If this is your first time juicing, I'd like to welcome you to this exciting and health promoting world!
The benefits of juice cleansing include:
While on a juice cleanse, some people may consume as much as 15-20lbs of vegetables per day. It is your choice whether you choose organic or conventional fruits and veggies for your cleanse, though I recommend organic foods to lessen your exposure to extra toxins and gain the maximum nutrients from each vegetable/fruit. Studies show that conventionally grown produce has significantly reduced life force and nutrients.
Juice any time you like, whenever you feel the need for more energy. Weight loss is not the ultimate goal of this cleanse so you don't want to limit yourself. I would typically drink six 2 cup (16oz) servings per day of juice as well as plenty of water and herbal teas.
Juice mainly low sugar vegetables with high amounts of nutrients such as greens (kale, romaine lettuce, spinach, parsley, chard, bok choy, cucumber, celery, cabbages). Add carrots, beets, apples and other sweet fruit, and some flavouring of lemon, lime, ginger, cranberries or herbs. Once a day you may wish to have something sweet such as a pineapple or cantaloupe based juice, or a pure carrot or apple juice. Listen to your body, but know that fruits, are higher in sugar and lower in nutrients whereas greens are the lowest in sugar with the greatest amount of nutrients.
Wash your vegetables well and peel citrus fruits before you juice them. If you're using organic produce, don't worry about peeling your vegetables and fruit (other than citrus). With conventional produce, I would peel apples and cucumber before using them. If you can, try to buy organic greens as these vegetables are some of the most contaminated with pesticides. Depending on the size of your juicer, you may have to cut up your vegetables first. However, don't worry about cutting away seeds such as in an apple- even these have nutrients.
Drink your juice slowly. The nutrients from your juice will be absorbed into your blood stream at a similar rate to alcohol. Take your time with your juice to allow for steady absorption. Though fresh vegetable and fruit juice needs almost no internal digestion, digestion begins in the mouth, so drink slowly and savour the juice.
Have fun and experiment with many vegetables, fruit and flavourings. I like to add lemon, ginger and an apple to most of my juices. Many people add cilantro or mint for a distinguishable flavour. Fresh cranberries also add a strong flavour, and some people choose to juice a clove or two of peeled garlic with some vegetable juices.
Consume your juice fresh or make ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. I would recommend storing your juice in a tightly sealed container such as a mason jar. Fill the jar right to the very top limiting the amount of air that is in the jar before putting the lid on. Oxygen will contribute to the oxidation of nutrients while an air-tight container will keep your juice fresher and slow down the deterioration of nutrients.
The benefits of juice cleansing include:
- fueling your body with large quantities of readily available nutrients
- allowing your digestive organs to rest while your body begins to clean accumulated toxins from your cells
- bringing your body to an alkaline state which is health promoting, as opposed to an acidic body which is health demoting- animal foods, sugar, caffeine and alcohol are examples of acid forming foods
- reconnecting your taste buds to the flavour of natural foods and your body with natural hunger cues
While on a juice cleanse, some people may consume as much as 15-20lbs of vegetables per day. It is your choice whether you choose organic or conventional fruits and veggies for your cleanse, though I recommend organic foods to lessen your exposure to extra toxins and gain the maximum nutrients from each vegetable/fruit. Studies show that conventionally grown produce has significantly reduced life force and nutrients.
Juice any time you like, whenever you feel the need for more energy. Weight loss is not the ultimate goal of this cleanse so you don't want to limit yourself. I would typically drink six 2 cup (16oz) servings per day of juice as well as plenty of water and herbal teas.
Juice mainly low sugar vegetables with high amounts of nutrients such as greens (kale, romaine lettuce, spinach, parsley, chard, bok choy, cucumber, celery, cabbages). Add carrots, beets, apples and other sweet fruit, and some flavouring of lemon, lime, ginger, cranberries or herbs. Once a day you may wish to have something sweet such as a pineapple or cantaloupe based juice, or a pure carrot or apple juice. Listen to your body, but know that fruits, are higher in sugar and lower in nutrients whereas greens are the lowest in sugar with the greatest amount of nutrients.
Wash your vegetables well and peel citrus fruits before you juice them. If you're using organic produce, don't worry about peeling your vegetables and fruit (other than citrus). With conventional produce, I would peel apples and cucumber before using them. If you can, try to buy organic greens as these vegetables are some of the most contaminated with pesticides. Depending on the size of your juicer, you may have to cut up your vegetables first. However, don't worry about cutting away seeds such as in an apple- even these have nutrients.
Drink your juice slowly. The nutrients from your juice will be absorbed into your blood stream at a similar rate to alcohol. Take your time with your juice to allow for steady absorption. Though fresh vegetable and fruit juice needs almost no internal digestion, digestion begins in the mouth, so drink slowly and savour the juice.
Have fun and experiment with many vegetables, fruit and flavourings. I like to add lemon, ginger and an apple to most of my juices. Many people add cilantro or mint for a distinguishable flavour. Fresh cranberries also add a strong flavour, and some people choose to juice a clove or two of peeled garlic with some vegetable juices.
Consume your juice fresh or make ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. I would recommend storing your juice in a tightly sealed container such as a mason jar. Fill the jar right to the very top limiting the amount of air that is in the jar before putting the lid on. Oxygen will contribute to the oxidation of nutrients while an air-tight container will keep your juice fresher and slow down the deterioration of nutrients.
