Feed: My Juice Cleanse - AggScore: 67.4

15 Cool Gadgets for Juicing and Beyond

All in all I can’t complain.  Juicing is pretty easy.  But sometimes when I’m cutting and coring a pineapple I wish there was an easier and better way to do it.  So I went searching for the coolest items to help with prepping, serving, and storing juice.

I’ve compiled a list of my top 15 picks for juicing accessories and gadgets.  Some are necessary and some are purely fun.  Hopefully some of these will even please the budget conscious and the eco conscious.  If you’re inclined to purchase these babies straight away I’ve included links for you!

1.  Paring knife – Perhaps this one goes without saying, but it really is important.  A good paring knife makes life in the kitchen much easier.  Knifes can vary greatly in quality and price.  I’ve been using this J.A. Henckels paring knife for several years.  It stays sharp and fits my hand well.

2. Cutting board – On my list of essential qualities of a good cutting board are a handle, a groove, dishwasher safe, and non-slip.  The fact that this Grand Epicure polypropylene board comes in several colors is just a plus.

3. Vegetable brush – It’s important to make sure your vegetables are clean. This bamboo brush from Natural Home Decor has a great design to fit well in your palm.  Bamboo is eco friendly, water resistant, and won’t collect bacteria.

4.  Vegetable peeler – Another basic kitchen item which you may already have. I don’t need anything fancy in a vegetable peeler. The OXO vegetable peeler is just right for me.  It has some swivel but not so much that I lose control. It also works for left handed people like me.

5. Apple corer – Many juicers today can fit a whole apple in the chute.  However there are many occasions where you need to core an apple or pear.  This is a handy tool to have around it you have kids because it makes serving fresh fruit easy and quick. Made by Calphalon.

6. Pineapple corer – Item number one on my wish list (honey are you reading this?). We absolutely love pineapple in our family and I am extremely messy when it comes to cutting them.  If I had this item I can just imagine that my life would be like living in a tropical island resort…..

7. Citrus peeler – I hate getting orange peel under my fingernails.  So I always keep a citrus peeler around.  These guys are so cheap and you can buy them at any store.  But here are some fun peeling “rings” by Chef Craft. They come in a set of four probably because if you’re anything like me these little guys get lost easily.

8. Measuring cups – A good set of measuring cups makes you feel like a professional chef. I like to imagine that I’m Ina Garten the Barefoot Contessa.  Some juicing recipes call for  a cup of berries or spinach, so it’s definitely useful. These Amco stainless steel measuring cups are the ones I use because they are beautiful and sturdy.

9. Strawberry stem remover- Well I just use a knife for removing strawberry stems, and if I’m juicing I don’t even do that.  But this little item from Chef’n is just so cute how could I resist?  This would definitely come in handy for a party where you want to make a beautiful presentation.

10. Reusable produce bags – Listen up green consumers!  You can take these produce bags to the market for purchasing your produce.  They’re reusable so you are saving on plastic and saving the earth. Go you! These Flip & Tumble mesh bags come in a set of 5, are lightweight, and color coded.

11. Produce saver disk – Once you’ve gotten all your produce home, you want to keep them as fresh as possible for as long as possible. This Extra Life produce saver disk claims to keep them fresh for 3 times longer.  Though is doesn’t state on the Amazon link, I believe the disk absorbs the ethylene gas that some veggies emit.  Haven’t tried these yet but hope to soon.

12. Lettuce keeper – Not just for lettuce, this keeper has settings for other veggies as well. A water reservoir helps to keep them moist and last up to two weeks in the fridge.  Progressive International even makes a collapsable version if your space is limited.

13. Mason jars – If large batch juicing is your thing, you’ll need to store the juice properly.  These Ball mason jars are nice because they have a wide mouth, a tight seal, and hold one serving of juice per jar.

14. Stainless steel bottle – Glass is breakable and plastic leaches chemicals, so how do you take juice on the go?  Stainless steel bottles are now all the rage.  Look for an insulated version like this one by Contigo.  It holds 16 ounces (one serving) and comes in a variety of colors.  The customer ratings on this product are very high.

15. Glass straws – Anytime I drink juice or smoothies I absolutely must use a straw. Don’t know how I started doing that but there is no going back now.  The downside to using straws everyday is the landfill waste it creates.  Enter the glass straw!  Yes you heard me, glass!  These straws from Strawesome are fun, creative, and designed to be used under most any of your drinking circumstances. My favorite of course is the bendy straw.

So there you have it.  Carey’s list of 15 Cool Gadgets for Juicing and Beyond. Do you have any cool gadgets that are must haves in  your kitchen?  Let us know in the comments below!

Pineapple Watermelon Mango Juice

I love when the weather starts to become warmer because that means summer and tropical fruits will be in season.  It’s always so fun experimenting with fruit combinations for juices and smoothies.  Today I’ve made a sweet nectar drink that you can make for family picnics or parties by the pool.

Pineapple Watermelon Mango Juice

1/2 of a pineapple
1/2 of a mini watermelon
1 mango
1 cup filtered water

Core and cut pineapple in half, then into chunks that will fit through your juicer chute.   Cut watermelon in half.  Cut the green outer rind away, then cut watermelon into large chunks.  Peel mango and cut into slices. Discard inner core/pit.  Push all ingredients through juicer.  Add one cup cold filtered water.  Chill for at least 30 minutes, then serve over ice.  Makes 4 cups.

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Where’s the Protein?

This week’s topic is a sensitive one and I don’t mean to offend.  However it really must be addressed, because so many ask the question,  “Where’s the protein?”

I’m going out on a limb here to say that the developed world has an unhealthy obsession with protein.  It’s quite unlikely that any of us will become protein deficient, even vegetarians or vegans.  Actually, consuming too much protein is common and dangerous.

Requirements

How much protein do you need in one day? While the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in America recommends that your protein intake be 10-35% of your daily calories, many nutritionists suggest  keeping this number at 10-15%.  The amount of protein required may also depend on your weight and exercise routine.  Tracy Russell from Incredible Smoothies offers this formula for calculating your requirements.

Meat is now synonymous with the word protein.

Have you ever seen the tv commercials that say “Where’s the beef?” or “Beef: It’s what’s for dinner.”?   These commercials are funded by companies and organizations that benefit from you buying their products (beef).  Since these companies know that protein is a necessary nutrient, they tell us that beef is the best(only?) source of protein.  This protein propaganda has conditioned us to expect and ask for meat at every meal.

Eating animal protein has been linked with the formation of kidney stones and is associated with osteoporosis, cancer and cardiovascular disease.  Plant based diets are actually scientifically proven to be healthier.

In the book The China Study, Dr. T.Colin Campbell explains his findings on the subject of protein after  years of study:

“People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease … People who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease.  These results could not be ignored.”

Fruits and veggies love  you back

One cup of raw broccoli contains three grams of protein while one cup of spinach contains one gram.  Yes you will need to eat more quantities of vegetables to equal the protein in meat.  That’s why juicing is such a great way to incorporate these healthy proteins (plus other healthy nutrients) into your body.   You can juice 3-4 cups of spinach in one juice!

If vegetarians can survive on plant based proteins, you too can survive a few days drinking fruit and vegetable juice.  Again I believe it all comes back to the mindset of believing that you are malnourished without meat protein.  It’s simply not true.

During a Juice Cleanse

Your body has the ability to store amino acids (building blocks of protein) in order to synthesize (build) proteins when needed.  Therefore, during a short term juice cleanse there should be no worry about getting enough protein.  Though I don’t consider it necessary, some people do add protein supplements to their juices.  If you feel you really need the extra protein, be sure to use a plant based protein such as spirulina and use sparingly.  Proteins require extra water so make sure you are drinking water as well as juice.

If you are doing a longer cleanse you should be in touch with your doctor in order to monitor your overall health including protein requirements.

Vegetables a Healthy Option

Overall, vegetables are a healthy option that should be in your diet every day.  They provide many other nutrients besides protein and can help your body to balance and heal.  Juicing is probably the best way to get the most nutrition out of vegetables.

My Smoothie Detox Results

Last week I wrote about smoothies and told you that I was going to do a 3 Day Smoothie Detox Challenge.  It was going to be my first time doing a smoothie only cleanse and I invited you to join me.  So did any of you do the challenge too?

There was a four day prep time which I used to cut out what little caffeine I was consuming and to increase my consumption of green leafy veggies. I bought some fresh produce, including bananas, and pulled out my blender.

Note:  A smoothie cleanse is different than a juice cleanse because smoothies don’t separate the fiber out from the juice.  Instead the whole fruits and veggies are blended together.

The Question

I just had one question.  Would I be able to get the same detox results from smoothies as I would from juice in the same amount of time?

The Process

Each day I drank one or two green smoothies, one savory blended soup, and one fruit or chocolate (raw cacao) smoothie.

Along with my blended drinks I increased my intake of water, so as expected I took more potty breaks the first day.  My energy levels went a bit low on the first day but picked up again to the point I felt more focused and optimistic.  I could categorize this as the same as a juice cleanse, but more subdued. I did experience a slight headache and some of the typical lightheaded or “spacey-ness” on the first day which was cured by a good night’s sleep.

The smoothies did seem to satisfy my hunger longer than juices, due to the inclusion of fiber.  The presence of fiber also resulted in soft and regular bowel movements.  I also experienced a sense of grounding or a solid feeling, which I attribute to the fiber.

My emotions were steady, so no issues there.  I did still have some of the same psychological hunger thoughts and conditioned behavior of going to look in the refrigerator.

The Conclusion

All in all, the smoothie detox is very similar to the juice cleanse. The intensity was about one-third of what I experience during juicing.  I imagine the releasing of toxins was probably about one-third as well.  As I said in my earlier post, smoothie cleanses usually last about 21-28 days in order to achieve the same results of a 3-10 day juice cleanse.

The Recommendation

I do recommend the 3 Day Smoothie Detox Challenge.  It was fun because I was able to eat foods like bananas and avocados.  This would be a good introduction cleanse for someone who is nervous about taking the full leap into a juicing cleanse.  Smoothies also make great transition meals before and after a fast, so I could see doing a 3 day smoothie detox then 3 days of juicing, for example.

Your Thoughts

Did you try the smoothie challenge?  How were your results?  Does this review make you want to try it for yourself?

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3 Day Smoothie Detox Challenge

Before I started juicing (years ago) I was quite a smoothie enthusiast, especially in the summertime.  It was a fun family sport that we participated in nearly every morning.  But I have a couple of confessions to make.

Green Smoothies?

Firstly, I thought all smoothies were fruit smoothies.  Who knew you could make green smoothies by adding spinach?  And why would you want to?  Well I’ve since learned a thing or two and nowadays I almost always add greens to my smoothies.  (Really, a banana, pineapple, spinach smoothie is quite yummy!)

My second confession is that I’ve never done a smoothie detox.  To be quite honest I didn’t even know what detox was at the time I started making smoothies.  I just knew they were good and healthy.

Juicing versus Blending

Now, I don’t often write about smoothies on this blog, and there’s a reason for that.  This blog is about juicing and when I talk about smoothies, sometimes people get the two confused.  The main distinction between juicing and blending (smoothies) is that juicing removes the fiber.  For fasting purposes this is a good thing because the colon gets to rest and we flush out the toxins.

I’ve learned, however, that it is possible to cleanse with smoothies it’s just that it happens at a slower rate. Kind of like if you eat enough good foods, eventually the body regenerates.  For this reason, a typical smoothie detox  lasts 21-28 days.  Compare this to a 3-10 day complete juice fast.

But how should I know really?  I’ve never tried a smoothie detox.  That all changes today.  I’m going to do it.

The Challenge

I’ve signed up for the 3 Day Smoothie Detox Challenge hosted by my friend Tera Warner and I encourage all of you to take the challenge with me!  All the recipes and instructions, plus lots of info about smoothies are free of charge and you can start on any day that works for you (I’m starting this coming Monday).

Spring is here and I’m looking forward to shedding some of my winter blahs.  I’d love for you to join me in this challenge.  Maybe you’ve got some things you need to shed also.  It’s only three days.  What do you say?  All the details can be found here.

Will You Join Me?

Hey if you decide to join me in the 3 Day Smoothie Detox Challenge let me know in the comments below and we can support each other.  Because that’s what it’s all about – helping each other.

How to Store Your Fresh Juice

You know that fresh juice right out of the juicer is best, but it’s not always practical, right?  And I know you might not have the time to be juicing several times per day.  So is it possible to make a batch of juice ahead of time and store it for later?  Yes, with a little know-how you can keep your juices for up to 24 hours.

The biggest concern for keeping juices fresh is oxidation.   During the juicing process, fruits and vegetables are broken open and their enzymes and other nutrients are released from the fiber.   When the juice is exposed to air it gives up an electron to the oxygen in the air, thus oxidizing the juice and making it less nutritionally stable.  If you can reduce the amount of time the juice is exposed to the air and seal it up quickly you have a better chance of keeping the nutrients intact.

Juicing in Bulk

One of our readers, Kelly, has been kind enough to share her method and photos of how she stores her bulk juices.  You can read more about her juicing journey on her blog Happy Healthy Inspiration.

You’ll need a few 16 oz. mason jars, a sharpie marker, enough fruits and vegetables to make a day’s worth of juice and some recipes to follow.

Make your first juice recipe and then:

1.  Fill a mason jar all the way to the top with juice.  The goal is no air inside the jar.

2.  Seal the lid tightly.  Keep some extra lids around in case the seals go bad.

3.  Mark the outside of the jar with the ingredients and the date (and perhaps the time) the juice was made.

4.  Store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Extra Tips from Carey:

*  add 1/2 to 1 lemon to your juice recipe.  Lemons contain antioxidants and citric acid which discourages oxidation.

* Rinse your juicer (at least the basket) between recipes to keep the flavors separate.

*  Each jar holds one 16 ounce serving.  Do not drink half and then put it back in the refrigerator.

* You can flash freeze juices following these instructions.

* You can purchase 16oz Ball Mason jars here.

* Glass jars are most ideal.  If you must use plastic, be sure to get BPA free plastic.

images courtesy of Happy Healthy Inspiration.