You Don't Need a Juicer to Juice.
To juice or not to juice. That is a juicy question these days.
There are those against it, saying that you are better off
eating the fruit or vegetable whole because whole foods are
better assimilated by the body and contain that ever-important
fiber. Also cited are concerns over the blood sugar rise caused
by concentrated juices.
Proponents agree that you should eat lots of whole vegetables
and fruits daily, but believe that there is value in
supplementing the diet with the juices. The value lies in the
mineral salts contained in plants. We all understand the need
for minerals. And many people swallow lots of mineral tablets to
try and get them. However, many nutritionists maintain that
minerals that have been through the plant cycle are far better
for the body than those which are directly extracted from the
soil. For example, to meet the need for Sodium, one might ingest
sodium chloride. Alternatively, eating something like celery
will provide the body sodium phosphate. So, as understood by the
proponent, a body depleted of minerals by our modern lifestyles
can most quickly be aided by the consumption of fresh fruit and
vegetable juices.
I'm in the latter camp. I've greatly helped my health with
vegetable juices. The manner I prepare the juices keeps them
dilute enough that my blood sugar stays normal (I was
pre-diabetic).
I started by borrowing a juicer. The product was delicious. But
the quantities of vegetables needed kept me going to the store
too often. And cleaning the machine was time consuming. I
finally started adding two cups of water to a quality blender,
then added vegetables and let them liquify. The final step was
to pour the solution through a fine strainer (cheese cloth works
well). I'd use a ladle or such to squeeze the juice out of the
pulp. Then I either used the pulp in cooking or put it in the
garden.
The juice is a great was to start out the day. I get my mineral
salts while sitting outside in the first light. My favorite
consists of a couple of carrots, a handful of spinach, a small
beet with greens, two stalks of celery, and maybe some garlic or
ginger. The combinations are endless. Cleanup is quick. Rinse
the blender and strainer. The juice is diluted with water to a
good concentration, and I haven't spent much.
You probably already have a blender. Give it a try to see if
juicing is for you.