What You Need To Know Before Buying A Juicer

June 16, 2019

We love to spend time at local farmers markets looking for the very best produce that we can take home. However, we often buy more than we could ever eat and this is why we first decided to get into juicing. We have experienced first hand how juicing vegetables and fruits can transform the way you feel, boost energy, and improve overall health. We do it every day and we can’t imagine not having it be part of our daily routine.

A smart way to truly take advantage of the power of fresh produce is to get a juice extractor. Who wants to spend all day eating tons of vegetables when you can quickly throw them in a juicing machine and conveniently drink all of the goodness that they have to offer. Finding the ideal option for your kitchen is not as hard as it may seem. Although there are a number of quality options to choose from, getting something that is perfect for your needs is something that is rather doable with just a little bit of research.

Keys to Purchasing a Juicer

Some of the more important aspects to look for when buying a juicer include the following:

Speed

If you are truly in a hurry, and you just don’t have any time to spare, then a centrifugal juicer is the way to go. They are fast machines, and they offer the quickest way to juice. Speed does come with a price however, as they be quite loud.

Noise

If you need a quiet machine and don’t mind the juicing process taking a little bit longer, then a masticating juicer will be your best bet. They run at much slower speeds and they do not sound like an airplane engine when operating. They are not as fast, but they are definitely a lot gentler on the ears.

Juice Quality

Generally speaking, masticating juicers are going to give you a better quality juice. This method has lower oxidation levels in the juice, and you will be able to get slightly higher nutrient levels as well. The juice will spoil at a slower rate allowing you to make a lot of juice at once. Juice made with centrifugal juicers should be consumed right away as their is more air in the juice which will speed up the rate at which it goes bad.

Finding Juicer Reviews

There are plenty of quality juicers on the market, and trying to find one that best suits your needs may seem like a difficult task at first. Once you figure out which factors are the most important to you, then finding a model that is perfect for your needs will be a lot easier. To find the best option there are plenty of juicer reviews of the top brands like Breville, Omega, Kuvings, Cuisinart, and Tribest to help you make a more informed choice.

Most of the best juicers will be able to deliver a high quality juice, but there are some aspects that may be more valuable to you than others. Whether you choose a masticating or centrifugal model, chances are you will end up with something that will greatly benefit your health. Kind Green Planet is a great resource for those looking for a new small appliance for their kitchen, including juicers. The reviews are detailed and easy to follow.

Types of Juicers

After reading through numerous reviews of various juice extractors you may notice that there are two types of juicers for fruits and vegetables. So what are the differences between the two?

Centrifugal Juicers

  • Fast
  • Loud
  • Usually easy to use
  • Usually easy to clean
  • Slightly lower juice yield
  • Slightly lower juice quality

Masticating Juicers

  • Slower
  • Quiet
  • Higher juice yield
  • Slightly higher juice quality
  • Great at juicing leafy foods
  • More expensive

Personally, we have always used masticating juicers as we juice a ton of kale and cabbage. These types of juicing machines handle these foods really well. We get a lot of juice and it tastes great. We have had experience with centrifugal juicers, and they do a good job, but they are just not something that suits our needs.

Recently, we bought an Omega VSJ843R, which is an upright masticating juicer. Omega juicers are also some of the best machines that you can buy. So far we have been amazed with how quiet it juices. You can barely hear it when you first turn it on. It is not a particularly fast model, and one thing that we weren’t thrilled about was its small opening to the feed chute. You have to cut up anything that you want to juice into smaller more manageable sizes. Other than that, we have been impressed. Not to plug one model over another, but this juicer has exceeded our expectations.

Which Juicing Machine Should You Get?

Buying a juicer is a totally individual decision. There is not one machine that rise above all the others and stands out to be the best for everyone. Make a checklist of what you hope to do with the machine and what are the most important aspects for you in a juicer. Speed, noise, price, the types of foods you plan to juice, clean up, and ease of use are some of the key points of a quality juicer. Once you know what you need, you can zero in on what you want.

Any juicer is better than not having one at all as juicing can provide you with tremendous health advantages. So in the end, there really is no wrong choice. The key is to buy a juicing machine that you enjoy using every day.

Potential Potent Benefits Of Juicing Your Celery

July 12, 2019

While most people try to get leafy vegetables like cabbage, spinach and kale into their juicing recipes, celery is another way to give a health kick to your green juice. While it may be somewhat overlooked by most, celery is a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It has low calories, and this makes it nutritious food with abundant health benefits. The nutrients in celery are retained even after steaming it. Eating it can be a somewhat bland experience, but juicing celery can be fun way to get a lot of its positive benefits as well. Below are just some of the ways that getting more celery into your diet can help your body.

1. Antimicrobial properties

Taking celery can help you fight infections. In some places, celery has been used for centuries as an herbal drug for the management of bacterial infections. Research published in the Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology in the year 2009 supported these claims. Celery seeds extract were able to effectively inhibit bacterial growth. Further research has indicated that celery will not only fight bacterial infections but also boost your immunity.

2. Lowering cholesterol

This is another proven benefit of celery. It’s cholesterol lowering power makes it a powerful vegetable in maintaining heart health. It has a compound called 3-n-butylphthalide that has been researched and proved to have high lipid lowering effects. Celery seeds are helpful in lowering the low-density lipoprotein commonly known as bad cholesterol while increasing the levels of good cholesterol known as the high-density lipoprotein. Celery also has high fiber that collects the cholesterol in our guts assisting in its elimination.

3. Management of blood pressure

The antihypertensive properties of Celery seeds have been researched and proved. Celery is able to control chronic high blood pressure. It is also useful in the prevention of coronary heart disease that is predisposed by high blood pressure. The compounds involved in this process include methanolic, hexanoic, and Phthalide. Phthalide was shown to lower stress hormones in the body, an important process that makes blood vessels relax and expand thus allowing smooth blood flow. Methanolic extracts from celery seeds were shown to improve circulation, lower inflammation of the blood vessels endothelium and this is effective in lowering blood pressure.

4. Weight loss

If you have been worrying about ways to control your weight you should try celery. Celery is low in calorie but rich in dietary fibers. The fiber absorbs water in the alimentary canal. This reduces food craving and makes you remain full for longer. If you constantly eat foods rich in fiber such as celery, you will lose the excess weight.

5. Anti-inflammatory effects of celery

Antioxidants in celery are responsible for the potent anti-inflammatory effects. Some of the antioxidants include flavonols and flavones, luteolin, polyphenols, and furanocoumarins. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects of celery are important for overall body health. Inflammation has ben shown to be a contributing factor in chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Celery is, therefore, beneficial in the management of most inflammatory disorders such as joint pain, skin infections, and irritable bowel syndrome among others.

6. Boost digestion

The fibers in celery also help in promoting digestion and in the prevention of bloating. Celery seeds have oil that serves as a diuretic. The oil improves intestinal circulation allowing excretion of water that is responsible for bloating and puffiness. It also makes one have a complete and fast digestion.

7. Liver health

Celery has been shown to be effective in stimulation of the detoxification process in the liver. It does this by boosting the liver enzyme function, and this increases the detoxification speed. This is the important process of maintaining the liver and overall body health. For the people with liver disease, celery is good for the maintenance of proper liver function.

8. Kidney health

The potassium and sodium salt in celery help in the maintenance of body electrolytes. Celery as a diuretic helps in elimination of toxins. This promotes the overall kidney health.

9. Prevention of urinary tract infections

Celery will act on your urinary tract where it stimulates urine production. It also inhibits the process that accelerates the production of uric acid. These effects together with antibacterial activity of celery serve as an important tool for the prevention of urinary tract infections. Celery, therefore, fight urinary tract infections, prevents bladder disorders, kidney stones among other infections that affect the urinary tract.

10. Cancer prevention

Celery antioxidants are useful in reducing the cancer risk. One of the molecules in celery that has been shown to reduce cancer risk is apigenin. It was observed to be protective against pancreatic tumors. Some studies have also indicated a protective role of celery against breast cancer and stomach cancer.

11. Sex health

Studies have been conducted on the role of celery in sex and arousal. Celery has been shown to have high levels of male hormones androstenone and androstenol that are used during man arousal. The aroma in celery is also aphrodisiac. Some studies also support that celery is able to increase a man’s attractiveness and to last longer in bed.

Going Green With Celery

While the much hyped “superfoods” can be a wonderful addition to any recipe, celery deserves to get more attention. It is often associated with diets in a negative light, like it is somewhat of a chore to eat. However, there are many different ways to incorporate this vegetable into your daily routine. Juicing offers the best convenience, but it is also a great ingredient to add for a crunchy texture. Experimentation is a great way to keep things fresh when trying to go green, so try to have a little fun with some celery the next time you are in the kitchen.