Sharing a laugh with the reigning First Lady of Juicing (Charlotte Gerson at home.)
Mike recently wrote in bunch of questions recently about juicing…
Since one of our friends just recently did a 7 day juice fast, I figured the topic was ripe to explore.
These questions address different types of juicers, good juicing resources, enzymes, how to get protein while juicing, how to buy and store vegetables for juicing, exercising while juicing, and more.
Let’s get rolling…
From Mike:
“Great site here: I have a few questions for anyone to comment on. Thanks for your help!
“1. What are the best brands and types of juicers to buy for a juicing lifestyle?
(Gerson therapy has some recommendations, but expensive)”
Thanks, Mike! Glad you appreciate what we do here.
There are a lot of machines out there that we like. My basic rule on which juicer is best for you is the one that you can afford that you’ll use to actually make and drink the juice.
I know that’s not very scientific, but if you’re hesitating to get a juicer and have been for three years because you can’t afford a Norwalk, then you’re missing the point. All juicers work satisfactorily. Not all are the best, but – again – any juicer that gets the juice in your body is the best for you.
I’m tired of experts spinning ideas about which juicer is best – when they don’t realize that their conflicting information is paralyzing people from actually getting started. My advice: get a juicer and start juicing – simple.
To run over some of the ones we like…
I like the GreenStar from Tribest. It produces high quality juice and doesn’t leave much left in the vegetables. This way you’ll get the most out of your produce. The only downfall of this machine is that it’s over $500.
Another juicer I recommend is the Jack LaLanne or JuiceDaddy. These are centrifugal juicers which means that the juice is extracted by a fast spinning wheel with small blades. These do not get the most out of your vegetables, but are very efficient at juicing harder vegetables and fruits like apples, celery, cucumbers, carrots, etc. These have a much more attractive price tag at about $99-150.
If you only want one machine, I recommend using a Vitamix to juice. To do so, just blend up your veggies in the blender with added water and then strain through a nut milk bag or cheese cloth.
Back to your initial question, while the Gerson Therapy recommends the Norwalk, I understand this is prohibitive for some people. But if you are ill, looking into machines that do extract the most from the vegetables is essential. For general health maintenance, you have many more options.
I will note that many people who have healed using juicing as a tool have done so with or without the Norwalk juicer, so this is evidence it may not be essential. To add to this, I also wouldn’t use juicing as your only healing tool either – it’s best used in conjunction with other complementary protocols.
“2. Best website to explain what vegetables to juice with, how much each time, and when and how often to drink each day?”
This completely depends on what you’re looking to do.
Juicing for me is an exploration of what combinations taste great and which ones are healthy for me. If you’re ill, then different protocols may be necessary.
Some places to look for advice are Gerson.org, www.Dr-Gonzalez.com and JuiceFeasting.com. We also have a book filled with over 50 juice recipes that you can find here: Juiced! The Healthy Way
One word of recipe and protocol advice, an entire leek can ruin your juice no matter what you add to buffer it.
“3. How to get proper amounts of protein intake while raw juicing?”
I tend to use juicing in the short term as a break from higher protein, so if you’re doing a short term juice fast, then more than likely you don’t need to add any additional protein. If you’re doing a fast for an extended period of time, I’d recommend a few items.
Chlorella and spirulina are good sources of plant protein – you can add these as powders to your juices. Sunwarrior protein or Warrior Food are two others that are good to add to juices to give you a protein boost. I’d recommend – during a fast – to stay away from nut milks since they may have too much fat during a time when you’re giving your body a break.
If you do a prolonged fast, then you may want to include some of these to give you some essential fatty acids – chia seeds and homemade hemp milk are great to add to your juice.
“4. People mentioned taking enzymes for skin health. What type of enzymes and how to take?”
Enzymes do more than help your skin, they can help with digestion as well as help your body stay healthy and increase longevity.
Digestive enzymes work for skin issues because they help to digest your food better. Poorly digested food can cause your gut to become inflamed which in turn causes allergic reactions, poor skin, rashes, loose poo and more.
Not only do enzymes help rebuild a damaged gut, juice fasting does as well since during the time you’re fasting you give your digestive tract a break – and time to heal.
Generally, you take digestive enzymes on a regular basis with meals.
Systemic enzymes are different in action. These are used by integrative and natural cancer doctors to help destroy cancer tissue. You can find more on this from Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez.
“5. Best ways and places to buy and keep a daily supply of raw organic vegetables available in my kitchen for juicing?”
Best way to buy organic veggies is to find a local CSA (Community Sourced or Sponsored Agriculture.) You can also – of course – grow your own (which I admittedly haven’t been very good at, LOL!)
To keep them fresh I only have a few tips. First, get some of those green vegetable saver bags that you can find in the produce section of most health food stores. Using these in the refrigerator will help keep your veggies fresh longer. Second, if you have greens or herbs that are wilting, put them in a jar of water. This should keep them water-rich and revive them for at least a little while – and until you’re ready to make your juice.
“6. I am in school and would like to know if anyone knows about where the best colleges and in what states, have the best nutrition, and organic farming degrees?”
For this, I’m not really sure. Maybe someone else here can help you out. I know a few people who have attended Bastyr College and have had positive things to say about it.
The challenge with going to a nutrition school, is that unless they’re very sympathetic to natural methods, you’re going to be stuck learning some things that may not be relevant – or never were in the first place.
This is why I’ve strayed away from getting a new degree in nutrition. I couldn’t imagine sitting in a classroom – knowing what I know now – for 2 years or so. I think it would be great to have a refresher on biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, but I also think that I’d be the biggest thorn in my professor’s side.
In this Internet age, there is so much information available, that it’s hard to justify spending a ton of money on school if you know what you’re looking for and have the stones enough to call up people in the know when you have specific questions that are confusing you.
“7.EXERCISE: can an excess of walking for exercise have bad effects rather than good effects?”
An excess of anything can have negative effects, but I think walking is one of those things that we’re made to do. Just like a cheetah is made to sprint, we’re made to walk long distances. Read the books Why We Run and Born to Run and you’ll get a serious education on running, why we do it, and why it’s healthy. (Be sure to also read ChiRunning or ChiWalking by our friend Danny Dreyer.)
I think the key to walking or any exercise is to start gradually and build up your tolerance for it. I also think the key to walking or any exercise is getting off the couch and actually doing it…
“8. Is a moderate amount of tanning beds ok for health?”
I’m going to yield on this one. My colleague Dr. Mercola talks highly of tanning beds. I truly haven’t done the research yet. I will say it’s better to get out in the sun than use a tanning bed, but sometimes it’s just too cold to do so if you live in an area that gets super-cold in the winter
I’m undecided on this issue, since I haven’t done sufficient research on my own, so I hope you understand.
“9. THe drug PROVOGIL:::does this drug, if taken properly, ok for health?”
I’m not a doctor, so I can’t really comment on this.
This drug is used for narcolepsy, but doesn’t cure it. Just like many drugs it is a bandaid, not a solution. While there may not be a simple solution to narcolepsy, there are some brain stimulating supplements you can take to help you – like ginseng and other adaptogens – as well as eating a higher protein, lower carbohydrate diet.
This isn’t advice that is telling you to stop your medication, but I think – with the help of a practitioner – it would be interesting to explore your options (of course, if this applies to you – if not – forward it to the friend or family member you were thinking of!)
“10.Different Type of Question: What age in women is not safe to become pregnant. What age is not healthy and not recommended for the health of the mother and the baby?”
Finally, what age is not safe to become pregnant?
This entirely depends on the individual. I’ve seen healthy babies born after 40 and unhealthy babies born at 18. It depends on the mother’s health. Any mother (dads too!) wanting to have children should see a natural doctor to get their blood drawn and see if there are any deficiencies they have that would compromise the health of their baby before they start having babies. Please don’t view this as general advice. A good natural doctor should be your lifeline before, during and after your baby is born.
But generally speaking, after 40 pregnancy becomes more risky for the baby.
Just another note, it’s no coincidence that people are having trouble getting pregnant these days. There are multiple factors in play here – our environment, stress levels, diet and toxicity that all contribute to these issues. It’s my opinion (shared with others as well) that this will happen even more and we are going to make ourselves sterile – as a whole population – if we continue our unhealthy ways.
“Thanks,
Mike”
No problem! Good luck on your school search!
Your Question of the Day: Can you give Mike any additional advice?
Live Awesome!
Kev
4:00 pm on December 20th, 2011
Loved the greenstar, but when I needed just a juicer I found a jack Lalanne off craigslist NEW for 50!!! Doesn’t extract greens the best, but when I gotta have my green juice it still gets the job done!
4:26 pm on December 20th, 2011
Mike,
I’m assuming that you are asking about provogil for both mental and physical stamina. I was looking for the same thing. I recently finished a book called Brain Allergies. I suffered from brain fog for most of my life, and wanted to do something about it. I looked at options ranging from provigil to going on a fast at the True North Fasting clinic in California, but finally settled on the book. I cut out both corn and olive oil (even raw) and my energy and memory were drastically improved. You might want to give that a look.
-Tino
4:32 pm on December 20th, 2011
great post! very helpful info as usual. i have a questiona about digestive enzymes… you wrote above that, “Digestive enzymes…help to digest your food better.” How do enzymes do this? Can we get these from certain foods we eat, or must we take supplements? if so, what are the best foods to eat to get digestive enzymes. thanks.
4:46 pm on December 20th, 2011
Tino,
Olive oil? Is this because you have a sensitivity to it? Or is it common for those with seizures to be affected by it?
Just curious.
Thanks.
5:01 pm on December 20th, 2011
I did a 65-day juice feast using a Vitamix, along with a cheap citrus juicer for oranges and grapefruits. I used nutmilk bags to strain the fruits and veggies I blended in the blender. It worked wonderfully, and was easy to clean. My family and I still start almost every day with a green juice made by the same process.
Good luck with your foray into the world of juicing!
5:14 pm on December 20th, 2011
I belong to a CSA and defintely support that it is the best source of local organic fruits and vegetables! Getting a CSA share (your part of the season’s crop) is generally much less money then buying organic produce at a grocery store. Most CSA’s also have work-share prgrams, so you can work a few hours a week at the farm and get your share for a discount or even free – along with a hands on education of natural growing methods!! Our CSA also offers a winter ordering program that includes root veggies, bok choy, and a few other items, which has been a great supplement to shopping at the store the past month.
We got so many veggies every week that I purchased the green fresh saver bags to help extend their shelf life. They worked great for the green leafy veggies, like spinach & kale, I add to my daily green smoothie!
Great questions Mike! Wish you the best on your journey!
5:16 pm on December 20th, 2011
WHAT ABOUT THE COWAYS AND HUROM JUICER?
5:24 pm on December 20th, 2011
Check out the 4yr SEFT IV practitioner course on http://www.feldenkriasinseattle.com. It is happening right next door to Bastyr
5:25 pm on December 20th, 2011
For those of us who aren’t able (or willing) to pay for the expensive juicers, here’s my method. Not the ultimate but it works pretty well.
I have a Breville juicer and I use it for Granny Smith Apples, and carrots; any hard fruits or veggies. For the leafy greens like kale, spinach, dandelion etc. I use a Waring blender; the standard type with only two settings. I found a new one at consignment shop and nabbed it for $8.00. It’s got a metal base and a glass container so it’s a work horse. I add a bit of carrot juice to the blender and then blend in the leafy greens. I also add ginger via the blender since the Breville doesn’t really deal well with small, hard items.
I think the Breville is called a “Juice Fountain” and it cost about $99.00 on line. It’s loud; sounds like a wood chipper but does well with hard veggies and fruits. The remaining fibrous veggies are about the same amount as one gets from a Champion but the Breville is a breeze to clean and easier to use.
I’m toying with the idea of trying a nut-milk bag to extract the remaining juice/nutrients from the remains that are left in the juicer but haven’t tried it yet.
5:27 pm on December 20th, 2011
I have found juicing to be so revitalizing. I use a Champion Juicer, which has made very economical use of the fruits and vegetables (little waste). I have never worried about protein intake while on a fast, but I have only fasted for a maximum of 2 weeks, and did not have any serious issues that I needed to be concerned about.
The reason that I started the fast was that I was having some arthritis pain, and I did a mostly carrot juice fast which I found to be very helpful. Everyone is different, and I think that even just having some fresh juices or smoothies every day is a great step toward improving your health.
I generally find it hard to start the fast (I always think that I will feel so deprived), and then when I get to the end of the fast I don’t want to quit … so obviously, I don’t feel deprived while I am on it!
I am also very interested in the tanning beds, but we don’t have one, and I try to get as much sun exposure as I can, and supplement with Vit D –
We walk nearly every day and try to get in 10,000 steps. I really enjoy getting out and seeing all that there is to see. If I had more time I would like to walk longer.
5:36 pm on December 20th, 2011
hi Kev!
just wanted to say that i bought a Omega 8003 juicer on craigslist for $100 and have found it to be the best! also used breville, hurom juicer, and really looked into the juicers before purchasing another. very very happy with the juice quality, ease of cleaning, pricepoint, sound, and extraction method. really like the greenstars! but also more expensive and harder to clean.
i’m in no way affiliated with Omega, just a happy juicer owner
-Gina
5:36 pm on December 20th, 2011
Hi Kevin,
Just wondering the name of the Author of “Born to Run” as there are a few books with that title.
Thanks,
Ishka.
5:38 pm on December 20th, 2011
I didn’t see the Omega juicer listed. I’ve owned many juicers, and this one (about $200 on the Net) is easiest to take apart, clean, put back together, does as good a job as any I’ve used (which is most of them), and juices pretty much everything–easily and with relatively dry pulp. Overall, tho, blenders (VitaMix, especially) are more important than juicers, because they contain the bulk and ruffage that are strained out during juicing.) BTW, I’m coming from 40 years of clinical practice as a Naturopath.
5:39 pm on December 20th, 2011
I have the Hurom juicer and love it. It does a great job and is very easy to clean.
5:39 pm on December 20th, 2011
i had the Hurom juicer but sold it because while it made amazing orange juice, really not great for juicing leafy greens (in my experience). it seemed to not extract well and also got backed up.
also, the basket cracked after minimal use and while it was replaced by good customer service, i felt like it cracked way way to early on – just a few months in – to buying a new one.
my breville juicer was better but makes lower-quality juice and sounds like a rocket ship is taking off!!
i’d also be very interested in the norwalks, but beyond just the price, they are apparently very difficult and time-consuming to use. for me, i’d never use it! ease of use = for me, very important!
5:40 pm on December 20th, 2011
hello everyone happy holidays and new year! i experiment grater alertness with 1/2 tsp of sri lanka cinnamon at meal time and haven’t to fight sleepiness during long drive anymore. Peace!
6:13 pm on December 20th, 2011
I chopped a carrot into two halves, one went into a centrifugal Omega 4000 (comparable to Brevil and Juiceman) and one half into a masticator juicer, Omega VERT 350 (comparable: Huron, GreenStar) The juice produced from the centrifugal had more foam, less coloring and less taste then the juice that came out from the masticator. The juice from the masticator juicer had the five tastes, sweet, bitter, astringent, sour and salty ( a sign of the presence of vitamins and minerals) whereas the juice produced by the centrifugal was predominantly sweet ( a sign that most of the vitamins and minerals are gone!).
6:15 pm on December 20th, 2011
Excellent article, Kevin! Thanks for all your research!
As for systemic enzymes, they’re not just for c….
They digest scar tissue & undigested proteins inside the body. Years ago I dissolved a heel spur in about a month, by taking encapsulated proteolytic enzymes. They are crucial for good health!
Happy Holidays! -Jean
6:25 pm on December 20th, 2011
Mike,
Like the Champion – Gerson reccomended as well with lower price tag then Norwalk around $ 500-600 includes Juicer and Hydraulic press
bottoms up
Mac
7:05 pm on December 20th, 2011
Regarding the education question, check out Dr. Pam Popper’s introductory video for the Wellness Forum Institute for Health Studies: http://www.wellnessforuminstitute.org/welcomeletter.html
The following was copied from the welcome letter page on the site:
“The Wellness Forum Institute for Health Studies is the first school in the U.S. to offer certificates and diplomas based on the philosophy of “Diet-Centered Health Care.” The curriculum is based on the work of Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study, and the work of Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., Dr. Alan Goldhamer, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. John McDougall, and others who have documented their success in stopping the progression of and treating degenerative diseases with a well-structured plant-based diet.”
This is an amazing program and worth every minute of your time to check out.
Enjoy your day!
Lisa
7:06 pm on December 20th, 2011
I have a question I’ve had for ages and never asked. Why the nut bag? I have a Vitamix and a centrifugal juicer that I use at different times and for different things, but I’ve always wondered why you would want to throw away so much of the food. What you throw away is, especially if you have a really good juicer, mostly just fiber anyway, so why wouldn’t you want to put that in your system as well. Seems to me people go out of their ways to get fiber, and here it is being recommended that you throw it out.
Please help me to understand this.
Thanks, Scott
7:20 pm on December 20th, 2011
Jean, what an interesting comment – that you dissolved a heel spur using encapsulated proteolytic enzymes.
Jay Kordich has out a new juicer that is supposed to be a “slow” juicer like the Huron. I am trying to get a new juicer for Christmas and have been thinking about Jay’s or the Huron. However, the more I think about it, I may try and get the Green Star. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. I missed an opportunity to get on 2nd had not too long ago for a good price, and wish I had gotten it. I may just keep an eye out for a used one. I think the kind of juice you get from your juicer is important. But it is also important to just get juice in if you can’t afford an expensive machine. Right now, I have a Jack LaLane juicer. It is good, but I would like to get more nutrition out of my juice.
I have also used my vitamix to make juice, and then strained the smoothie. However, instead of a nut milk bag, I go down and get a paint straining bag – they are much cheaper and work well.
Thank you, Kevin, for a great article. It has given me the inspiration to go on a 7-day juice fast. Merry Christmas to you and Annmarie!!
7:28 pm on December 20th, 2011
Great posting on juicing! Kevin hits the bullseye about just start juicing. I was once in that paralysis state – wanting to juice but not comfortable with spending $500 on a juicer. I bought a $250 Breville centrifugal juicer – quick juice and super quick and easy to clean. Now, I juice almost every day.
Remember to use the leftover pulp from juicing. My dogs love the pulp! I store all the pulp (minus any citrus or tomato or garlic, etc. pulp that is harmful to dogs) and serve it to my dogs over their raw meals. Nothing goes to waste! Enjoy!
7:45 pm on December 20th, 2011
We use a Blendtec.
It’s just easier to put everything in, juice it and cleanup is very easy.
My question is that yourself and others say you strain the juice…which is pulpy, compared to a Lalanne or Juicedaddy.
Is there anything harmful by not straining the juice and drinking/eating all that fiber ?
8:34 pm on December 20th, 2011
Jean,
How did you take the systemic enzymes? With a meal? Alone? What brand?
8:39 pm on December 20th, 2011
If your medication is used for Narcolepsy I would just like to say that I cured my long term problem with this in one day with EFT.
8:49 pm on December 20th, 2011
I love my Omega 8006 juicers. I have two of them, one on my kitchen counter and one in my camper because I juice every day. It is simple to use and best of all simple to clean. I tried the Hurom slow juicer but it did not compare. It leaked onto my counter, was difficult to clean and more expensive.
9:08 pm on December 20th, 2011
discountjuicers.com (John Kohler’s site)–features useful Youtube videos, comparing juicers side by side in real time. He gives unbiased pros and cons of various juicers, is quite upfront & knowledgeable, TRUSTworthy.
John makes it very simple & clear–as well as echoing Kevin’s advice that the best juicer to get is one that you will actually use to juice!
storing veggies–lightly wash, “shake” excess moisture off, then lay a (clean) cloth in bottom of container (glass is optimal–veggies stay best–but plastic works well too), snap on the lid. The cloths i use are 100% cotton, an old shirt that i cut up into pieces. just throw them in the laundry when dirty and reuse reuse reuse.
Kevin & Annmarie’s book is great!
Surprisingly, John Kohler gives some tips on prepping veggies for juicing. Also some useful tips on making a basic vegetable juice, which I personally found very helpful & gave me the confidence to “branch out”.
9:17 pm on December 20th, 2011
I recommend watching videos on YouTube by John Kohler. He does juiceoffs where he puts two juicers to the test and compares juiced yield, color, flavor, amount of pulp in the juice, amount of pulp extracted, ease of cleaning, etc. I watched several of his videos before finally making a choice on a juicer. He does a great job of explaining the features so that you can make the choice that is best for you. I decided on the Omega Vert 350 HD which has a 10 year warranty. I have been very happy with it and use it everyday for my morning juice. When one part broke, I called the company and they sent out a replacement part right away. This model is similar to the Hurom, but the Omega is better since it has a longer warranty. John Kohler has a video on this as well where he compares the Omega Vert and the Hurom. Kevin, I like how you said that the important thing is to start juicing rather than fretting forever about what juicer to get.
10:06 pm on December 20th, 2011
Will someone please explain why I should strain the “juice” I get from my vita-mix. What’s wrong with including the pulp/fiber? I drink it daily and have never thought of straining it. Kevin or someone else, please reply. thanks!
10:39 pm on December 20th, 2011
When you use a juicer, the juice is in your system within 30 minutes. Probably giving you about 95% of the nutrients. When you use the Vita-Mix you are also getting the pulp/fiber, so this will have to be digested. You lose nutrients in the digestion process and may only retain about 45% of the nutrients. I like to think of juicing as giving myself a shot of optimal nutrition. There is really nothing wrong with eating food pulverized in your Vitamix, it is still good for you. God will bless all your efforts for better health and I love the Vitamix, too. I to, would like to hear Kevin’s take on this.
11:11 pm on December 20th, 2011
we have an Omega, love it! It comes with a blank which allows crushed materials to be extruded like frozen bananas for ice cream or soaked nuts for nut butter.
Makes wonderful juice!
Thank you Kevin for all your dedication.
Shay Arave
11:47 pm on December 20th, 2011
I have the Green Star and have had several other juicers, and agree with Kevin that it is a real good choice, since you can run just about anything though it. I grow wheat grass and juice it along with beets, carrots, spinich, kale, broccoli stems, cucumber, celery, apple etc. Soft fruits like cucumber make juice back up so I follow with wheat grass or carrots.
I also have a Vita Mix and do drink the juice with fiber also. I prefer the Vita Mix ove the Blend Tec. If you never had total speed contol you might not miss it but I also think the Vita is more powerful.
I also concur that discount juicers .com is a really good resource if you are looking to get a juicer.
12:11 am on December 21st, 2011
We LOVE our Omega Vrt 330HD for juicing (John Kohler ROCKS!!! – Kevin interviewed him a few years ago..that’s how we found out about Renegade Health
and we use our Vita-Mix for smoothies and nut milks. IMHO, there’s nothing wrong with the drinking the pulp from the Vita-Mix, it’s just a lot of fiber for your body to digest. If your doing a juice fast and trying to give your digestive system a break, then all that fiber isn’t exactly that great. On a regular basis, I don’t think the extra fiber is a problem – just not during a juice fast.
As far as schools go, I recently came across this school and am looking into applying to one of their programs.
Tai Sophia Institute (http://www.tai.edu/)
On a random note, here’s a good “article” about washing veggies:
http://mamainthekitchen.com/2011/03/15/top-5-ways-to-clean-produce/
Happiness & Health to all!
12:14 am on December 21st, 2011
As per Mike’s first question I have the Breville 800JX juicer (not exactly sure but it’s the silver $300 model). I love it. I realize it oxidizes the juice to some degree but it’s easy to use and clean up. Now if I had cancer, I’d definitely get the Norwalk!
Thanks for posting!
1:09 am on December 21st, 2011
(I know that I am dating myself) but I met Jack La Lanne in 1964 who spent almost an hour telling me about the benefits of fresh vegetable juice. I worked in a health food store in San Francisco that had a juicer. Since I was the gopher, I got to do the juicing. They had a Norwalk. The juice was wonderful, but the juicer was a real pain. Since then I have had and used and killed off many different juicers. The best juicer you can get is the one you will use!! I have a Champion and a green star but I LOVE my Breville and I use it almost every day!
1:14 am on December 21st, 2011
I have owned a Breville, champion, old norwalk, solo star and Jack Lelanne, I have been unhappy with all of them for various reasons, too heavy, too hot, too messy, hard to clean, the norwalk was efficient but labor intensive and more than once painted my cabinets with juice. solo star was one of the best but heavy and took up too much counter space, Jack Lalanne wasted more greens than it juiced, champion resulted in warm juice but makes great banana ice cream and nut butters. Now I have the perfect juicer, the Omega vert, small footprint, efficient, fast, self feeds, easy to clean, less than $350. It takes up less counter space than a coffeemaker.I decided on the Omega vert over the Hurom since Omega has been in buisness a long time and will be there if I have an issue or need replacement parts, Hurom? 2 years and wondering.It is the same machine as the vert so I went with the company that I’m sure will be there.
To answer the question on why filter out the fiber- it would be done when on a juice feast to rest the digestive system and build the immune system. If I’m not on a feast I do green smoothies.
1:20 am on December 21st, 2011
Hi Kay Hutton,
You need’t strain the “juice” you get from your vita-mix. The pulp/fiber acts as a prebiotics to promote the multiplication of friendly bacteria in your gut. It still contains some amount of nutrients and also provides roughage for your bowel movement.
I wish to take this opportunity th thank Kevin for all his enlightening articles.
May he be blessed with good health always.
From: detox4cure.blogspot.com
1:44 am on December 21st, 2011
I’ve been juicing , mostly fruits , semi-regularly for many years , just for a pleasant healthy drink . I’ve often watered the juice down a bit , especially when the kids were young , so they weren’t so sweet/sugary ; and with fresh juices we can easily get away with doing this 10-20% and barely notice . Then a few years ago I experimented with watering the juice down with the milk from greenish coconuts (which are plentiful and free in North Queensland), and it has been a REVELATION . I can mix 35-40% coconut milk , and as it brings its’ own body and sweetness , not to mention a long list of nutrients and health benefits . rather than tasting watered down , it enhances the drink massively ! The flavour combination is awesome (not a huge fan of straight coconut milk)… Really worth trying if you’ve got coconuts rolling around nearby
1:47 am on December 21st, 2011
Hi Mike:
I have a Samson GB-9001 (single gear) and it seems to extract a lot of juice relative to centrifugal juicers (though they do better w/ carrots). It can take a while to clean up, but the more you use it, the faster it gets (or, rather, the faster you get).
As for straining the pulp, I can’t say for sure what the reason is, but I’m guessing it’s because fiber is filling and, without it, you can drink more juice and therefore get more nutrients. Maybe?
Anyway, here’s the Samson juicer I have (it juices everything, not just wheatgrass, as implied in the description).
1:53 am on December 21st, 2011
I’ve been reading Mr Norman Walker’s book on juicing and he recommends juicing over blending. He states that pesticide residues and other toxins are held in the fibres of our fruit and vegetables.
This is most important if our produce is not organic/spray-free.
1:58 am on December 21st, 2011
i’ve had my omega 8006 for probably 8 years or so, and i’ve used it almost everyday, and it’s still awesome. it’s relatively inexpensive too. and omega has the best customer service. i think the warranty on this model is 10 years, and i’ve definitely used it – i just had to get a couple new parts, and they ship them out for free if you ship them the used part that is worn out (just a few $). my friend has the updated version, which is the VERT. she absolutely loves it. it’s pretty much the same as the 8006, just a different design and smaller. it takes up less space in the kitchen. it also has a 15 year warranty. if i ever get another juicer, i’d get the VERT. one of the cool things about this is that you can make raw banana ice cream – it has a nut butter attachment, so just put that on and put some frozen banana slices through it, and voila, YUMMINESS!!!!!!!!!!!
and add some nuts while you’re at it!
2:00 am on December 21st, 2011
oops, i’m so sorry, i should have read carole’s post above before i wrote mine – i pretty much said the same things!!
4:36 am on December 21st, 2011
As far as the college question goes, I am enrolled in an online college working towards my doctorate in Holistic health and the program includes a great nutritional program that focuses on the whole body and natural healing. I researched the crap out of it before i took the plunge but it is pretty awesome so far. Right now I am working on the Master Herbalist Program but will be taking the nutritional program myself very soon. I am loving it (and no one has to pay me to say that, lol!) here is a link to the nutritional consultant program info: http://www.gcnm.com/nutritional-consultant-program.html
I myself just got a jack lalane juicer from my mom for an early christmas present (i already owned a samson) and i am very surprised at how fast it is (and how much more liquid is produced) although I still love my samson i have been sticking to the lalane for time sake since i have 3 little kiddos running amuck getting in to trouble while i make my morning juice
5:55 am on December 21st, 2011
I love my Omega Juicer. It’s fast, efficient, and easy to clean. I did a 10-day juice feast and introduced this to my (79 & 81 year-old) parents. Because of diabetes, they were advised to avoid juices with high sugar content. I researched and found a product named Juice Plus that is concentrated fruits and vegetables in capsule and chewable form. Most of the sugar has been removed, so they get less sugar in a daily portion of Juice Plus than they would from a glass of orange juice. Their doctor was pleased because they are getting the nutrients and enzymes without the high sugar content they would have from the juice. I sincerely believe it’s the next best thing to fruits and vegetables.
8:07 am on December 21st, 2011
Love this post! I just purchased the new juice by Jay Kordich. At first I thought no way! I have used so many in the past I wanted something no so $$$, easy to clean, and jet one that I would truly use. It is more delicate..I have to go easy on it but for now I am satisfied, my old faithful Jack La Lanne, the one that I have kept after trying so many others..was shooting all my greens lettuces and spinach out. This one seems to do a better job. But I also debated with the VERT. Pancreatic enzymes I do take 6 am- empty stomach and 6 pm before bed. I take the Dr. Kelly’s ones, buy them on line mainly because I very much like him and because they do not contain bromalaine (enzyme from pineapple) I am very allergic to pineapple. I truly don’t know If it interferes.
One brand that is good: Apricot Power Megazyme it has Trypsine and chimotrypsine. I do take the Gerson Pancreatic enzymes with my food to help me digest the proteins. I am not a raw foodist and I do not digest animal protein very well, but my protein blood levels were so low I had to eat some! and spirulina gives me headaches. I am going to a dx now. I am going to talk about the fungus deal. Can other people share about brands of pancreatic enzymes? thank you. Feliz Navidad. Sorry about the mistakes on typing but I am running for my app. -blessings.
10:43 am on December 21st, 2011
I went to the Gerson Wellness Institute for a week a few years back after which I bought a Norwalk. It makes awesome juice but it very time-consuming and shoots out pulp onto the ceiling with the first 7 or 8 carrots unless you cut them up and start and stop the machine with each piece. So I end up not juicing. Ugh
11:01 am on December 21st, 2011
Hi Ishka,
The author is Chris McDougall.
Enjoy it, it’s a good one!
Kev
2:19 pm on December 21st, 2011
For juicing I use the Gear Juicer from Samson. I have been using it for years and its great. It juices slowly and is also great for juicing wheat grass as well. I like what Sharlotte Gerson has to say about juicing. She is right about just doing it , just juice whenever possible with the machine that fits your budget at the time. An up grade later is ok.
The Liver needs fiber for best function so I like to alternate between juicing and making smoothies. I make fruit or vegetable juices and use lots of natural fruit containing natural enzymes like pineapple and papaya.
A seed mill grinding Chia ,Flax, Pumpkin,Sesame,white and black plus sunflower with bee pollen will give you complete protein. You can mix this into your juice or smoothie right away .
I include edible weeds in my yard as well with Thai fresh herbs like olive leaf ,dandelion , and young mango ,rose apple leaf from my Thai Tropical garden. Yes, I feel lucky to have such a garden all year in the tropics that provides this kind of nutrition.
You can also include coconut juice to your juice and blend the coconut meat and add that to your beverage. I also like to add a bit of lemon or lime peal to the juice and even spike it with cold pressed apple cider vinegar and a dab of raw unfiltered honey.
The variations are endless I love it and it makes for an interesting morning I must say . The thing is we are technically still fasting during our waking hours ,thats what the body is doing at night fasting. So a light juicing breakfast with fruit is the best thing that you can do for your body to ease out of the fast. Having a heavy starchy breakfast is the last thing you want to do because this will abruptly break your natural fast and cause indigestion and slow down your metabolism.
Your heaviest meal should be at lunch not at breakfast.
I hope that you find this information helpful ?
Barry Gourmet & Raw
2:25 pm on December 21st, 2011
PS, I highly recommend the health advice from one of my mentors Dr. Judy Seeger ND based in Florida USA. Her site is
http://www.drjudyseeger.com/how-to-detox-your-body-from-cancer/
and http://www.cancercleansecamp.com/
No Fluff just all common health sense ,that works.
Barry Gourmet & Raw
3:25 pm on December 21st, 2011
1) The juicer you USE is the one that is best. Sort of like fitness equipment – doesn’t do any good sitting there.
It’s good to see people comment favorably for the Vert. I removed it from my Wish List because I wasn’t hearing ENOUGH positive comments with any consistency to warrant that great of an expense.
2) Do your own research. Doing it yourself ALONG with asking the advise/opinion of others is the most useful, and joyful part of the journey.
3) Go on Amazon.com and read ALL the reviews and comments of various juicers you have interest in. You will learn MORE by what people say (like on here) than anything else.
4) Realize going in that there isn’t any ONE juicer that does it ALL – unfortunately, and you may end up having more than one eventually. And so what? As long as you’ve done your homework and USE them, who cares?
5) Yes, I agree – John Kohler has more comparisons than you can imagine and does a great job on his website and on YouTube. You will learn a great deal from him. We all must thank him for his great service.
6) Blending and juicing are two DIFFERENT things for two different purposes and cannot be compared! Kevin; Jay Kordich; and the queen Victoria Boutenko discuss this at length. Anymore than you would compare EATING and DRINKING..!
7) When using your highspeed blender, be sure to use the lowest speed possible, for the shortest amount of time or you are killing the enzymes.
9) My Wish List of juicers consists of Jay Kordich’s new PowerGrind Pro because the technology is unique in it’s field.(I would not, however, say that it is slow like a Hurom/Vert). It is centrifugal but also has a grinding process – very interesting. I’m hearing good things about it, but the ‘jury’s not out yet’. It’s considered ‘slow’ in the RPM but delivers the juice FAST. That’s important to me.
My other top of the line Wish List item is the Omega 8004 (same as 8006 but in white).
The Omega 8003-8006 series wins HANDS DOWN in customer reviews, recommendations and satisfaction overall.
I grow much of my own spinach, kale and swiss chard when I can. And I buy my carrots in a 25# bag. I get my apples from an awesome co-op; but my CSA’s have not panned out well for me, so I’m kinda stuck trying to get QUALITY, organic, fresh produce. It’s tricky (here).
Do the best you can. It’s better than if you didn’t.
5:07 pm on December 21st, 2011
I love my Omega 8003/8005 Juicer. Not difficult to clean, great juice. It has helped me a lot with a couple of issues. Although I have not tried any other kinds, I researched a lot before buying. And I am very happy with it. We have a juice every morning first thing before breakfast.
I agree with others. Blending and juicing should not be compared. They both accomplish different things. Juicing is like giving your body an injection of super nutrition, quickly digested and assimilated. Blending is great too! We love our green smoothies!
7:13 pm on December 21st, 2011
Great comment about putting the whole leek in the juice. I got a great chuckle out of that. Great to read some good humor. The best therapy.
10:01 pm on December 21st, 2011
Mike, I think it would serve you to check out The College of the Atlantic in Maine. My daughter just started there and they have their own small organic farm. I don’t know if they have nutrition classes but they have an area of study in sustainable Food Systems. The school walks their talk and serves organic food to their students, and the school is run (and has gotten awards for this) in sustainable ways. There is only one degree, which is Human Ecology, but many areas of study within that, which includes developing your own area of study which could be or include nutrition.
They are not inexpensive. It is a private institution, but they are accredited and one can use federal financial aid. They also have a very good financial aid package for good students which is the only way we were able to afford to send our daughter there. Find them at: http://www.coa.edu/sustainable-food-systems.htm.
I, too am interested in studying nutrition, but most programs do not appeal to me. There is one that does: Bauman College: http://www.baumancollege.org/ They are in Northern Ca and Colorado and have degrees in Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts. The founder of the school is respected and significantly involved in the holistic food arena.
Also there is http://www.mum.edu/individualized_studies.html
where you can write your own major.
Good luck! The right school or program is most likely out there, just waiting for you to find your place!!
11:09 am on December 22nd, 2011
Beth,
When using the Norwalk Juicer, if you always keep food in the triturator, then it will not spit up, theoretically at least. My husband can do it perfectly, but it still spits us a little with me. You may want to contact Gerson Inst or Norwalk Manufacturer for more instruction.
12:27 pm on December 22nd, 2011
I love my Breville Juice Fountain Elite for juice. Fast and easy to clean. Also love the Vita-Mix for smoothies. I enjoy doing both. At some point soon would also like to get an Omega, for better juice extraction from the greens. Fun kitchen toys!
8:02 pm on December 22nd, 2011
I have a Champion juicer and a Blendtec blender and I like them both for different things.
We love to juice pineapple, orange, and lemon in the Champion, or carrot and apple.
In the Blendtec we mostly make smoothies with frozen fruit and it does a great job in a hurry.
7:33 am on December 25th, 2011
I know many people that bought the most expensive juicer they could afford and then didn’t use it because it was too complicated. Better to have a cheaper and simpler juicer that you will actually use.
2:08 am on December 30th, 2011
When you are breastfeeding..is it okay to juice? How about a juice fast? What kind is best? Any mamas out there that have done this? Would love to hear back!!!!
4:48 pm on December 31st, 2011
Hi, I use a 1976 Norwalk Juicer that I got for $50, I had a older one I paid $100 but gave it away for the newer model. The Norwalk is easy to clean expect when it hits the ceiling. I have learned to controll all that. I also use my Vita-mix and I have had Green Star which I like too, I have given it to my daughter and she and her husband really like it too.
8:42 am on January 2nd, 2012
Thanks for the great information. It is very helpful. Also I had a baby at age 44 and it wasn’t any different than the others. God gave us the ability and He helps us through. What a joy he was to all of us. Happy New Year to all.