The more I learn about antioxidants and how they help the body, the more I am convinced that having a diet of mostly antioxidant containing foods is an excellent way to help prevent many common diseases. Some of the best sources of antioxidants are fruit and vegetables. For example, foods such as tomatoes, blueberries, and oranges produce powerful antioxidants that help prevent free radicals and help to prevent many common diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Some of these same fruits and vegetables contain high levels of nutrients that are effective for reducing inflammation in the body and can help to reduce symptoms of underlying diseases.
Now let’s talk about freshly squeezed orange juice. In order to maximize the antioxidant benefits that it can provide, it is best to go with freshly squeezed juice, not reconstituted or powdered juice. This is because the real thing is filled with phytonutrients that are very concentrated in juice.
Real freshly squeezed juice is loaded with phytonutrients such as beta-carotene, Vitamins C, E, and K, polyphenols, and other plant-based nutrients.
To extract the juice you need to cut the pulp, seeds and other part from the orange. Try to get 60% or more of the juice for smoothies or juices. It is best to drink it right after you get it. Some folks like to make a seed and fruit juice, maybe with a dash of cinnamon or vanilla or some stevia.
To get a great helping of raw seeds use a coffee grinder and pulse it in a juicer until you have gotten all the seeds and skins out. Then add it to a smoothie and make sure it is mixed well. You can also blend it up and put it in a little fruit salad for afternoon snacks.
When you want something a little different you can open up your fresh jar of seeds and get creative. Use them in smoothies, salads, or just plain old cocktail sauce.
And if you have a little money to spare, you can buy organic seeds. The price you pay for organic seeds is more but the health benefits are well worth it.
There are a few Favorites among fruit and vegetable juicers.
– The cheapest juicer that fits your needs most is the single auger type. Although made mostly of plastic, these juicers do have some nice stainless steel parts and a good quality motor. You can clean it easily and the parts come apart easily for cleaning. You might consider the GRJ compartmentia single auger type. It’s under $100.
– Want something really cheap but make sure that you can put more stuff in it? Then the lazy bean juicer would be your ticket. The lazy bean juicer comes with action cup and you simply insert the fruits and vegetables in the cup and shake! The cheap juicer is also known as theACHJuicer. It’s got 4 gears instead of 5 and it works a little slower, but it works just fine. For 60 seconds it will create some juice that will then be drank.
– OK, so you’ve tried the single auger approach, but how about averte juicer? This juicer is larger than the other two and it has twin stainless steel gears. But, instead of sharp stainless steel it has a flat black steel mesh lining that you can easily spin. This juicer will do a better job of extracting the juice. One mechanism is the auger that you place the fruits and vegetable in and it presses down on the mesh with vibrations. This juicer will do anything, so you can use it to juice just about anything! This juicer will cost you about $400.
– Juicing just isn’t the same without a little Hand cranked Booster juicer. This juicer has a 3 hp motor that will work at least 18 hrs. This is a great juicer for the backyard or the shop. You can even use it to juice right up the crop! The Hand crank Booster has stainless steel teeth that will mash it into smaller pieces and then it picnics to a Stopcock. This juicer will cost you about $urdso for the integral and an extra $ diabetic amp.
– This should probably be the last juicer you buy, but it’s still useful. If you want a masticating juicer then this is your ticket. This juicer will allow you to juice wheat grass, leafy greens, and wheat grass with the biggest tuber on it. This juicer will set you back about $900. It’s powerful enough for the amount of fruits and vegetables you can put in.
