Introduction to Juicing

I have been asked a few times about what type of juicer we have so I thought I would give some information about juicing. I am relatively new to this type of eating but this is what I can explain.

There are two main types of juicers:

Masticating -Produce is squeezed through gears that crush them and then force them through a very fine steel strainer.  Since this process uses less friction, (less heat) more nutrients are preserved.   Masticating juicers are an excellent choice for all produce especially wheatgrass and leafy greens.  These machines range in price from $300-$2000.

Centrifugal-This machine uses a spinning basket that shreds the produce and forces them though a very fine stainless steel basket.  Since some air is introduced there can be a slight loss in nutrients.  These machines can range in price from $40-$500.

A few things to consider when purchasing a juicer:

• Type-Masticating or Centrifugal
• Cleaning-how long will it take to clean
• Ease of Use-how long will it take to figure out
• Size of opening-the larger the opening for your produce the less preparation time
• Ratings-What do people say about this machine

We only just started juicing about three months ago.  My husband did the research and decided on a centrifugal juicer for now.  He bought the Breville Juice Fountain Plus.  We are very happy with it.  It is easy to clean, does juice some leafy greens and leaves a nice dry pulp.

My sister bought be an excellent book about Juicing called, The Juicing Bible.  Pat Crocker not only includes 305 recipes but also breaks down many herbs, fruits and vegetables into their nutritional properties and how to use them in juicing.  It has been a great introduction into the juicing world.