Juicing is the top trend in weight-loss, athletic recovery rate, healing and general health maintenance.
What exactly is juicing?
Juicing is the process of extracting the natural liquid contained in fresh fruit, vegetables and grass using a juice extractor. A juice extractor is designed to separate the liquid from the insoluble fibre referred to as pulp. You drink the juice and either use the pulp for other preparations, or discard it or add it to your compost. You still get the soluble fibre in your juice
Juice Extractors (Juicers)
There are 2 types of juicers, a centrifugal- and a cold extraction-type juicer, more commonly known as a ‘slow’ juicer.
A Centrifugal Juicer
In a centrifugal juice you will find “shredder discs” with blades that resemble a grater. When the machine is turned on the discs spin at a very high speed, grating the fruit and vegetable into tiny pieces to extract the pulp. The liquid pulp is then spun at a high speed to separate the liquid from the pulp. The liquid content is pressed against a strainer to further remove any additional pulp. The juice and the pulp are ejected from different outlets into separate collection bowls. Centrifugal juicers work best with fruits and vegetables but not as efficiently for leafy greens such as spinach. A centrifugal juicer produces high volumes of froth and is unable to juice the most healing of all juices, wheatgrass.
A Cold Extraction Juicer – Horizontal and Vertical
Cold extraction, or ‘slow’, juicers contain a single gear or auger. The produce is put through a feeding tube and the single gear crushes the produce and presses the pulp against a strainer, separating the juice from the pulp. The juice and the pulp are ejected from different outlets into separate collection bowls. Due to the masticating operation of a ‘slow’ juicer, this type of juicer can process fruit and vegetables including leafy greens and wheatgrass. Minimal heat is generated with a ‘slow’ juicer therefore it oxidises slower compared to a centrifugal juicer so the juice can be kept for longer.
A variety of fruit and vegetables can be juiced and different fruits and vegetables can be mixed to get excellent flavour combinations. It is recommended to drink more green juices than fruit juices. Green juices are made up of mostly leafy greens with perhaps the addition of a slightly tart Granny Smith apple to add a little sweetness. This type of juice is considered to be “liquid gold”, apart from the high water content, green juice is rich in amino acids (proteins), nutrients, enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants and all the other key components that the body needs to function efficiently, heal and maintain optimum health.