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How to ... Juice your way to better health


A quality juicer will yield the greatest amount of juice with the least amount of fruits and veggies.
7/12/2012 2:13:00 PM

 We've all seen the infomercials on the wondrous health benefits of "juicing." The truth is, juicing can make a huge difference in how you look and feel. I know from my experience with juicing nearly 20 years ago. I was a real "health nut" and it showed. I'll never forget one day during my nursing shift in ICU at a Phoenix hospital, when one of the docs insisted I write down my health regimen for him. He was surprised when I told him "juicing" twice a day was a big part of it!

I kick myself for getting out of the 'juicing 'groove' as years passed, but I'm happy to say juicing is once again a part of my daily routine.



How to get started

1) First, make a commitment. Commitments to health regimens are sometimes difficult to make. We want immediate results and we give up before we have a chance to see them. With juicing, you will see and feel the results very quickly. None of us is getting any younger and it's a good feeling to be proactive when it comes to our health.



2) Research the different types of juicers. There are a wide variety available. Read online reviews on the various makes and models. Don't go into "sticker shock. Remember, a juicer is an investment in your health and well being and you will reap the benefits for years to come. A quality juicer will yield the greatest amount of juice with the least amount of fruits and veggies, and won't sound like a lawn mower!



3) Research the ease of cleaning the juicer you want to get. This is of huge importance! If the amount of time and effort it takes to clean your juicer after each use outweighs the fun of juicing, you won't stick with it. My juicer of years ago was a nightmare to clean! Looking back, I'm amazed at how committed I was to methodically taking apart that contraption and investing unreasonable amounts of time to clean it.

My juicer is of the Omega series and cleanup is a snap!



4) Buy your juicer and give it a permanent home on your countertop. If you see it every day you'll be more likely to incorporate it into your daily routine, otherwise, 'out of sight, out of mind!'



5). Research juicing recipes and experiment on your own. There are a multitude of juicing websites and free recipes.



6) Stock your fridge. Amazingly, juicing is much more economical than buying processed foods; (remember, a good quality juicer means more juice with less produce).

I keep the following in my fridge:

• Apples: one bag

• Carrots: one large package

• Celery: one bunch

• Cucumbers: two

• Green chili peppers: two

• Fresh ginger

• Lemons: two

• Beets: a bunch

• Tomatillos: 4-6

It's nice to wash and dry some of them and store them in a large plastic container to keep them fresher longer!

Lastly, who knows -- maybe after you have been juicing awhile, someone just might come up to you and ask you to write down your health regimen for them!

Happy juicing!



Patty Engler is a cardiology nurse at Verde Valley Medical Center.


 

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