Copyright © 2013 by Rockridge Press, Berkeley, California
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, Rockridge Press, 918 Parker St, Suite A-12, Berkeley, CA 94710.
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: The Publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering medical, legal or other professional advice or services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the Publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. The fact that an individual, organization or website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the Publisher endorses the information the individual, organization or website may provide or recommendations they/it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.
For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at (866) 744-2665, or outside the U.S. at (510) 253-0500.
Rockridge Press publishes its books in a variety of electronic and print formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books, and vice versa.
TRADEMARKS: Rockridge Press and the Rockridge Press logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Callisto Media Inc. and/or its affiliates, in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Rockridge Press is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
ISBNs: Print 978-1-62315-042-6 | eBook 978-1-62315-043-3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Section 1: What Is Juicing?
Chapter 1: What Exactly Is Juicing?
Chapter 2: The Many Faces of Juicing
Chapter 3: The Pros and Cons of Juicing
Chapter 4: To Juice or Not to Juice — Is It Right for You?
Section 2: Everything You Need to Know About Juicers
Chapter 5: Juicer, Blender, What’s the Difference?
Chapter 6: Types of Juicers
Chapter 7: How to Choose the Perfect Juicer
Section 3: The Healthy Person’s Guide to Juicing
Chapter 8: Preparing for Your Cleanse
Chapter 9: Adding Juice to Your Diet
Chapter 10: Keeping It Fresh — Top 3 Reasons to Make Your Own Juice
Chapter 11: Fruit Juice vs. Vegetable Juice
Chapter 12: Top 20 Fruits and Why They Made the List
Chapter 13: Top 20 Vegetables and Why They Made the List
Chapter 14: Spice It Up — Herbs and Spices That Make Juice Snap!
Chapter 15: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Chapter 16: Tips for a Successful Juice Fast
Section 4: Getting Clean — Your Guide to Healthy Cleansing
Chapter 17: Get That Liver Clean
Chapter 18: Dirty Colon? Clean It Up!
Chapter 19: Help Your Kidneys Go with the Flow
Section 5: The Big Green Disease-Fighting Machine
Chapter 20: Juicing for the Health of It
Chapter 21: Juicing for Anti-Aging — Juices That Help Keep You Young
Chapter 22: The Smoker’s Guide to Quitting — Have Some Juice!
Chapter 23: Clear Up That Complexion — How Juicing Cures Acne
Chapter 24: Learning to Focus — Can Juicing Improve Brain Function?
Chapter 25: Get the Skinny — Juicing for Weight Loss
Chapter 26: Loosen Up — Juicing for Arthritis and Joint Health
Chapter 27: The Cure for the Common Cold?
Chapter 28: See Your Way Clear — Juicing for Healthy Eyes
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
There’s a huge trend in the dieting and fitness world right now called juice fasting, but here’s a little secret: It’s not a trend. People all over the world have been using juices to cleanse the body, prevent illness, and cure diseases for centuries, but it’s just now becoming mainstream. So what is it, and how can you do it properly? Excellent questions, and I’m going to do my best to answer them for you.
What Is Juice Fasting?
Juice fasting, also known as “juice cleansing” or just simply “juicing,” is exactly what it sounds like: refraining from consuming anything but juice in order to cleanse, detoxify, or heal your body. There are numerous variations of juicing, but all of them involve incorporating the juice from fruits and vegetables into your diet for a set duration of time. In Section 1 of this book, I discuss the technical aspects of juicing, such as the pros and cons, and who can benefit from it.
In juicing’s purest form, juice is all that you consume — you don’t even drink the pulp. At the other end of the spectrum, many people simply like to incorporate a glass or two of fresh juice, with or without pulp, into their daily diets in order to get a concentrated boost of vitamins and nutrients. Many people also like to do a juice cleanse in order to jump-start a diet plan. Regardless of why you’re interested in juicing, there are certain things that you need to know before you start, so I’m here to help you along your way.
What’s the Best Way to Extract the Juice?
In Section 2, I’m going to discuss one of the most important components of juicing — how to extract the juice. This is important because the quality of your juicing experience will be affected by the method that you choose. It’s a no-brainer that if the process is difficult, messy, or otherwise unpleasant, you’re not likely to want to do it on a daily basis.
I’ve got you covered, though. I’ll take the hassle and confusion out of this part of the process by explaining step-by-step exactly what you should look for in a juicer based upon your juicing needs and present living situation. I discuss details that you’d probably never think of so that you’re forewarned and forearmed. The section on choosing the right juicer will have you making delicious, nutritious juices with minimal fuss in no time at all.
Is There a Right Way and a Wrong Way to Juice?
Well, yes and no. Because juicing is a personal choice that you make for your own reasons, there really isn’t a wrong way to do it if you’re just talking about methods or durations. It is, after all, your body. That being said, there are some general guidelines that you should follow in order to get the most out of your juicing experience.
Simple things, like choosing fresh, organic produce and adding herbs and spices to improve both the flavor and nutritional value of your juices, can make a world of difference. I’ll explain the top choices of fruits and vegetables, as well as offer some tips on healthy, great-tasting additives that are not only allowed but encouraged.
There are some steps that you need to take prior to starting your juicing experience, especially if you’re planning on a total fast. Right now, your body uses about 30 percent of your daily energy just digesting your food because of the fiber and protein that you consume. When you juice, you’re eliminating the hard work so that your body is gaining all of the nutrients without needing to expend energy to get them.
That’s a pretty big change, and you may experience some initial side effects as your body adjusts. Don’t worry, though — I’m not going to let you go in blind. In Section 3, I’ll discuss what you need to do to prepare your body for your fast, as well as review some side effects that you may expect. I’ll also clue you in regarding how to choose the best produce, what herbs and spices are the most beneficial, and how to maintain your juice fast on the go. As a bonus, for each fruit, veggie, and herb listed, I have included its top nutrients so that you have a reminder even when you’re at the grocery store. That means you can make up your own compatible juice combinations right at the market.
So You’re Interested in Juice Cleansing?
Though there are many different reasons to juice, cleansing is at the top of the list. Years of eating processed foods filled with excess fat, sugar, and other garbage that your body can’t digest leaves your digestive tract stuffed full of junk. The fact that even the air you breathe and the water you drink is full of toxins doesn’t help, either. Juice cleansing gets rid of all the trash and helps your body function optimally again. I’ll cover how to safely and effectively conduct your cleanse in Section 4.
How to Use Juicing to Stay Healthy and Cure What Ails You
The nutrients, enzymes, antioxidants, and phytochemicals found in fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly good for you. Antioxidants fight free radicals that cause everything from wrinkles to cancer, and phytonutrients have been linked to a reduced risk of horrible conditions such as stroke, heart disease, and cancer. These benefits are just the tip of the iceberg, but in Section 5, you’ll all learn about these awesome disease fighters.
Also in Section 5, I’ll discuss which fruits and vegetables offer the nutrients that you’re looking for, then I’ll take a closer look at some of the most common ailments and reveal the best approach to avoiding and treating them with juice. Each chapter in this section also includes great recipes that are written with a specific condition in mind, just to make your juicing experience a little easier.
It’s a proven fact that many diseases can be avoided, at least to a certain extent, just by taking care of your body and providing it with all the nutrients that it needs. There are no magic overnight fixes, though. Good health isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon best ran by making one good decision at a time. The decision to add juicing to your diet may be one of the best you’ll ever make, so without further ado, let’s get you started!
SECTION ONE
What Is Juicing?
• Chapter 1: What Exactly Is Juicing?
• Chapter 2: The Many Faces of Juicing
• Chapter 3: The Pros and Cons of Juicing
• Chapter 4: To Juice or Not to Juice — Is It Right for You?
WHAT IS JUICING?
Though you may not realize it, juicing isn’t a modern-day innovation, nor is it the result of high-tech research into what’s best for your body. Instead, the drinking of fruit and vegetable juices to promote healing and good health has been around practically since the beginning of time. In fact, there are documents that refer to it back as early 150 BC. That’s as old as the Dead Sea Scrolls!
In reality, there are many cultures that don’t consume any kind of animal protein at all, and eat only raw fruits and vegetables, so the concept of a juice fast isn’t quite as extreme as it may initially seem. It’s simply an extension of the idea that fruits and vegetables are amazing for you and can be extremely beneficial when looking for a treatment for illness or a boost for your immune system.
Just as there are many different reasons to juice, there are also many different ways to do it. On one end of the spectrum, there are people who consume only low-sugar vegetable juices for as long as months at a time. On the other end, some people simply add a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice to their breakfast. Regardless of whether you’re a hard-core juicer or simply somebody that enjoys a nice glass of juice now and then, there’s a spot for you in the world of juicing.
Did you know? Adding one glass of fresh juice per day to your diet can boost your antioxidant, vitamin, and mineral consumption by as much as 100 percent. That’s right — you can literally double your nutrient consumption with one little glass of juice!
It’s not all sunshine and roses, though. There are some definite pros and cons to juicing, especially if you’re planning on doing a total fast. Some are more serious than others, and range from mild to yuck. In the following pages, I’ll go over what they are so that you can make an informed decision before you decide which level of juicing best suits your needs.
Though most people don’t have to worry about it, there are some who may not be able to participate in juice fasting at all because of certain physical conditions. That is OK, because there are still ways that you can reap the benefits of juice while maintaining your health, and without worrying about aggravating your condition.
Now, let’s get to the meat of the matter — what the heck is juicing and what can it do for you?
