A few weeks ago I purchased a juicer, after watching the documentary “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead” that showed the journey of two men and how they improved their health through juice fasting.
Now I’m not in as bad a shape as those two guys, but frankly could stand to lose about … let’s say at least a fifth of my body weight. I’ve been guilty of consuming too much crap food (processed frozen easy to fix for a busy person type meals, for instance) and not getting sufficient exercise. So I got really inspired by these guys’ journeys to health.
The next day I went to a local shopping center and picked up a Jack Lalanne Power Juicer Express, which cost me about $110 (it’s not a top of the line two speed juicer but it had good ratings on Amazon, and was in stock, so I pulled the trigger). I then filled my cart with fresh vegetables and fruits, and proceeded to juice away.
I’m not doing the juice fast – not living on juices alone – but I have replaced two meals a day with juice and on some days have only had the juice. So far, so good. How so?
Well… I’m drinking less coffee, because instead of beginning the day with a big mug of joe, I’m having juice. I haven’t had caffeine withdrawal headaches since I began this, which surprises me, as I’m pretty hardcore on the coffee, consuming what amounts to at least six 4-oz. cups of coffee daily until I started juicing. Now I’m only drinking one 12-oz. mug a day.
I also find that the junk foods I craved (one of the guilty pleasures has been “cool ranch” corn chips), taste pretty much DISGUSTING to me now.
I’m also eating less at meals, because I am filling up on the juice. I make at least 48 oz. (usually a little more) and take it to work where I can refrigerate it, so I’m having it two or three times during the work day. So my lunches have been smaller portions, and are much more filling than they were before I began juicing.
I have lost some weight, but don’t know how much so far. I’d guess a few pounds. But fast weight loss isn’t my goal – it’s getting better nutrition.
What am I putting in the juicer?
So far I’ve juiced carrots, beets and their greens, ginger root, apples, kiwi fruit, blackberries, blueberries, pears, oranges, lemons, limes, spinach, cucumbers, broccoli, kale, cabbage, and tomatoes, and one (unsuccessful and tear-filled) attempt at juicing an onion. (I think that’s all)
The point is to get what’s available in the fresh produce section on a seasonal basis… my strategy so far is to start with what I know I like, and move into the more challenging (kale, cabbage, broccoli were my first attempts at “challenge” – the kale wasn’t as successful but I intend to work small amounts of the veg I know is a “superfood” but that I’m not so fond of into the juices and slowly my taste buds will acclimate – so far, so good!)
I’ve found tons of recipes for juicing on the internet, and will post some of my favorite recipes over the following weeks as I refine them.
Two constants for the juices so far have been carrots and ginger root – the ginger root is great for your digestion and gives the juices a slight heat – about an inch of the root is sufficient, I’ve put twice that much in and then the ginger has a bite to it that can be very good – or too much.
Here’s one recipe I “created” that is quite yummy:
One large or two small oranges (peeled and quartered)
Two small granny smith apples (wash/scrub, take off stem
and cut to size that fits juicer)
and cut to size that fits juicer)
Two kiwi fruit (skin on, rub off the fuzz if you don’t like it)
Half a pint of blueberries, washed
One medium or two small beets, greens and all (scrub the
beetroot and rinse the greens well, you can cut to fit the juicer)
beetroot and rinse the greens well, you can cut to fit the juicer)
Four to six medium carrots (scrub well and remove the tops)
One bosc pear (washed, stem removed, cut to fit juicer)
One inch of fresh ginger root (you might need to remove dirt
from the root but you can juice with skin on)
from the root but you can juice with skin on)
Juice all ingredients then whisk together.
If you want a little more sweetness and a slightly thicker “smoothie” style juice, put one or two peeled slightly green bananas in a blender; add a little of the juice to the blender and start it up, when the bananas begin to incorporate into the juice add juice a little at a time. Funnel into a container, refrigerate.
Yields roughly 4-5 cups of juice, which works nicely as two large servings or three medium servings of juice. For best nutritive value, use the juice that day.
I’ve actually added a juiced head of broccoli for a variation on the above, and it worked well, can’t even taste the broccoli.
So, three weeks in, the experience has been quite pleasant. I feel healthier, I seem to be sleeping better, I know I’m beginning to lose pounds … and although I know I can use the leftover pulp in other recipes, I haven’t bagged them in freezer-safe bags, so I have a freezer full of compostables for the spring garden, already shredded and ready to rot. With spring around the corner, I look forward to putting in my third year veggie garden and growing some of my own fresh veg for the juicing.
Rust (truly) Never Sleeps 