So let’s talk juice.
Not the kinds you buy in the grocery store, but freshly pressed homemade vegetable and fruit juices.
Juicing is one of the best things you can do for your body. It provides your body with a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals in a highly absorbable form. You get a hefty dose of vegetables and fruit and all their valuable micronutrients down to the very last drop because the process of juicing makes them so easily assimilated by the body.
Not only that, but a freshly pressed juice in the morning can be easier on your digestive system and a good way to start the day off with a nutrient-dense drink.
I’ve talked a bit about the benefits of juicing before so now it’s time to talk about how to make your own juice at home with a juicer.
Juicing Tips:
1.) Buy organic vegetables and fruits. You don’t want any pesticide residue in your fresh juice. You don’t peel fruits and vegetables when you juice so this is very important.
2.) Start with vegetables and fruits you like and are used to first. Juice vegetables like carrots, celery and cucumber which have a light, pleasing taste and then slowly introduce dark leafy greens as your palate becomes accustomed to the taste of fresh vegetable juice.
3.) Try to avoid making juices that are high in sugar content. While fruit juices can be a sweet treat every once in a while, they are high in sugar and can affect blood sugar levels. Try to mix in vegetables and make a juice that has more vegetables than fruit.
4.) Along those lines stay away from using too many root vegetables like beets and carrots b/c they have a slightly higher sugar content. Those are fine to start with but use them judiciously.
5.) Drink your juice as soon as possible after pressing. If possible, drinking the juice within 1 hour is optimal as it starts to lose its nutritional value as time passes. If you do store your juices keep them in a glass container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
6.) Prepare your ingredients the night before to make juicing easier in the mornings. Washing everything ahead of time is a real time saver. Have your juicer out on the counter easily accessible as well so you don’t have to pull it out every time you need to use it.
Here’s one of my favorite juice recipes to get you started. I call it my green lemonade; it’s a fennel, apple and celery juice with mint and parsley.
The combination of fennel, celery and parsley can be helpful for water retention as they have a mild diuretic effect. Celery has both sodium and potassium and is particularly good at replenishing lost minerals in the body after exercise or illness. Mint is a good digestive aid as is fennel which has a slightly sweet and mild anise flavor. Parsley is a powerhouse vegetable when it comes to juicing, it’s is high in vitamin C and is considered an immune booster.
A little bit of tart green apple and freshly squeezed lemon juice is what makes this juice “lemonade,” as they offer a little sweetness and tartness and balance the juice’s flavors.
Cheers to your health!
Green Lemonade Juice Recipe
Fennel, Apple, Celery Juice with Mint and Parsley
Ingredients
- 1 small head of fennel or ½ a large one
- 2 stalks of celery
- 1 handful of mint
- ½ bunch flat leaf parsley
- ½ tart green apple like a granny smith
- 2 small lemons, peeled
Instructions
- Put all ingredients through a juicer.
- Stir, and drink immediately.
Notes
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Vegetarian, Vegan
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 68Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 21mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 2gSugar: 9gProtein: 1g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Nancy@acommunaltable says
This juice sounds SO good and refreshing!
Wenderly says
What a GORGEOUS green lemonade Sylvie! Cheers!
Alyssa says
This juice looks absolutely amazing! I still haven't purchased a juicer yet, but make green smoothies daily. I will have to try this combo!
Are you aware of the added benefits of juicing vs. drinking smoothies? Just curious if it's worth the investment!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Sylvie says
Juicing extracts only the juice of the fruits and vegetables, while a smoothie includes the fiber and pulp, so there are a few differences between the two. Juicing allows for faster absorption of nutrients. Because there's no fiber, juices are a concentrated and readily absorbed source of vitamins and minerals. Removing fiber also means that there's less digestive work needed to process the food.
Because smoothies contain fiber, they are more slowly absorbed into the blood stream and your blood sugar levels remain stable and you will feel fuller longer. You can also add protein to a smoothie, making it a more balanced meal replacement. The fiber in smoothies also helps keep your digestive tract moving and feeds the good bacteria in your gut.
So to answer your question, I think they both have their place in a healthy diet.
Alyssa says
Sylvie, thank you for the detailed and thoughtful response. I can see now why many people juice over drinking smoothies. I've always been a smoothie fan and felt like they were extremely nutritious and filling, but the world of juicing is becoming ever more enticing.
For a novice juicer like myself, do you recommend going out and purchasing one of the top of line machines, like a Breville or Omega juicer? Or do you know if there are other models that work well but aren't as large of an investment? I definitely would love to start exploring the wonderful juice recipes I have stumbled across!
Thanks again for your help. It's much appreciated!
Alyssa
Sylvie says
Hi Alyssa,
There are two main kinds of juicers: centrifugal juicers and masticating juicers.
Centrifugal juicers are the most common, and in general, the most affordable. The food is pushed into a mesh chamber with a sharp rapidly spinning blade on the bottom. Centrifugal juicers work best with soft and hard fruits and vegetables, but not as well with leafy greens like kale or spinach, or wheatgrass.
Masticating juicers are generally the more expensive type of juicer. These juicers use a low speed powerful motor to thoroughly press out the juice. Because of the slow crushing and squeezing, masticating juicers can better process leafy greens and wheatgrass, and the juice produced will last longer than juice made in a centrifugal juicer, which should be consumed right away as it starts losing nutrients fairly quickly.
There are definitely quite a few options for you in the category of centrifugal juicers that would be around $100. This Jack LaLanne Juicer is less than $100 for example. I suggest you choose the juicer that will best juice the types of fruits and vegetables that you are most interested in using.
Julie M. says
Simple yet delicious. A lovely recipe and beautiful snaps as always!
Suzi says
That juice is a beauty. I get on these juice kicks and then I put away the juicer to make room in the kitchen and then forget about it for awhile. This would be nice at lunch. Thanks!
Jackie @ marin mama cooks says
I love green drinks/smoothies and this one looks beautiful and so fresh. I can almost taste the tartness of the lemon and apple combination. Yum!
I tend to have a kale smoothie every other day. It's a convenient and healthy on-the-go lunch.
BTW, your pictures are gallery worthy. WOW!
Maria says
I want to try this. Love the color!
TidyMom says
stunning Sylvie! and sounds delicious!
Katrina @In Katrina's Kitchen says
And suddenly I need a juicer! Wow this looks fabulous!
Roxana GreenGirl says
I love the green color! And the addition f the fennel. Delicious idea Sylvie!