I've been told that Juicing . . (the act of putting fruit, vegetables etc.) in a blender or juicer and drinking the juice is healthy for you. Specifically, that it can lower your cholestoral. Are any of you out there experienced juice guys? If so I have a question. I can't decide whether to get a juicer that extracts the pulp and fiber with a filter or to just use my current blender which whips up everything . . fiber, pulp, juice and all. Isn't the pulp and the fiber good for you? Aren't those the elements that actually lower cholestoral? But then if the pulp and fiber are so great for you, why do all these modern, sophisticated juicing machines tout the fact that they have great filters that filter out the pulp and fiber?? Do I want a juicer that filters out the pulp and fiber . . or do I want a blender that mashes up everything, including the pulp and fiber? Thanks for any clarification you can give me here.
Juicing for health
- Thread starter umgowa997
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I don't do it enough. A good blender is better than a juicer, IMO. I have a juicer, and it gets rid of the pulp- there are a lot of nutrients in the pulp.
B
buyandhold2018
Same answer from me... I use a VitaMix and consume the entire fruit and vegetable.
Since getting a VitaMix, and using it daily, my well-being has improved.
It's a good question, I'd like to know the answer as well.
We have in the past thought of buying a juicer (we already have a couple of blenders), and we just took it for granted that the juicer companies would be providing the best product for the job... perhaps not?
We have in the past thought of buying a juicer (we already have a couple of blenders), and we just took it for granted that the juicer companies would be providing the best product for the job... perhaps not?
Of course the pulp and fiber are good for you.
Some people enjoy the crispness of filtered juice. Hence the advertising of advanced filters.
Some people enjoy the crispness of filtered juice. Hence the advertising of advanced filters.
I have 5 juicers and 4 blenders. (I'm a kook.)
Lost a lot of weight (50 lbs) and kept it off.
The advantage of a juicer is the pulp is extracted. Your body can only digest liquids so you get the nutrients immediately. This is good with vegetables.
For fruit, it's better to blend, as you want the fiber to slow your absorption of the sugars in the fruit.
Drink your vegetables, eat your fruit.
I often make a combo smoothie by juicing the veggies first and then using the blender with the fruit. I freeze the fruit in chunks so I don't have to add ice. That way I can buy fruit at Costco and ripen it, then keep it handy for smoothies.
If you want any recommendation on a juicer, I'll be happy to share my thoughts. There is a lot out there to choose from and performance and WARRANTY vary greatly.
Cheers,
Lost a lot of weight (50 lbs) and kept it off.
The advantage of a juicer is the pulp is extracted. Your body can only digest liquids so you get the nutrients immediately. This is good with vegetables.
For fruit, it's better to blend, as you want the fiber to slow your absorption of the sugars in the fruit.
Drink your vegetables, eat your fruit.
I often make a combo smoothie by juicing the veggies first and then using the blender with the fruit. I freeze the fruit in chunks so I don't have to add ice. That way I can buy fruit at Costco and ripen it, then keep it handy for smoothies.
If you want any recommendation on a juicer, I'll be happy to share my thoughts. There is a lot out there to choose from and performance and WARRANTY vary greatly.
Cheers,
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Pulp extractor is better, but iTs not like that has anything to do with lowering cholesterol, a diet change does. Your cholesterol will go up if you juice Big Macs regularly.
i don;t either, but i think what you are saying isn't 100% right. I can't imagine eating the bulk and fiber of all the fruits/vegtables i just juiced, well actually i can since i have done it and it created great inconvenience for me. after consuming that much fiber and bulk from the blender, i could not be too far from a commode, not for fear of the runs, but if mother nature called, i would not be able to wait a n extra moment to drop the kids off at the pool… this caused me to be too scared to leave my house when i was blending. the juicer is a nice complement, but not better IMHO. I get way more enjoyment out of quick 10 oz dark leaf, granny smith, carrot juice tight now then if i was too blend those into a 20 oz smoothie.
i use a vitamix and an omega vert
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There are certain things juicers are good for. Leafy greens, grapes (you juice the stems as well and get a fair amount of extra vitamins and nutrients,) beets, pineapple, ginger, wheat grass. Blending some of those leads only to a gross end product that you really don't want to drink. Seeded fruits, banana, kiwi, and soft ingredients work great in the blender. Either way, drinking fruits and vegetables are great ways of getting more than the recommended daily allowance and really boosting your diet. I use both, but I do love my Jack LaLane power juicer. Carrot/Cucumber/Lemon juice is a staple snack in the evening to keep me from grabbing the chips, and I feel great in the morning.
After doing a ton of LSD and Mescalito back in the day I went on a straight juice and liquid supplements diet for 43 days. No solid foods, just dumpster diving for fruits and veggies at the grocery store which was by my house. It was nice because this was winter in Seattle and everything was fresh, and the store would throw out the stuff in boxes and Id just grab a box a night. I lost a pound of weight a day. My mind was fresh and clear. I took water soluble vitamins and extra doses of B vitamins to keep going. I was extremely refreshed, felt AMAZING, my brain started remembering things much better since then. It was the most satisfying detox experience ever. I never consulted a doctor, but I read tons of stuff before going into it and during the cleanse as well. The right mind set is more valuable than anything you could ever have before doing this. Ive done similar detoxes since, but never as long. What I would highly suggest is that you spend plenty of time reading and thinking by yourslef while on a diet like this, as you become more and more in tune with your body, you will learn a grip load of stuff you forgot about or never knew before. Take care and be careful. Get a top of the line Breville juicer. Get water soluable vitamins and liquid B12. PM me if you have serious questions.
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- #11
I think you hit the nail on the head above when you said that just blending some items without extracting the pulp would leave behind something you just wouldn't want to drink. I've been thinking about it since I posted this thread . . If you were to just blend up a carrot or an apple . . . you would get a bunch of thick mush . . certainly not tasty, inviting juice you'd want to drink. I think the bottom line is that chewing a lot of vegetables and fruits is time consuming and a lot of work for the jaw. So people end up just not eating enough fruits and vegetables. By juicing and extracting the pulp you end up with a tasty, drinkable result that gives you the benefits of fruits and vegetables (absent the pulp). Even though there's good fiber in the pulp, it often makes a blended concoction undrinkable. And just eating the fruit or vegetable itself is something we just don't want to do. Who's going to go and just eat celery . . or eat a beat? Not too many people. But the juice of celery or a beat can be delicious . . . hence the benefit of juicing. It creates an end product that tastes good and that we'll actually consume. Thereby we get the benefits of the fruits and vegetables making up the juice. That's my take on this so far. I'd love to get your feedback.
you can't really blend something without ice or liquid, it just doesn't work that well. BTW, celery isn't all that great at juicing.. it's okay, but clogs a bunch. beets are awesome to juice, it's like drinking trublood. I actually beets on the regular since my wife is russian and they are really great prepared in salads.
i enjoy salads, vegetables, fruits, but the juicer, blender, and ice cream maker are awesome to have!
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- #13
I quoted the wrong post earlier. .I meant to Quote Morganjg above here.
I think you hit the nail on the head above when you said that just blending some items without extracting the pulp would leave behind something you just wouldn't want to drink. I've been thinking about it since I posted this thread . . If you were to just blend up a carrot or an apple . . . you would get a bunch of thick mush . . certainly not tasty, inviting juice you'd want to drink. I think the bottom line is that chewing a lot of vegetables and fruits is time consuming and a lot of work for the jaw. So people end up just not eating enough fruits and vegetables. By juicing and extracting the pulp you end up with a tasty, drinkable result that gives you the benefits of fruits and vegetables (absent the pulp). Even though there's good fiber in the pulp, it often makes a blended concoction undrinkable. And just eating the fruit or vegetable itself is something we just don't want to do. Who's going to go and just eat celery . . or eat a beat? Not too many people. But the juice of celery or a beat can be delicious . . . hence the benefit of juicing. It creates an end product that tastes good and that we'll actually consume. Thereby we get the benefits of the fruits and vegetables making up the juice. That's my take on this so far. I'd love to get your feedback.
P
pdillon
Juice fasts are very trendy right now and I think they should be met with a large degree of skepticism. I know this thread is not specifically about fasting, but I just wanted to throw that out there.
Personally, I would rather cook and eat vegetables than blend them raw and drink them. I do eat vegetables like celery (try Mark Bittman's fennel and celery salad) and beets (I make my wife beet risotto every Valentine's day and cook with them often). I do kale with cannellini beans, onions and white wine served over toasted bread about once a week.
A good diet is all about eating the right things (Michael Pollan's food rules: Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much... in this context, food is a loaded word. That means avoiding processed "food.") If juicing is going to make this process pleasurable and sustainable then go for it. But I would make sure it's something you really enjoy before splashing big on a juicer. I recently received a vitamix from my mom, and let me tell you it is one hell of a machine. Also, the cost of fruits and vegetables can add up. Of course you will need them one way or another, but keep this in mind. Consider joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA).
Finally, if lowering cholesterol is your goal I thought I might make a suggestion. I just did a quick Google search and saw that oatmeal is a top food for reducing cholesterol. I eat steel-cut oatmeal almost every morning. Steel cut oatmeal can be a little bit of a pain to prepare, but using a rice cooker makes it painless. I have a rice cooker with a timer (which costs about $140), but you could probably make your own by using a simple timer (like a christmas light one) and a standard rice cooker (in the $30-40 range). So I just stick the oatmeal and water in the night before, and it is ready the next morning. Top with kefir, walnuts, and dried blueberries. Combined with a protein fruit smoothie and a cappuccino: a great breakfast.
Personally, I would rather cook and eat vegetables than blend them raw and drink them. I do eat vegetables like celery (try Mark Bittman's fennel and celery salad) and beets (I make my wife beet risotto every Valentine's day and cook with them often). I do kale with cannellini beans, onions and white wine served over toasted bread about once a week.
A good diet is all about eating the right things (Michael Pollan's food rules: Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much... in this context, food is a loaded word. That means avoiding processed "food.") If juicing is going to make this process pleasurable and sustainable then go for it. But I would make sure it's something you really enjoy before splashing big on a juicer. I recently received a vitamix from my mom, and let me tell you it is one hell of a machine. Also, the cost of fruits and vegetables can add up. Of course you will need them one way or another, but keep this in mind. Consider joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA).
Finally, if lowering cholesterol is your goal I thought I might make a suggestion. I just did a quick Google search and saw that oatmeal is a top food for reducing cholesterol. I eat steel-cut oatmeal almost every morning. Steel cut oatmeal can be a little bit of a pain to prepare, but using a rice cooker makes it painless. I have a rice cooker with a timer (which costs about $140), but you could probably make your own by using a simple timer (like a christmas light one) and a standard rice cooker (in the $30-40 range). So I just stick the oatmeal and water in the night before, and it is ready the next morning. Top with kefir, walnuts, and dried blueberries. Combined with a protein fruit smoothie and a cappuccino: a great breakfast.
I don't like wasting food in general, so throwing out the pulp doesn't appeal to me. I throw everything into the blender and enjoy it - usually this includes carrots and tomatoes as a base.
Something that I find makes juicing good too is adding soy milk to the mix - I don't think that I ever juice without using soy milk.
Something that I find makes juicing good too is adding soy milk to the mix - I don't think that I ever juice without using soy milk.
+1
I have my 'base' fruits/veggies, ie: for sweetness, pear...for freshness, celery...for energy, amaranth....etc
Yes those are the elements that help lower your cholesterol. Plus the majority of the vitamins/minerals are found in the pulpy parts and peel.
Because they're morons who are trying to sell you something.
You want a traditional blender with a high speed motor and a good cutting blade. I personally use a Vitamix (used more for cooking and less for smoothies) or a Nutribullet (used mostly for green smoothies). Both are high quality. They're simple to use and simple to clean. Traditional juicers are cumbersome and make more mess than they do product.
Back when I started making green smoothies I used the only blender I had which was a $20 no name brand from Wal-Mart. I was almost turned off from the smoothie thing because my smoothies weren't smooth at all but had a rough bubbly texture. I bought a used Vitamix on craigslist for $40 (which I didn't realize at the time but that was a steal) and solved both problems. The blades spun faster and chopped the contents up better and had an airtight seal which didn't suck in air. I eventually bought a Nutribullet because I like the fact that the container doubles as a cup and is small enough for one smoothie. Some people say that oxidative damage occurs to the smoothie if it's not drunk immediately. I don't know if that's true or not I just like the taste of a fresh smoothie over a day old smoothie.
I have a cheap centrifugal juicer. Had it for years lying unused, recently dug it out to try it again. The juice was OK, but just looking at the wasted pulp made me feel guilty. I wanted to use it in a recipe of some sort, but had no idea what. I concluded it was better to just eat the vegetables, something I have no problem with.
There is a theory that blenders destroy up to 92% of the nutrients. I haven't seen any references cited to justify that figure though. I've bought a Vitamix style blender, and I'm happy to use that to make smoothies.
If I were to be interested in juicing I'd probably invest in a better one that preserves more nutrients than the centrifugal juicer that I have. But they sound so time consuming ... I'm sure you could eat vegetables faster than juicing them and cleaning up afterwards.
There is a theory that blenders destroy up to 92% of the nutrients. I haven't seen any references cited to justify that figure though. I've bought a Vitamix style blender, and I'm happy to use that to make smoothies.
If I were to be interested in juicing I'd probably invest in a better one that preserves more nutrients than the centrifugal juicer that I have. But they sound so time consuming ... I'm sure you could eat vegetables faster than juicing them and cleaning up afterwards.
My wife and I juice regularly and we love it. I enjoy juicing much more than I enjoy drinking a heavy, thick smoothie. But like others have said a nice blender could make a difference. We don't have a nice blender so I can't comment on that. As for the left over pulp, my buddy at work juices often as well, and his wife makes muffins with the left over pulp. They tasted pretty good to me and I thought it was a great idea. I have yet to do it but I am sure you can google search and find a recipe.
That has always been my conundrum, as well. Juice is great, but what to do with the pulp? I don't bake muffins, so I'm not going to make muffins like you're supposed to. I live in an apartment, so no compost pile. Someone told me to add it to animal feed, but I don't have pigs or dogs or even the goldfish anymore, and I'm not feeding my cat fruits and vegetables.
Actually, I suppose I could mix it with my oatmeal to add interest, now that I think of it...
I'm thinking if one is unable to digest fiber, or unable to chew fruits and vegetables normally, and hasen't been diagnosed with teeth/mouth/jaw problems or intestinal disorders, one may wish to see one's doctor or dentist and find out if something is wrong. The only people I've known who have been unable to properly digest "normal" amounts of fruits/vegetables and other fiber have been people with IBS, Crohn's disease, or a coworker who had most of his colon removed, so medical problems may be something to check out.
Actually, I suppose I could mix it with my oatmeal to add interest, now that I think of it...
Me. I'm totally stumped at the thought that fruits and vegetables are "icky" things that need to be juiced blended mixed masked to make them palatable... we're talking about carrots and apples, not brussels sprouts and okra.
I'm thinking if one is unable to digest fiber, or unable to chew fruits and vegetables normally, and hasen't been diagnosed with teeth/mouth/jaw problems or intestinal disorders, one may wish to see one's doctor or dentist and find out if something is wrong. The only people I've known who have been unable to properly digest "normal" amounts of fruits/vegetables and other fiber have been people with IBS, Crohn's disease, or a coworker who had most of his colon removed, so medical problems may be something to check out.
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