Juicer: Making your own juice?

[bionerd76]

I recently purchased a juicer and was wondering what are good combinations (or recipes) from a nutritional aspect? Palatability is a plus, but I'm really looking at some healthy recipes or places to find them. Also, do any of you mix supplements (such as whey) into you juices?


Thanks,

Chris

[slowandsteady]

Juice in general isn't very healthy. It is pretty much just sugar water and you eliminate all fiber. You are better off with the whole fruit. But, it sure beats soda. My favorite concoction was carrots, apples, red grapes, and pears. At least with the carrots you get some beta carotene. And beliteve it or not, the carrots really made it taste good.

[bionerd76]

I failed to mention that I did buy the juicer to juice various vegetables. I'm not a big fruit juice fan. I'm looking forward to using carrot juice. I use to drinkt the V8 splash that had carrot juice in it, but it was still too much sugar.


Chris

[!!Comatoa$ted]

Juice in general isn't very healthy. It is pretty much just sugar water and you eliminate all fiber. You are better off with the whole fruit. But, it sure beats soda. My favorite concoction was carrots, apples, red grapes, and pears. At least with the carrots you get some beta carotene. And beliteve it or not, the carrots really made it taste good.

How about a blender? Throw the entire fruit in a blender, and you get all the benifits, an easy way to get your 5-10/day

[Enthalpic]

Don’t drink too much carrot juice; you can fairly easily get too much beta-carotene. Your skin can start to turn orange while becoming very photosensitive (you burn easily). Furthermore, the antioxidant effect of low dose beta-carotene switches to a pro oxidative effect when BC levels exceed the levels of the supporting antioxidants (Vit C, E glutathione, etc).

If you smoke or drink excessively, consume even less.

[aikigreg]

might as well just drink a soda. It has the same effect on your body.

[VanceMac]

might as well just drink a soda. It has the same effect on your body.

That seems a gross oversimplification. I'll take fresh squeezed (any fruit) juice over HFCS soda every single time. Not to mention the (at least trace) vitamins in juice.

[curb hash]

[QUOTE=Enthalpic]Don’t drink too much carrot juice; you can fairly easily get too much beta-carotene. Your skin can start to turn orange while becoming very photosensitive (you burn easily). Furthermore, the antioxidant effect of low dose beta-carotene switches to a pro oxidative effect when BC levels exceed the levels of the supporting antioxidants (Vit C, E glutathione, etc).



Thank you for that piece of information! I am red haired and fairly complected and I've noticed two things over the past few years. I started eating more of the beta-carotene rich vegetables which gave my face an alarming (to everyone but myself) slightly orange tinge. I dismissed this cosmetic blemish as benign, easily reversible and an indication to I had a higher levels of free radical scavenging to offset my high level of physical activity. I also noticed my skin burns if not with a visible redness, a very uncomfortable sun injury sensation at far shorter than previous exposure times. Mystery solved I hope!


As for the juicing I've had mostly disastrous results attempting to "juice" fruit and vegetable mixtures with a conventional blender with results varying from oatmeal textured unpalatable cocktails to laughable (what else can you do) kitchen catastrophes. I'm going to research a juicer, one that will both preserve nutrients and enzymes while actually creating something reasonably pleasant tasting!

[AnthonyG]

I've been drinking homemade vegetable juice for years although not with too many variations. Celery juice is my mainstay and cucumbers juice well. Carrot juice makes for nice juice because its sweet so I don't have too much of it. Beetroot juices well and is sweet like carrots.

Celery juice is quite palitable although I wouldn't call it a taste sensation. The leafy greens can be VERY bitter so cut them off it there too much for you. Add some carrot juice to sweeten it and consume it fresh.

Do you have a centrifugal juicer or an impeller type?

Regards, Anthony

[branman1986]

I dig apple+carrot+beet+celery, I know it's got apples in there, but the sweetness isn't too overpowering. Believe it or not, the celery flavor is really really good.

[bionerd76]

Do you have a centrifugal juicer or an impeller type?

Regards, Anthony

I have a Breville JE900. I assume it is an impeller type. To be honest, I just purchased and was referred to this juicer. So, I'm still learning about it.

I do understand the importance of fiber that you lose in the various juices. I enjoy the kitchen and thought about using the left over pulp into different recipes (especially breakfast ie. omelets). Has anyone tried this before?


Chris

[zowie]

We once turned a baby orange by giving it a lot of carrots. It was initially alarming but we were told it was harmless.

Will the machines juice meat and poultry to add protein to the drink? If not, what about juicing legumes?

[aikigreg]

That seems a gross oversimplification. I'll take fresh squeezed (any fruit) juice over HFCS soda every single time. Not to mention the (at least trace) vitamins in juice.

Impact on insulin reponse in the body is the same. thems the facts.

[VanceMac]

Impact on insulin reponse in the body is the same. thems the facts.

Yes, but "insulin response" isn't the only "effect on the body"... so equating the two is indeed a
gross oversimplification.

[AnthonyG]

I have a Breville JE900. I assume it is an impeller type. To be honest, I just purchased and was referred to this juicer. So, I'm still learning about it.

I do understand the importance of fiber that you lose in the various juices. I enjoy the kitchen and thought about using the left over pulp into different recipes (especially breakfast ie. omelets). Has anyone tried this before?


Chris

I'm not fammiliar with the Breville JE900 model although I did have a Breville juicer that was the centrifugal type. A centrifugal juicer has a stainless steel mesh basket on top with teeth on it that shreds the vegetables which are then centrifugaly thrown at the mesh with the juice going through the mesh and down and the fibre going over the basket and out. The impeller type maybe I should have better described as a "screw" type where a slow turning screw crushes the vegetables to liberate the juice.

Centrifugal juicers are fast but loud and they don't handle the leafy parts well. Screw type juicers are slower but much quieter and they can juice leafy vegetables and wheatgrass quite well.

Apart from the technicalities the major benifit from juicing say celery is that by removing the fibre you are concentrating the nutrients and making it possible to consume MUCH more celery than you would otherwise eat. 1 glass of celery juice uses a quarter of a celery maybe and there is NO WAY you are going to consume that much whole celery in one go!

Regards, Anthony

[slowandsteady]

might as well just drink a soda. It has the same effect on your body.


No it certainly does not. Fruit does not have phosphoric acid or caffeine. The combination of phosphoric acid and caffeine leaches calcium from your teeth and bones. Fruit juice does nothing of the sort. Soda has no nutrients beyond calories from the sugar. Fruit juice has plenty of vitamins and antioxidants. Fruit juice shouldn't be a staple, but is perfectly fine as a healthy snack when you want a sweet drink. You just can't have 6 cups a day.

[Gotte]

How about a blender? Throw the entire fruit in a blender, and you get all the benifits, an easy way to get your 5-10/day


Liquidiser type blenders destroy certain enzimes (something to do with the heat or friction generated by the blades).
THe best types of juicers are machinating blendedrs. These have rollers which mash the fruit/veg. they do it slowly to ensure the enzimes survive.
You can also reintroduce the pulp to the juice.
Why,I hear you ask.
Well, obvioulsly the pulp is full of good stuff, and basically, it saves you the chewing, so you can get more into your system.

[Garfield Cat]

It seems to me that cooking with heat or even microwaving creates more heat than the blades of a blender. Does this make sense?

What I want is a mixture of things so I use a blender. For my breakfast I drink about 20 ounces of the following: 3 oranges, 1 banana, acai pulp (Sambazon brand), some juice like pomegranate, ground flaxseed. I blend that and then introduce some ice cubes that get crushed in all this.

I figure I am getting vitamin C, potassium, omega 3 fat and fiber, antioxidants. What I am not getting is protien and other vitamins.

[Gotte]

Sorry, perhaps a better way of putting it is the high friction and oxydization (I believe) kills certain enzymes which are important.

[feethanddooth]

I recently purchased a juicer and was wondering what are good combinations (or recipes) from a nutritional aspect? Palatability is a plus, but I'm really looking at some healthy recipes or places to find them. Also, do any of you mix supplements (such as whey) into you juices?


Thanks,

Chris


http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0446365483.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

look for this book. i bought it a couple years ago and it is good.

off the top of my head..

carrot apple is a standard.
kiwi, pear, brocoli, spinach
orange grapefruit
tomato carrot apple spinach
carrot celerey(may help you sleep better)


yeah, i just mix and match. also, dont EVER drink beat juice straight. it can make you un able to talk for a period of time and can even raise your heart rate. mix it with something always.

[slowandsteady]

Sorry, perhaps a better way of putting it is the high friction and oxydization (I believe) kills certain enzymes which are important.


I am sure it will be fine. Enzymes aren't that fragile. We homogenize all kinds of things at work(a lab) and the proteins don't denature. But then again, some do. Moderation in everything. It really is fine. You can drink juice. Just don't go replacing all whole fruit in your diet with juice. Really, juice should be considered a healthier dessert item. A treat. I wouldn't worry about the loss of some enzymes. Just imagine what those poor enzymes go through in your stomach acid.

[zeytoun]

How about a blender? Throw the entire fruit in a blender, and you get all the benifits, an easy way to get your 5-10/day

Well, obvioulsly the pulp is full of good stuff, and basically, it saves you the chewing, so you can get more into your system.

The pulp is just fiber, it is mechanically is good for your colon, but it also slows the absorption of nutrients. That may be desirable depending on the circumstances. But fresh vegetable juice made at home is something out of this world. I do juice fasting, and it saves your body so much digestive effort. Within 5 minutes of finishing a glass, I can feel it in my veins. My eyes get bright instantly. Compare that to the few times long ago when I had a smoothee when fasting... sluggish, naseated, tired.... It just takes the body a lot more energy to process.

Also, when I juice fast, I am having the juice of 20-40 vegetables a day, depending on my activity level. Try drinking that much smoothee.

EDIT: Missed this quote, sorry for restating
Apart from the technicalities the major benifit from juicing say celery is that by removing the fibre you are concentrating the nutrients and making it possible to consume MUCH more celery than you would otherwise eat. 1 glass of celery juice uses a quarter of a celery maybe and there is NO WAY you are going to consume that much whole celery in one go!


To the OP, I have read in some sources (never can tell who to believe) that vegetable and fruit juice shouldn't be mixed (ostensibly since fruit juice tends to have a more "flushing" effect on digestion, and vegetables tend to be more "nourishing"), with the exception of carrot-apple.

I like to do this one:
6-8 carrots
1 apple
1 celery stalk
makes about 16 ounces.

You can use a lot of the less "tasty" varieties of apples. They are often cheaper at the store, and add a bit more "character".

I also did that one above with a big thing of broccoli on top, was great.

[!!Comatoa$ted]

I do juice fasting, and it saves your body so much digestive effort. Within 5 minutes of finishing a glass, I can feel it in my veins. My eyes get bright instantly. Compare that to the few times long ago when I had a smoothee when fasting... sluggish, naseated, tired.... It just takes the body a lot more energy to process.

How long did you do your juice fast for? I have been curious about juice fasts, I was wondering if you could eloborate on how yours went, and if you followed a plan or just had a juice whenever you felt like it?

You have a good name, zeytoun is my absoloute favorite food, truly a gift from above.

[Gotte]

Never heard of juice fasts. Am I right in assuming you drink nothing but juice.
Like the poster above, I'd be interested in knowing more.

[dragonflybikes]

Impact on insulin reponse in the body is the same. thems the facts.

Not quite, there is a reason that a person that hypoglycemic can not drink a can of soda but can have an apple.

Also evolution has made the body learn to process the sugars in fruit juice. HFCS has not been around that long and so the body does not process it the same way.

Are you also of the same group that believes that if you eat no carbs (no bread no vegitables, no pasta) and only eat protein and that you canhave all of the fatty bacon and read meat that you want that because you lose weight that it is a healthy diet? I ask because usually people who make comments about fruit juice also believe that the atkins diet is healthy.

[zeytoun]

How long did you do your juice fast for? I have been curious about juice fasts, I was wondering if you could eloborate on how yours went, and if you followed a plan or just had a juice whenever you felt like it?
Sorry for the delay, I lost track of this thread.

Don't try this unless you are in ok shape, health-wise. If you have done a lot of drugs, been alcoholic, eaten tons of processed foods, be careful. Perhaps try 1-2 day fasts.

I did my last one for 11 days, but once in a while will do up to 3 weeks. I do mine with lots of structure. I'm vegetarian, otherwise I would give up meat 1 week prior. 3 days prior I give up dairy and eggs. At this point some people might switch to raw fruits and vegetables, but I find I have a little bit of trouble with a lot of raw vegetables, so I stick to home made soups, and some raw.

The day of the actual fast, I give myself an enema (not the medicated bulbs, but a real one with plain water). And then I have about 2-3 16oz glasses of juice a day. I don't do hardly any fruits, almost entirely vegetable. Lots of carrot, broccoli, spinach, etc. The 2-3 glass a day is for when I am sedentary during the fast. If I were bicycling, I would drink more (possibly a glass before and after each ride?). The juice CANNOT be store-bought (unless they are making it in front of you). Drink TONS of water to help flush toxins/reduce headaches. No caffeine etc.. Herbal tea ok. I glass of water with some lemon juice mixed in it in the morning is nice too.

Symptoms are mild fever (1-2 degree), neck tension, bad breath, acne, etc. If these symptoms become too intense, drink more juice and water to slow it down. If they are not present at all, drink less juice (2-3 glass minimum) a day. I give myself an enema about once every 3 days during the fast.

You will know when you are ready to return to food. This is the most important part. If you goof this up, you can hurt yourself. If you do it right, you will be amazed at how you feel. The time spent breaking your fast should compare to the time spent on the fast. For my 11-day, on day 1 of breaking the fast I did my juice, and added 2 whole fruits and a raw vegetable to my intake. Day 2 I added 1 small bowl of homemade vegetable soup, raw fruits, reduced my juice intake. Day 3 more soup. Day 4 some cultured dairy. Reintroduced some foods one at a time, to see how I react. Processed foods will taste evil.

[ModoVincere]

Not quite, there is a reason that a person that hypoglycemic can not drink a can of soda but can have an apple.



You can't equate a whole apple to apple juice. Apples have both soluble and insoluble fiber in them. Apple juice (whether home made or from the store) will not have that fiber. The fiber will greatly slow the absorption of any digestible carbohydrates from the apple. The carbohydrates in the apple juice will be digested and absorbed into the blood stream almost as fast as HFCS from a Soda. The insulin response will be close to that of the soda as HFCS and apple juice will both contain a large portion of the carbohydrate as fructose, which will be converted into glucose by the liver.

[mlh122]

i got a juicer thinking it was a smoothie maker. I didn't know it seperates the fiber and the water very very well. i switched to the plain blender i've had all along. you can mix fruits pretty randomly with good results. i just don't like things with a lot of seeds as they get all stuck in your teeth or make you cough.

one of my favorites is 4parts mango, 2 parts pineapple, 3 tablespoons of orange juice and 3 tablespoons of dannon "fit" yogurt.

if i really want a berry smoothie but don't want to deal with seeds, i use seedless "no sugar added" jam. you can also make unhealthy smoothies. on christmas i made smoothies with Breyer's vanilla ice cream, cocoa powder, 4 candy canes, and a little milk, those were delicious too.

[VosBike]

Also evolution has made the body learn to process the sugars in fruit juice. HFCS has not been around that long and so the body does not process it the same way

fructose = fructose

[carbondale]

Fructose != HFCS

HFCS is either 42% or 55% fructose, with the remainder glucose and other sugars. There's also a HFCS-90 used in baking that's 90% fructose. So yes, humans can process HCFS. The concern among many health professionals is the amount of HFCS now being consumed, and since fructose does not cause the same insulin response a sucrose/glucose ( and corresponding sense of fullness) there may be significant over-consumption of HFCS sweetened foods and drinks.

There is an strong correlation between HFCS use by the food industry and the rise in obesity and diabetes in this country. Some studies have shown that fructose is more easily converted to fat.