Juicers
Juices are so health-building that modern Juicers have progressed a lot. They're lighter, more compact, less noisy and more efficient than they used to be. New technology, with high powered motors, more effieient cutting blades and design result in more juice and less waste. Some people wonder, why make juice, when it's easier to buy it? Juice, fresh squeezed or pressed, has more vitamins, enzymes,and other nutrients than juice that has sat on the shelf even 24 hours, or longer if pasteurized. Many modern juicers are easier to use and clean than their predecessors, and unlike most manufactured juice, fresh juice has no preservatives, added sugars or artificial flavourings, and isn't denatured by pasteurization. Due to the extra vitamins and nutrients in fresh juice, most people notice a marked improvement in their health when they switch to fresh juice from bottled juice.
Juice is a great source of energy, without the calories. It's great if you are dieting or just want to exercise a little control. A frozen juice popsicle isbetter than the mass produced kind and you can vary it with exotic fruits available throughout the year. Juice popsicles make great treats for the kids, and a healthy alternative to candy bars and hot dogs. There are many beneficial nutrients in fresh juice, but many of them fade quickly with time. Some evaporate in minutes, so drinking your juice right after you make it is best. Instead of making large batches, try to make it fresh, as you want it. This is much easier today, especially if you choose a model that is easy to clean and reassemble.
If you need to store your fresh juice, there are some things you can do to keep it fresher, longer. Add a little lemon juice, the citric acid keeps it fresher longer. Use cold fruit or vegetables in the juicer and use lower speeds, if your juicer has that option. Generally, low rpm speeds destroy fewer nutrients, and juices stay fresh longer. To prevent oxidation, store your juice in glass or stainless steel containers and fill them to the top to cut down the air in the container. Remember to always keep your juice cold! There are many Juicers on the market today, with several methods to extract juice.
Juicers work different than blenders. Juicers separate the juice from the pulp, while blender mix them together. If you drink Juice with no pulp or solids, you absorb 90% of the nutrition in the stomach and small intestine. If you mix the juice with the solids, it has to go through the full digestive process, and you may only absorb 10% of the nutrition. Juicing is well worth the effort if you are using it for internal healing.
There are several kinds of Juicers available.
Carrot Juice #1: The Norwalk Juicer is probably the oldest and best overall "pressing" juicer. It presses out the most minerals and enzymes out of carrots and most other vegetables and fruits by using a 2-step method: grinding, then pressing through cheesecloth. It breaks up the cell walls better than most others and gets more juice out than most other juicers. It is also more expensive than any others, usually over $2,000 new, but worth it. The Norwalk also can make purees and grind other foods, even if you don't want to juice them.
Carrot Juice #2: The Champion masticates the carrots and is said to get a little more than 1/2 the minerals and enzymes as the Norwalk, but it is a lot cheaper,usually about $200-$300 new. For juice, the pulp is moister than the Norwalk, so you save more money with the Norwalk in the long run. You can also make purees and grind other foods, and with a mill attachment, you can grind grains.
Carrot Juice (avoid these): There are lots of Centrifugal or Spin Juicers available, some for as little as $200, but they waste most of the juice and don't pull out the minerals and enzymes. The lower Omega models, and even some very popular name juicers like Jack LaLane are Centrifugal type. We recommend any other type of juicer over centrifugal.
Green Leaf Juice: Most Juicers either can't juice green leaves, or don't do it well. The Norwalk does it well.
Some Twin-Gear Juicer models like the Green Star are easier to use than even the Norwalk. Most are available for $400-$500.
Wheatgrass Juice: If you want to juice Wheatgrass, as recommended by Ann Wigmore and the Hippocrates Health Institute, you should get a Wheatgrass Juicer. Some hand-crank models are available for $40-$120. Some good electric models are available for $200-$300.
No matter the style of your machine, fresh juice is always best. Having the most nutrients and vitamins, everything the body needs to keep it energised and healthy.
This article was written by Jim Krage of Live Food Healing .com.
