Vegetable Juices

Vegetable juices are a wonderful and important enhancement to your diet during detox (and life in general). I have been reading up on the benefits of vegetable juices (and raw food in general) from the 'Raw Food Gurus' and it practically leaves one feeling that whatever you do not eat raw has zero nutritional value and leaves your intestinal walls built up with a heavy coating which ultimately results in all sorts of diseases. I am in the category of people who think they take it a step or 10 too far and are a bit too idealistic, but some of the theories and research conclusions put forward are definitely worth paying attention to. And one important point they make is that vegetable juices are VERY good for you!

I would recommend you to get an excellent juicer that gets the most out of your produce - I have "The Champion" juicer (which is a masticating juicer - see more below); it is made in the US but in the UK you can buy it at: http://www.ukjuicers.com/champion-2000-juicer-silver

You can basically use any combination you like of the detox friendly vegetables so it's a chance to get creative with your veggies. One 'blend' that I have found very tasty and refreshing is:
1 medium-large beetroot
2 medium-large carrots
1 celery stick
A 'packed' handful of spinach
½ lime (you need to cut the skin off)
A small piece of ginger

This combination (which was a total of 525 grams of vegetables) made 300ml / ½ pint of juice.

Why vegetable juices
From "The Original Raw Vegetable Juices" by N.W. Walker: 'Solid food requires hours of digestive activity before its nourishment is finally available to the cells and tissues of the body. While fibers in solid food have virtually no nourishing value, they do act as an intestinal broom during the peristaltic activity of the intestines, hence the need to eat raw foods in addition to drinking juices. However, the removal of the fibers in the extraction of the juices, enables juices to be very quickly digested and assimilated, sometimes in the matter of minutes, with a minimum of effort and exertion on the part of the digestive system.'

Why a masticating juicer
The most common juicers in the market are centrifugal. While they have become better over the years, I would highly recommend getting a masticating juicer over a centrifugal one. The vital part of vegetables - that which contains the greatest concentrated value - is the most difficult to reach as it is hidden deep within the fibers. Hence the need for a thorough mastication of all raw vegetables when you juice them. The more completely the juice is extracted, the more efficiently it will work in the body. Additionally, masticated juices last longer (up to 24 hours) while juices made on a centrifugal juicer must be drunk right away. So while the masticating juicers are slightly more expensive, over the long run they produce the most effective outcome (both of the vegetable - you will see that there is very little pulp left when juicing on a masticating juicer - and for your body). Finally, it has a slightly thicker consistency and tastes much better. Out of the 525g of fresh vegetables I juiced, I ended up with 300ml / ½ pint of juice and 200 g pulp.

Using the masticating juicer