Juicing has exploded in popularity over recent years – and for good reason. As well as being the perfect way to recharge your body, it offers a faster way to absorb the essential nutrients found in fruit and veg.
On top of that, there’s the simple motivation of taste - fresh juices are delicious! Whether you pack them with superfood spinach, cleansing ginger or energizing turmeric, there are endless tasty combinations to explore.
The idea of juicing far predates the invention of the juicer. As far back as 150AD there is evidence that people were mashing and straining fruit and vegetables to tap into their health benefits.
Two thousand years later, and nutritionists have managed to find out exactly why juicing is so important. Fundamentally, it stems down to the way our bodies absorb nutrients – a process that’s made far easier when we remove the insoluble fibre found in fruit and veg by juicing.
In fact, raw juices can provide us with 95 percent of the enzymes and vitamins our bodies need to survive. To put that into perspective, you would need to eat 2lbs of carrots, 8lbs of spinach and 10 apples to get the same amount of nutrition as you can find in 16oz of juice.
Hit your 5 a Day
It’s easy to get into the habit of eating the same types of fruit and veg every day, forgetting that our body needs a wide variety to work at its best. By encouraging us to experiment with different flavours, juicing increases the range of phytonutrients we consume. This is great news for the immune system, which will thank you for the extra shot of nutrients.
Boost Your Brain Power
Drinking raw juices everyday can help keep your mind alert. In the Kame Project, scientists even found that drinking a glass of vegetable juice a day can delay the onset of Alzheimer's, particularly among those who were at high risk for the disease.
Get Hydrated
Good hydration is essential for glowing skin, a high metabolism and good overall health. But it’s a fact that most of us don’t drink enough water, instead turning to coffee, sugary drinks or alcohol to quench our thirst.
That’s where juicing comes in. As fruit and vegetables contain one of the purest forms of water you can drink, they’re a fantastic way to keep hydrated.
Look After Your Immune System
More than 70 percent of your immune system is in your gut, which means the food you eat has a direct impact on your health. Raw juices supercharges the immune system, providing it with the nutrients it needs to fight off illness and disease.
Fight Aging
Juicing is known for its anti-aging benefits. By providing us with a wide range of anti-oxidizing fruit and vegetables, raw juices help our bodies flush out toxins, restore, heal, cleanse and energize. This all leads to bright skin, a clear head, and high energy levels.
When it comes to buying a juicer, go for a good quality piece of equipment that will help you get the most out of your ingredients for years to come. Three essentials to keep in mind are:
Go for a juicer that removes at least 90 percent of the juice from the pulp. Not only will it let you extract as much goodness as possible from your produce, but it’ll save you money in the long run too.
Choose a model that’s easy to clean and use – nothing will put you off the idea of juicing more than a piece of equipment that’s tricky to put together and wash up.
Don’t forget to stock up on sharp knives for peeling and coring; a stiff brush for scrubbing organic veggies; and a sieve for any extra straining.
