed to be used with minimal effort. Users simply fill the juicer with large – or even whole – pieces of fruit and vegetables and then are free to walk away. The J2 will do the rest of the work for you. We also love that it is easy to clean and offers a 15-year warranty!
Best Budget Juicer
Looking to get into juicing without breaking the bank? Look no further than the Breville Juice Fountain Compact! This smaller juicer offers the dependable features of the more popular Breville Juicer models but at half the price. This centrifugal juicer is sure to have you hooked on juicing in no time.
Manual Juicer
If you’re looking to start incorporating fresh juices into your diet slowly, consider buying a manual juicer. This is a really affordable way to get your vitamins and minerals on a smaller scale. Manual juicers are great for a single glass of juice or for making cocktails and mocktails. Our favorite? This one from Amazon.
What Can I Juice?
One of our favorite aspects of juicing is how versatile it is. Virtually any type of produce can be juiced. With a little trial and error, you can find a combination that makes your taste buds sing!
Need a little guidance? Here are our favorite combinations:
- Apple + Kale + Lemon + Ginger
- Carrot + Ginger
- Beet + Blueberry + Lime
- Pineapple + Mango + Kale
- Cucumber + Apple + Celery
- Pear + Cucumber + Kale + Ginger
What are your favorite juicing combinations? Share with us, in the comments below!
