Why Juice? Here’s why…
The first home juice extractor was not invented until the 1930s. It was called the Norwalk Juicer, by nutritionist Dr. Norman Walker. He was 110 years old when he died in 1984. His juicer worked by grating produce, placing the resulting mash in a bag, and then squeezing the bag under a hydraulic press. It was big and clunky, but it made great juice.
We are lucky to have so many amazing counter top machines available today, I just got
this one yesterday and it is seriously awesome!
Juicing helps you Lose Weight, Look Younger and…
…makes you feel so much better!
There is hardly any digestive work needed to process raw, enzymatically active liquid. Vegetable juice gets into the system quickly. Juicing green vegetables increases the bodies PH (alkalinity) levels. The acid/alkaline level of a food is not the issue, rather the effect on our insides once consumed. Meaning a Lemon seems like a very Acid fruit however lemons are extremely alkaline in our bodies. The ideal diet should have a ratio of four parts alkaline to one part acid. This is a good ratio for active people (exercise creates a lot of acid). An acid-producing diet (meat, dairy, processed foods, coffee) contributes to a number of chronic diseases including but not limited to:
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Headaches
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Lack of energy
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Excessive mucous production
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Nasal congestion
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Frequent colds and flu
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Anxiety, nervousness, irritability
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Ovarian cysts, polycystic ovaries, benign breast cysts
Fresh vegetable juice is very nutrient-dense, high in "phytonutrients," or plant chemicals, which are proving to be the key behind keeping our bodies free of cancer, digestive problems, and other degenerative illnesses.
Many fruits and vegetables are super high in antioxidants which neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen molecules that trigger unfavorable changes in our bodies – and the end result is aging. Antioxidants work to stop free radicals.
The most important, and most overlooked reason to juice: juicing cleans the liver. If you look into any human biology book, it already tells us that there are now over 700 known functions of the liver. But what we don’t realize is how that functionality is dependent on how unclogged it is.
Some of the liver’s most important functions include:
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Fat metabolism…controls triglycerides, cholesterol, other blood fats and body fat levels.
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Manufacturing, metabolizing and storing hormones.
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Combating infections in the body.
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Detoxification…the liver turns toxic materials into non-toxic substances for expulsion.
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Manufacturing and secreting bile in order to absorb fat-soluble nutrients and eliminate toxic substances.
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Purifying the blood…filters bacteria, endotoxins, antibodies-antigens and other particles from the circulation.
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Metabolizing proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
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Making enzymes and proteins which are responsible for most chemical reactions in the body, for example those involved in blood clotting and repair of damaged tissues.
A cleansed liver improves everything – from weight management, mental clarity and focus,
emotional state, sleep, stress management, digestion, even your skin complexion.
Juice organic produce whenever possible!
Cucumber juice is thought to clean your kidneys, lower high blood pressure and improve skin problems.
Cabbage juice is one of the most healing nutrients for stomach repair. It contains sulfur and selenium, both which are good for joint stiffness. While cooked cabbage can cause gas, juice can be digested with no problem.
Beets are famous for their ability to cleanse the blood and strengthen the gall bladder and liver. Beet juice is very concentrated, so a little goes a long way.
Broccoli is showing anti-cancer properties.
Apples contain malic acid, which is capable of softening gallstones and other hardening the body.
Celery has been associated with lowering of blood pressure. Celery juice acts as the perfect post-workout tonic as it replaces lost electrolytes and rehydrates the body with its rich minerals.
Parsley is amazing plant, very high in chlorophyll.
Cranberries contain quercetin and tannins, flavonoids that are getting a lot of attention for their anti-bacterial, inflammatory and tumor properties. They help cleanse the kidneys, because they help lower uric acid levels (often associated with gout, kidney gravel, and joint pain).
Collard Greens and Kale have more calcium than milk, and in a more easily tolerated and metabolized form than diary.
Juicing isn’t the only thing needed to stay healthy but it is one of the most important tools we can use. My advice? If don’t already have one, get a juicer! Try a 28-day program where you eat what you normally eat, but you also add a cup or two of freshly prepared vegetable juice each day. You might go through a bit of detoxification in the first couple weeks which is normal and temporary.
Then move on to a once a week juice fasting day, today is mine. 
I like to do primarily veggie juice, some fruit (cantaloupe is amazing) and maybe Trader Joe’s Organic Chicken broth.
Do you have any favorite combos, tips or questions on juicing? Comment below…
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FYI…The Jack Lalanne juicer comes with all sorts of information on how to use it and tons of recipes, but honestly it is so super easy. 2 carrots, 1 apple, half a cucumber and 2 celery stalks and BAM, you got delicious juice! (Great question Candy)