The Skinny on Juicing

Juicing can be an amazing way to get much needed nutrients. Especially for those picky eaters. However, not all juicers are created equal. Also, not everyone can fully process a big glass of juice in one sitting.

I love juice. Its great, refreshing and the combinations are endless. One of my favorites is one beet, one carrot and one apple with a little lime. In the winter months, we don't juice much. Being that we live in the frigid northern midwest, raw produce is harder to come by. We also need warmer foods to maintain body heat over the winter.

One thing I have learned in my natural health studies, less is more with juicing. That HUGE glass of juice with 5 oranges, 2 bananas, a handful of blueberries and some strawberries may be too much for you. If you were to take all of those ingredients and eat them raw, could you? That is A LOT of food to eat at one sitting. When juiced, it isn't very much to drink for breakfast.

Your body can only process so much food at one time. If you cannot eat all the raw ingredients in one sitting, chances are you aren't going to be able to digest and use it when it's juiced either. It may be wasted and eliminated from the body. Not only are the nutrients wasted, but time and money too.

Have you ever looked at store bought juice brands like Naked or Bolthouse? According to the Naked website, a bottle of Naked Green machine contains:

• 2 3/4 apples

• 1/2 of a mango

• 1/12 of a pineapple

• 1/2 of a banana

• 1/3 of a kiwi

• plus

• Spirolina

• Ginger

• Alflafa

• Spinach

• Broccoli

• Barley Grass

• Wheat Grass

• Garlic

• Kale

• Parsley

​That's A LOT! It tastes fabulous, but how much are you truly able to digest and use? Less is actually more when it comes to juicing. We want to be able to process and use all the nutrients that are consumed. Recently, I found this cold pressed brand at Aldi, a supermarket chain all over the US.

Compare this to the Naked. It contains:

• 5 kale leaves

• 4 handfuls of spinach

• 1/2 of a medium apple

• 1/5 of a cucumber

• 1.5 celery stalks

• 4 romaine leaves

• 1/4 lemon

• 4 mint leaves

​Basically this is a nice sized salad. Your body should be able to process this amount of juice better than that bottle of Naked above.

Something that also needs to be considered is natural sugar in juice. Some fruits may cause a sugar spike in some. If you are prone to sugar related diseases, please speak to your doctor about juicing or seek out a nutritionist first. We want to make sure all of you are safe. Please be aware of your personal needs before juicing.

Amylase is produced in our saliva where it starts the process of digestion when food hits out mouth. To activate it we need to chew food. Have you ever tried to chew a liquid? lol It isn't easy. Amylase will start to break down starch and carbohydrates to be absorbed by the body.

Let's talk about juicers.

The 2 most common juicers are the centrifugal and masticating.

Masticating Juicer

This type of juicer will grind or crush fruits or vegetables to extract juice. It is done at a very low speed with no spinning involved. They extract more juice and nutrients and they don't heat the juice like a centrifugal juicer.

We have the Omega 8003 that renders super dry pulp. That means we are getting maximum nutrition in every glass. Since we purchased ours, better, newer models have come out. If you are looking at the Omega, check out the 8006.

Masticating juicers squeeze the juice out of the food very slowly, avoiding friction and heat. Since it is done so slowly, you are able to keep more of the enzymes and nutrients that are contained in the raw fruits and vegetables. The whole point of juicing right!? And, one of the best parts is, the masticating juicer produces on average 20% more juice than a centrifugal.

Masticating juicers can actually handle leafy greens better too. If you want to juice lettuce, wheatgrass, or any other green leafy veggies, opt for a masticating juicer. Even the best centrifugal juicer will tear these types of vegetables apart giving little to no juice in the process. You will end up with bits and pieces of the raw product in your juice.

These juicers are usually more expensive, but better made. They generally outlast a centrifugal juicer. One draw back of the masticating juicer is you need to prep your raw product more. The chute of the juicer is quite small so it requires smaller pieces. I don't generally mind but some days it can be a hassle.

Centrifugal Juicer

Centrifugal indicates moving away from the center of an object. A high-speed spinning action occurs that grinds the food into pulp and then the juice is poured out into your glass. You may even be able to find them at more department stores. They also tend to be relatively inexpensive compared to a masticating juicer.

A centrifugal system uses a spinning force and friction. There has been much debate regarding whether or not the juice is losing its nutrients. If you are on the side of the fence that believes the juice isn't heated enough in the process of extraction, think about oxidation. Nutrients and enzymes start deteriorating when exposed to oxygen. A good analogy is a potato. Cut one in half. Once the inside is exposed to air, it will start to turn reddish and brown.

Unlike the centrifugal juicer, the masticating juicer slows down oxidation. It protects the important nutrients and enzymes. It will give the juice a higher nutritional content and a more natural taste. The powerful motor operates at a low speed to reduce oxidation and keep the nutrient value high. Watch out for things that accidentally fall into the chute. I have seen it crush some very hard things.

Which juicer is right for you? Your budget and need will most likely dictate which one you choose. Please share with me some of your favorite juicing combinations!

As always, if you have any questions, please send an email to melissa@sweetwillowspirit.com. Have a great day, happy juicing!

Love and light,

Melissa

Caution: The material on this page is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Since the actual use of this product by others is beyond our control, no expressed or implied guarantee as to the effects of their use can be given nor liability taken. Use at your own discretion. Any application of the recommendations is at the user’s risk. Sweet Willow Spirit, LLC disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this information and assumes no responsibility for any actions taken. This should not be used in place of traditional therapies but solely as a complementary means for bringing well-being. The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made as to any medicinal value of this oil.

Source of juicer information: The Juicer Directory See Why Masticating Juicers Outperform Centrifugal Juicers In Every Category But One https://thejuicerdirectory.com/masticating-vs-centrifugal-juicers/