If so, what juicer do you use? Do you fast, or just supplement with fresh juices? What's your experience with juicing?
Thanks! I'm thinking of doing a juice fast, but I'd need to buy a juicer.
Susie
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I have a Norwalk Juicer because I've been juicing for years and know I'll stick with it. If you don't want to spend that much money, I would buy a slow juicer, not a fast, centrifugal force one. I used a centrifugal force juicer, and the juice is totally different from the slow juicers.
I do not fast, I just add juice to my diet. I go in spurts with it, I'll juice daily, then not at all for a while. Last time I started up, within a week a friend saw me and asked what I was doing different because my skin looked so much younger. I think that was a result of the detox effects of the juicing. That friend went out and bought a juicer immediately.
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
Ditto what six wrote about the slow juicers (also sometimes called masticating juicers). That is definitely the type that you want.
The fast (centrifugal) juicers can in the process kill off some of those good enzymes that you want from juicing. That is why the slow juicers are recommended. Just to give you an idea...my Omega runs at 80 RPM (revolutions per minute) but the fast juicers run at thousands of RPM's. That speed creates heat which can kill off the healthy enzymes in the juice.
I have an Omega 8003 which goes for about $229.99 new right now.
I just supplement with fresh juices but lately have been thinking about doing a juice fast at some point. IF I do one it would probably be a very short one like a day or two. Not sure yet if my body can handle something like that or not.
Anyhow...definitely get a slow/masticating juicer.
Pam :-)
[ 09-07-2011, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: Pam08 ]
Posted by scorpiogirl (Member # 31907) on :
I have this one and LOVE it!! Easy to use and easier to clean (that's important to me since there were a time I was juicing 6x/day!).
I now only juice for breakfast b/c I have to watch my sugar intake. I don't like breakfast foods so this is my breakfast which kick start my metabolism and also help me detox. I would like do it twice a day but for now I just can't find time in the day where I can do it.
I just started after watching "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" on Netflix. Great documentary and my LLMD said it will help recovery.
I got a Breville.
I did a 5 day fast to kick start things...it was tough and brought out all types of symptoms. I now juice 1-2x / day. Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Spinach, green apple, lemon, ginger
Posted by x9w5a34 (Member # 28204) on :
Wow, the norwalk juicer sells for more than 2000 dollars. That's definitely outside my budget.
bcb, which Breville model did you get? Do you like it?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Yes, the Norwalk is expensive, but there are other slow juicers that are not. I replaced my Breville with the Norwalk. The Breville was a high quality juicer, but it was still centrifugal force.
Posted by x9w5a34 (Member # 28204) on :
sixgoofy, can you give some recommendations on masticating juicers that are less than about 300 dollars?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Pam mentioned the Omega above.
There's also this one - http://slowjuicer.com/ Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
My daughter uses my Breville (she's old enough that she's moved out) and really likes it, but if I had it to do over, I'd have bought a slow one. I just didn't know about them when I bought mine.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Yes, many believe masticating juicers are better. Still...centrifugal also provide many benefits and for me, I like the speed.
I got the elite Breville 800JEXL. (Juice Fountain Elite), but there is a slightly less spiffy one for about $150. That is the one in "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead."
What do you guys think of Champion juicers? Is that a good brand/kind?
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
I was very interested to read this thread since I ordered a juicer over the weekend and it came in the mail today. I got the Omega 8006.
I tried it tonight just to see how to use it and just tossed in some carrots, cabbage and an apple although I had eaten dinner already.
Tomorrow I'm going to start a juice fast and I did watch the documentary mentioned above. Some say they had no issues at all doing this fast and others say the first few days are really tough.
Any pointers for someone started juicing for the very first time. I did pick up all sorts of things this evening in the market and pulled from the garden. Thanks for any guidance to help this go easier.
Cathy
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Juices can be used theraputically if 1 glass of juice is consummed 20 minutes before every meal.
Fasting is different - drink as much juice as it takes to be satisfied (at least 6 glasses of juice/day, plus extra water).
Mixing apple with carrot and/or celery is good (tasty!).
Don't mix melon juice with anything else, but different melons can be mixed (such as cantaloup with honeydew).
Leafy greens can be mixed with other veggies, too. I personally like the taste of romane lettuce juice mixed with a little carrot.
Organic veggies are best for juicing.
The pulp from carrot or zucchini juice can be used in baking (or my Mom gives some of the carrot pulp to her dog for the fiber - he loves it).
Champion makes a good juicer, but it is difficult to clean. The Juiceman is easier to clean. Mine isn't sold in the US anymore, but is an AEG and is really easy to use - similar in design to the Juiceman.
For theraputic use of juices, see "Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices: What's Missing in Your Body?" by N.W. Walker, D.Sc. ISBN 0-89019-033-X
If you do go on a juice fast, how you break that fast is very important and must be done carefully. If you fast with just fruit juices, then the first thing you should add is vegetable juices. Then add plain cooked fruits & veggies (no potatoes, no fats ~ use a little bit of herbs/spices or sea salt to flavor the food). Then you can start to add grains (if you eat them) or potatoes (if you eat them). Then you can start to add legumes. Nuts, eggs & dairy (if you eat them) are next, followed by meats & other fats. Go slowly and listen carefully to your body - don't rush through the return to your normal diet.
Make sure to keep your bowels moving during the fast & while breaking the fast to prevent toxins dumped during the fast from being re-absorbed.
I have no financial connections to anything in this post.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Razzle has good info.
Cathy, you should consume juices on an empty stomach because they digest quickly. If you drink them after a meal, they can ferment in the gut and not do the detox work you want them to do.
If the juice fast is too much, add a meal at dinnertime. If it's just raw veggies, it's similar to the juice, so you will still get those benefits.
If you're not feeling well, cooked veggies or bone broth (with veggies) might be more soothing.
When I was sick, I could not have handled a juice fast. Prior to being sick, I ate nothing but live food one time for a week, live being raw, uncooked fruits, veggies, and nuts. I drank lots of juice that week as well. It was very energizing.
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
Thank you both for the amazing info. Sixgoofykids, I ONLY tried the juice after dinner because I wanted to make sure I knew how it worked so if I had problems with it, I could ask my husband before he was at work today.
I leave for vacation in about a week and 1/2 so I won't be jumping into any hard core juice fast just yet but I definitely plan to lean on juicing for a bit.
I wouldn't say that I'm not feeling well. I've been in treatment for 5 years (16 months of that on IV) and my LLMD is having me drop a medication a month. I'm down to two left now, so I'm just trying to do healthy things during the crossing in hopes that my body will be strong enough to fight on its own.
Razzle, Thanks for the various types of juices that you think are tasty. I will focus mostly on the vegetables vs the fruits and use perhaps an apple to sweeten it up a bit. I'm sure as I experiment, I'll find what does and doesn't work as well. I bought leafy green vegetables that I never tend to buy in the store so this will be interesting.
You said to make sure your bowels keep moving. That would be a given in any circumstance and since I tend to be constipated even before lyme, I have always fought with this one. Does juicing tend to make us more constipated than usual or does it help this issue?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I find juicing helps with constipation.
I'm glad you're doing so well you're weaning off meds. I do healthy things, too, to optimize my health. One that is a biggie is exercise. I really think the exercise, along with diet, proper sleep, rest, etc. helps keep me healthy.
Don't go too heavy on beet juice. I like carrot/apple/celery/beet best. I juice the beet with the greens, but use sparingly.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I felt awful my first 3 days of the juice fast...like I was hungover.
It passed.
I have to say that the juice fast also "stirred up" something with lyme as I had a flare of smptoms I haven't had in almost a year. Hmmm.
I now juice 1-2x / day and then have a healthy dinner / lunch.
Posted by triathlongal (Member # 31684) on :
I was thinking of doing a juice fast but just could not survive on juice alone. Lately I need more and more calories it seems... Anyway,
I supplement with daily juicing. Garlic, carrots (not too many), beets, cucumbers, and celery are my main ones. I will throw a turnup in every once in a while.
I use the Breville model
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Response to juicing (re: constipation) may be different for everyone. For me, juicing slowed down my gut too much to tolerate the juice very well...(burped up juice 2 hours after drinking it, even though I'd drunk the juice 20 minutes before a meal - talk about a wacky gut!)
Beet juice can stimulate parastalsis, but go easy on this - beet juice is a very, very strong juice and probably shouldn't consist of more than 25% of the veg. juice mix at a time (beet juice is good mixed with carrot juice). Ratios of different veg. juices that should be used can be found in the book I menioned in my post above.
Posted by Rivendell (Member # 19922) on :
I have a Champion Juicer and like it very much. But I have orthostatic intolerance and finding standing while juicing to be very difficult, so I don't juice much.
I hope as I get better to do more of it, because I believe it is KEY to health.
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
Rivendell - When I used to juice with my Champion, I used to have feet problems and I also wasn't able to stand. I used a nice high stool that would allow me to juice while seated. It worked pretty well, and I was able to juice every day while sitting using that method.
I'm sure it depends though on the height of your countertops, etc.
Posted by Rivendell (Member # 19922) on :
Thanks James. High stools bother me too, because that causes the blood to leave my head and go to the lower extremities. It is caused from nerve damange. But it is a good suggestion.
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
What is the best way to clean the vegetables for juicing?
Of course Whole Paycheck was out of the vegetable cleaner today but hopefully I can get it in the next few days.
For carrots I would peel them but stuff like kale, beets - I am not sure if just washing them in water would get rid of any bacteria? Since normally I cook my vegetables..
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
GSE is a great vegetable and fruit cleanser!
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
Oh good idea - if I only had some GSE (liquid form) with me now! I have them in pills but they are mixed with other ingredients so prob not too good for this situation!
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
Wow, I just watched "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" for the first time, and I LOVED it!!! I highly recommend it to everyone!
The narrator seems like a super great guy. It's amazing how much he changed with the juice fast!
And then Phil had an even more amazing transformation! It was so cool to watch. He became like a completely different man!
I just started drinking juices, since I recently quit abx and I want to boost the immune system, so that's why I wanted to watch the documentary. I'm not on a complete juice fast, but I might get there one day soon.
Posted by MattH (Member # 30846) on :
Isn't that a great flick. I am doing a modified juice diet. Evenings only, two eggs for breakfast and mostly salads for lunch and I am already getting some good results. 17 days so far.
I needed to give up the caffeine to reduce inflamation from lyme so this gave me the motivation. Of the sweets, alcohol, and caffeine, I must say the one I hated to see go the most was my several cups of Earl Grey.
Great movie!!! There is a supportive website also.
I did not stop taking supplements as recommended.
All the Best, MattH
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
Matt - I didn't know that they suggest stopping the supplements. I would be afraid to do that, also.
Posted by MattH (Member # 30846) on :
James,
If you go to the Reboot website, they give you the ingrediants for the juices and a diet plan.
In the instructions, as I recall, they say get off of supplements. Because of the Lyme and Coinfections I have discounted this just as the main character continued, but reduced his meds during the weight loss.
I am happy to report I hit a new low today. What has really surprised me is how full I feel after I have the Juice.
All the Best, MattH
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
quote:Originally posted by James1979: Matt - I didn't know that they suggest stopping the supplements. I would be afraid to do that, also.
Most juicing advocates want you to rely on the juice for nutritition it seems.
You may not need vitamin supps when juicing, but if you're taking herbs for specific needs, that's different.
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
Matt - Yes, it is amazing how full it makes us feel! I thought at first it would make me hungry. My guess is that the body gets all of the calories and nutrition it needs from the juices, so it says: "Okay, dude, I'm full and I don't need anything else now. Take it easy."
Six & Matt - Thanks for pointed out how even the main character kept taking his essential meds. It must have slipped my mind.
Posted by mr al (Member # 18191) on :
hey guys Macy's is having a one day sale on all juicers today OCTOBER 22nd.
I just bought this one and saved 116 dollars on it so i thought it was worth it. It's rated very very highly on Amazon. I've never juiced so i hope it's good. Everything is 40 percent off and has free shipping.
I juiced a bunch of broccoli today, along with some sprouts.
Does anyone ever juice broccoli? I don't hear about it often. I wonder why? The juice didn't taste too bad. I mixed it with sprouts, apples, and carrots.
I would guess that broccoli juice would be healthy, since they keep saying that it has many anti-cancer benefits.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
If you have low thyroid, you want to be careful of raw cruciferous vegetables.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
All I know is, I feel much worse on days that I juice. This is either because:
a) The juice is strengthening my immune system which is killing bugs, making me herx
b) The juice is causing me to detox, maxing me herx.
c) The reduced calories I consume on juice days makes my body too weak to flight lyme & co and I flare.
I'm hoping for a and or b.
Posted by LAXlover (Member # 25518) on :
Okay, after reading this post, I want one now!!!!!
I loved the one that Martha Stewart showed on her show from six's post above, I think.
My question: What about the peels & pesticides? Do you buy everything organic or just peel EVERYTHING, or maybe soak and scrub first.
I think this is the only thing holding me back.
I don't want to add any more pesticides into my own toxic soup of a body! I don't eat very much fruit now, usually a banana or frozen strawberries in a smoothie.
Just wondering what others do and think that have been juicing for awhile.
Posted by WhitneyS (Member # 25666) on :
OK-- I'm experiencing the same thing.
When I juice, within 30 min I will hit a huge wall and I won't be able to get off the sofa for several hours. This is with a small 1/2 cup of mild (cellery, cucumber, lettuce) juice, all organic.
How do if know if this is good for me or bad?
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
LAX - yeah, I think most of us try to stick with organic produce for juicing. Sometimes I'll juice non-organic apples, but then I'd ALWAYS peel them... NO EXCEPTIONS! The skin on non-organic apples is like drinking benzene.
Most of us stick mostly with veggies, because the fruits are very high in sugar. The organic carrots are pretty easy to find, and also they have a good shelf life, so you could stock up on them. I think I use carrots in every one of my veggie drinks, because they add the correct amount of sweetness. Then the rest is like celery, greens, and whatever else I may have on hand.
It is pretty expensive to drink juices, but it's like the best medicine. Look how much we pay for health insurance, which doesn't even really insure us. Fresh organic juices is like the best health insurance, with benefits!
Whitney - I'm guessing it's just a detox reaction, because you're body is clearing out too many toxins too quickly. If that is the case, then maybe you could stick with small amounts of juices a few times a week, until the detox reaction stops happening. If you eventually start to feel okay with the small amounts, then maybe you could try increasing the amount or the frequency.
IF it is a detox reaction, then most likely it's good for you. Wouldn't you rather get those toxins out and feel bad for a temporary amount of time (and feel better later), than to keep them inside you and get serious illnesses?
Anyway I could be wrong, but that's just my 2 cents.
Posted by WhitneyS (Member # 25666) on :
Yea that makes sense, I'm just so suprised! I've done green smoothies for months and been ok with them.
Maybe if i put small amount in mt smoothie to help integrate....
but yes if its a detox reaction, then GET ON WITH IT lol.
thanks for the help
Posted by LAXlover (Member # 25518) on :
thanks james79,
i researched for hours today and am going with the omega vrt 350HD!!!! found it for 349.00.....can't wait to get started......