To juice or not to juice?

My social network is split down the middle. So I bring my query to you, my crazy sexy family.

Half of the people I talk to say they love juicing. That it tastes great and it's a great way to drink in all the good stuff and helps your body absorbe it so much faster.

The other half believe that it isn't so great because you're just drinking the water and sugar from the veggies and leaving all the vitamins and nutrients from the dense skins behind.

Unfortunately my internet research is producing mostly the same 50-50 results.

What's a girl to do? What do you think?

And if you are for juicing....what are the best veggies to do so with? What tastes best? Green drink recipes? Anything not process so well or work so great as a juice?

Thanks for all your support.

Peace and veggies....(possible juiced)
Amanda

Tags: drinks, green, juice, nutrition, recipes

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Katie on March 2, 2008 at 2:17pm: I prefer green smoothies. You get ALL the nutrients and the fiber. A favourite of mine is 1/2pear, 1/2apple, 1banana, 3strawberrys, lotsa ginger, and alkaline water to mix...blend, then add parsley, spinach and kale......YUMMY!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by lozzarun on March 2, 2008 at 2:30pm: Great question. I've been pondering the same thing. I've been blending and have thought about going to the other side and juicing, but a juicer is a big commitment on the wallet. I see a naturopath in a few weeks and was going to ask her. Can't wait to see some other answers.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by anne on March 2, 2008 at 6:50pm: I would love to see some more replies here. I actually do both juice and smoothies. I treat the juice like a morning cup of coffee--it's sort of a ritual to start the morning by cutting up my veggies and running them through the Omega. Then I do a green smoothie an hour or so later. I love them both. The green juice, to me, is just one more way of getting lots of fresh veggies into my body. But I'd never heard anything about it being just the sugar and water . . .; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Elisa on March 7, 2008 at 7:01pm: OK, I'm with you guys...I just don't feel so good when I juice. I have purchased 2 and took them both back. My body feels much better on the green & fruit smoothies. I am going to listening to my gut (literally!) on this one. I do something like:

Water or rice milk or once in a while, organic juice
1/2 frozen banana (frozen by me)
green apple
ginger, peeled & fresh
frozen mango (or other frozen organic fruit from Trader Joes)
lots of spinach, and sometimes kale
Sometimes sprouts
1/2 a cucumber, skin on

This way, I drink it and feel happy. The juicing, I was dreading it and feeling kinda puky afterwards. Everybody really is different, right?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sirona on March 7, 2008 at 7:05pm: The smoothie sounds great.....but how does it work with the Kale. It sounds like such an odd ingrediant in a smoothie. Does it break down and blend in well?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Becky on March 28, 2008 at 8:30am: If you leave the cucumber skin on, make sure you clean it really well. Cucumbers are one of those veggies like celery that the sprays/pesticides cling to. Even if it says "organic" i wash. You may already, but thought I'd mention it. Your receipe sounds divine! I did mango blueberries and rice milk yesterday. it was such a pick me up. my 13 year old loved it too!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by belinda on March 8, 2008 at 6:02pm: Hey guys
I started juicing a long time ago but started using carrots and apples. I then added a lemon, then slowly beets and spinach. And it was a slow process. I mixed one for my sister and she about threw it up. Now I can do the beets (not a whole one), celery, cucumbers, cabbage, kale, a carrot, broccoli (which I hate but you cannot taste it one bit), lemon and sometimes ginger. I do often add an apple even though with cancer I know I should try to do without the sugar. You have to do whatever is right for you and whatever works for you. My juicer is old and doesn't work as well as it used to so I'm now limited re wheatgrass so I bought a green drink.
There is an explanation re the lemon juice. I can't remember it right now but it does not stay acidic in your system. Do you have a good juicing book?
I agree though, tipping the scales in favor of better eating is definitely a great start.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Theresa on March 8, 2008 at 10:26pm: What are some good recommendations for juicing books?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Glennae on March 9, 2008 at 11:48am: I love The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker & Susan Eagles. The beginning of the book lists herbs, veggies and fruits and for each tells you what vitamins and minerals are in it and what good things they do for you. It also tells you how to pulp, juice or stew into tea. The next section lists recipes by ailments - ingredients you should maximize, what you should minimize and what to avoid altogether. Then come the recipes! Fruit juices, veggies juices, smoothies, milk substitutes, coffee substitutes and teas. Hope this helps!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by belinda on March 9, 2008 at 11:39am: You'll be surprised at how good it really is. It didn't take long. And as I said, I hate broccoli but can't taste it a bit. Once I made the decision (and my 2nd diagnosis of BC hit me in the head, er chest) I started throwing everything in the juicer and drinking it. I find the celery the most overwhelming. The cukes are delicious. My biggest problem right now is financing. It costs an arm and a leg. But, I'm determined because nothing is as expensive financially or emotionally or physically as the cancer and all its txs. Try a small glass. And you really dont have to chop anything. I cut a broccoli stem in two...chop off the ends of everything...wash really well and in the hopper they go. Deb's ideas re the pulp are great. Go to Debbie's site. debbiedoesraw...it's very helpful.
I'm on an aromatase inhib now and hate it. I keep threatening to get off of it but keep thinking about that one micro cell. I did the tamox for 5 yrs and refused to go on the AI after that. Then within a year I had BC return...same breast. First time it was ductal, this time it was lobular. Doc said it (encouragingly) had nothing to do with me not taking AI but my estrogen levels were way high. I've been taking Calcium d Glucarate and flax and juicing wayyyy more and not working at my high stress nuring job and really taking better care of me. I'm hoping to go off the AI this summer (after only 1 yr), get my saliva hormone levels done, then determine where I am.
Belinda; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carol on March 28, 2008 at 5:33pm: Hey all, thanks so much for sharing all this. I'm confused about what to do as well. I'm doing a combo of juicing and smoothies and we'll see how that goes. It really takes a lot of discipline and organization which I have a hard time with. Belinda, I'm a breast cancer survivor as well (also estrogen positive) and my onc. dietician suggested I avoid flaxseed since it can potentially be interpreted as estrogen by your body. I had no idea and was sprinkling flaxseed over everything thinking it was healthy for me. Not to say it isn't healthy for others, but in our situation it can be dangerous. Just wanted to share that with you.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Becky on March 28, 2008 at 8:33am: The lemon cleanses your liver or so says my accupuncturist, although since i have tumors in my liver (oh joy!) i have to limit it somewhat. your juices sound very similar to mine. try to keep going on the wheatgrass if you can though. i also bought a green drink (the odwalla) and it does have wheat grass, but again, i think doing yourself if probably better, although, i know if your juicer is on the frtiz....it's frustrating. why don't they make juicers cheaper????? we'd all be so much healthier.; ▶ Reply to This