How to Choose a Good Juicer

If you’re eating more raw foods and making that important lifestyle change, at some point you’ll need to consider investing in a juicer. A blender is NOT the same thing. To get all the benefits of juicing fruits and vegetables, you need to be able to process every part of the food – seeds, stems, peels and pulp. That’s where all the vitamins are. A blender just can’t do that effectively. A juicer will extract all the nutrients from fruit or vegetable - even more so than just chewing and swallowing your food.

Juicers routinely used to cost $300-$400 and more. The best ones still do, but if you’re just getting into juicing, there are many less expensive styles on the market as well. Here are a few you can research to find the best one for you. Natural food stores and cooking catalogues like Williams-Sonoma also carry juicers, and many can also be found online such as at Amazon.com.

Here are some reasonably priced but highly effective juicers to consider: 

Omega 1000 – Makes good, virtually pulp-free juice. It’s a high-yield juicer but not good for juicing leafy greens. This juicer will not process wheatgrass. Price $150-$300

Commercial Champion – Better juice quality, pulpy with good nutritional value. Also a multi-purpose machine that grates and churns and can make nut butters. A good heavy-duty juicer, high volume, good for families. Does not process wheatgrass. Price $230-$300.

Solo Star – Creates a pulpy juice, but very high nutrient value because the motor is a lower RPM. This is a multi-purpose machine that can grate, churn, make nut butters and extrude pasta. It can also process wheatgrass. Price $190 - $300.

Green Power – A premium juicer, although a more complicated machine with more parts that need to be cleaned. Creates the least pulp with more nutrients. It is a Twin Screw Press type of juicer that is superior to masticating or centrifugal juicers. It will process wheatgrass. Also a multi-purpose machine. Pricey, but may be well worth it. Some models come with a 10-year warranty, which speaks to the quality. Price $450 - $650

Examples of Good Juicers:
   

Is Your Body Overweight, But Starving?

We recently saw an interesting article about starvation in which the comment was made that there are really two types of starvation. One, of course, is caused by too little or no food at all. But there is another type of starvation caused by serious malnutrition, and even though the U.S. is the fattest nation on the planet, our bodies are starved for important nutrients and enzymes. It’s partly why we’re so fat, because we keep eating and eating, but we’re eating highly processed, cooked foods that have the essential components burned out of them. Cooking removes up to 80% of food’s important amino acids, fibers and vitamins.

Image via Wikipedia

It’s one reason why incorporating raw foods, or even switching to a raw foods diet makes such compelling sense. When you start eating raw foods, you’re suddenly getting all the nutrition from food that nature intended you to get. It’s the way our bodies were meant to eat, in balance with the planet. We suddenly become the vibrant, healthy beings we’re supposed to be.

But we still live in the modern world, with all its pressures and time constraints. It’s one reason why getting your whole foods from juicing is a good idea. You can still get all the fiber you need without taking the time to cut, peel or slice the food. Raw foods do take a little more time to chew and swallow and that’s a good thing. But if you don’t have the time for that, then you should consider using juices for at least a portion of your raw foods intake.

You do need to invest in a good juicer though, and that’s different from a blender. A blender can’t process the fruit peels that contain most a fruit or vegetables vitamins and enzymes. A juicer is a more high-powered appliance that will process everything – seeds and stems, peels and pulp. It’s designed to do it quickly and efficiently. They can be expensive, but there are many more options today than there used to be as this concept has gained in popularity.

Check back Friday when we will post some suggestions for finding the best juicer.

Related Articles on Raw Foods and Juicing:

• 5 Benefits Of Raw Foods And Juicing! (thelifestylechanger.wordpress.com)
• Health Benefits of Juicing (fitnesstipsforlife.com)
• Raw for 21 Days (teresastips.wordpress.com)
• Healthy Raw Food Recipes (socyberty.com)

The Benefits of Juice

This week we are continuing our raw food series, in a different vein. For many, it can be hard to become a total raw-foodist, so we are offering some more suggestions for incorporating raw foods into your diet. One of the best ways is juicing.

Eating raw foods is a way to give your body some of the nutrition it desperately needs. Many of us in America are at least slightly overweight, and even the morbidly obese are starving for essential proteins and amino acids. All the processed, cooked foods we eat give us only a small percentage of what we need. Consequently, we eat and eat and yet we’re still not nourished. Psychologists try to tell us we’re eating to make up for an emptiness in our souls. Wrong! Our bodies our empty of nutrients and trying to tell us so.

Image via Wikipedia

Eating raw foods is good for us on so many levels. It’s satisfying to eat them. They take more time to chew and swallow, so we don’t eat as fast. And we’re getting so much more in the way of nutrition - enzymes, vitamins, minerals, etc. - by consuming fruits, vegetables, nuts and sprouts.

It can take time to prepare raw foods, however. Which is why a juicer is an important addition to your kitchen once your start to be serious about raw foods. A good juicer can process an entire apple – seeds, stems, peel, pulp and all – and turn all that into a healthy, nutritious juice.

Buying apple juice is NOT the same thing!!! Don’t even look at apple juices or even ciders in the grocery store. Put that $2 or $3 aside for a few months and save up for a juicer. Buy bags of apples, orange, bananas, carrots and make your own juices Image via Wikipedia
to get everything from the fruit that you’d get by eating it raw. Now you’re getting juice that’s as fresh as the fruit or vegetable you made it from. No preservatives, no processing that strips most of the energy from the fruit. And think of all the delicious combinations you can make with the many tropical fruits that are available now in most grocery stores. You can customize your fruits and add non-typical ingredients like pumpkin to an orange juice. Now that’s a powerhouse of a juice!

Video - Raw Cereal Recipe

Here is an amazing breakfast "cereal" recipe using all raw foods, which will take you less than 5 minutes to throw together. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, Omega 3 fatty-acids, and more awesome stuff, it also tastes amazing, and will give you great energy that lasts for hours.  (Quick note: The guy in the video coincidentally also offers a great set of ab workout videos, which we sometimes feature on our fun ways to exercise blog - I didn't even realize this until halfway through the video!)

A link to the cookbook he mentions can be found below the video.

Raw Food Recipes: Delicious Breakfast Cereal
Raw food recipes to die for! Try this "raw" cereal instead of the garbage cereals that come in boxes. For more great raw food recipes get your copy of Eating for Energy today. Visit www.EatingforEnergy.ca


Other Good Raw Food Recipes:
    

Interested in Trying Raw Foods?

I know raw food seems like a strange topic for a cooking blog, but hey, raw-foodies gotta eat too, right?  I like to throw these in now and then, as while I'm not a raw-foodist by any means, I do believe that most people in our society could stand to eat more raw foods from a health standpoint. Raw foods contain enzymes and vitamins that cooked foods often do not - and these are things our bodies need! I Image via Wikipediathink it's great to try new and healthy ways of eating, so this article mentions ways to incorporate more raw foods into your diet, without going strictly raw, which would be a monumental step for many of us.

Eating raw, even just part of the time, can have great health benefits. Are you interested in trying a raw food diet, but don’t think you can do it all the time? You don’t have to, certainly not to start. Many of us are conditioned to think of food as reward and comfort. We look forward to the end of the day, having dinner with our families, or going out to dinner with friends.

Try eating raw foods throughout the day instead. If you go to work every day, take carrots, apples, grapes or dried fruit with you to munch on. If you usually go out to lunch during the day, try to go places where you can get a salad. If you pack a lunch, include sprouts and fruit with it. If you’re like many people, those fast food lunches make you want to crawl under your desk and take a nap in the Image via Wikipediaafternoon! They make you sluggish and tired. A lighter lunch of raw foods can keep you energized throughout the day.

The business culture is different these days, and there’s less of a routine than there used to be with a morning “coffee break” and then “lunch hour” and an afternoon “break.” That routine doesn’t work for a lot of people any more, but you can still get hungry during the day. By taking a variety of raw foods with you to work, you can munch periodically during the day. Sometimes it’s better to eat to avoid getting hungry. If we let ourselves go too long until we get ravenous, that’s when it’s easier to make poor food choices. Eating raw foods periodically throughout the day also keeps your metabolism humming along, and keeps your blood sugar at steady levels.

Organic Products and Raw & Living Foods

Fortunately for those of us newly interested in eating organic and fresh or raw foods, there are lots of products out there. Natural and organic foods used to be found only in natural food stores, and those could be few and far between. While not as ubiquitous as McDonald’s, there ARE many more stand-alone stores. And the grocery chains are catching on too, with more organic selections than ever before. If you don’t see them in your grocery store, just ask. You’re probably not the only person in your neighborhood who’d like to see more of these options.

Many grocery stores now feature sprouts and other living foods in the produce aisle. Of course, if they don’t, there’s nothing easier to grow for yourself than sprouts!

Image via Wikipedia

There are also tons of sites on the Web where you can order raw and living foods. Just do a search on raw foods and you’ll come up with a lot of different places to order the foods you’d like to buy. Many of these sites are also full of useful information, to help you learn about eating raw and living foods, and help educate you on the specific food values. (You may also wish to join a local CSA or frequent your local farmer's market - a great source of fresher foods with more nutrients. A CSA may even deliver a weekly share of fresh produce to your door. For more info on CSAs, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/csa.html.)

What else? Experiment with what you like. Take the time to learn a little about what the different nutrients in foods do for you. Just a few examples:

Cabbage – High in Vitamin C; important for healthy cell function.

Shitake mushrooms – contain essential fatty acids and antioxidants to support a healthy immune system (I get these in my CSA every week - they are awesome!)

Kale – Rich in fiber and helps reduce calorie intake with less hunger. We like that! (Another common CSA item.)

Barley – Loaded with niacin, fiber and iron and is important for healthy blood sugar.

Pumpkin – Very rich in fiber and vitamins; also helps reduce appetite by filling the stomach with indigestible fibers.

Recipe - Blueberry Oat Scones

Here is a great one for breakfast.  With lots of healthy fiber and other goodies, this one will be a favorite of both you and your body!

Image via WikipediaBlueberry Oat Scones

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups oat bran
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 cup butter, cut into small pieces
2 eggs
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (you could also use frozen - just bake about 5 minutes longer)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease or spray baking sheet with non-stick oil.
2. In a large bowl, combine the bran, flour, sugar, baking powder, and cream of tartar, then cut in the butter with pastry cutter or two forks.
3. In separate bowl, put the eggs, yogurt, and vanilla extract and whisk together until well combined.
4. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients, then carefully fold in the fresh (or frozen) blueberries.
5. On a clean surface dusted with flour, place your dough and gently push and knead into a circle, about 9 to 10 inches, then set on prepared baking sheet.
6. With sharp knife, cut dough into wedges (it's okay if you don't cut all the way through).
7. Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 20 to 22 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Remove and cool on rack, then divide at previously cut marks into wedges.

Recipe - Blueberry Mango Salsa (Video)

I am just a sucker for fruit salsa's - they are sooo fresh and summery!  Blueberries make a great salsa, and while I've tried several different recipes, this one is pretty good, and I thought I'd share the video so you can watch it being made. This one includes mango - another special summer treat! It turns out so beautiful and colorful, it can't help but make you hungry....  Although I thought this recipe really skimped on the blueberries - I would suggest using 2 cups or so - maybe crush one cup, and leave the other whole. Feel free to improvise and come up with your own variations! (For example, substituting peaches for mangoes may be a great variation for those who don't like mangoes, or just want to try something different.)

FBC, Blueberry Mango Salsa, 5-28-10
For the "written" recipe, please visit www.feelbettercoach.com



More Blueberry Recipes:
    

The Boastful Blueberry – A Super Food With Bragging Rights

Blueberries are one of my favorite summer treats - especially if you can find a pick-your-own farm nearby, and stock up your freezer! But they're not just yummy - blueberries are one of the super foods we hear a lot about, and with good reason. These delicious, deep  blue summer berries are well-known for their antioxidants, containing the highest amount of any other berries. However, blueberries have some other specific health benefits that are worth talking about. Let's take a look.

Image via WikipediaBig Benefits In A Sweet Little Berry

The list of health benefits from eating blueberries is stacking up, and there aren't many parts of your body that couldn't benefit from a little extra blueberry goodness.

If you're looking for a low-calorie, high-fiber fruit with lots to offer your health, blueberries may be just what you need. One cup of blueberries has less than 100 calories, and offers one-quarter of your daily requirement for Vitamin C.

Loaded with vitamins and minerals, blueberries can boast about nutrients that are significant in keeping your brain healthy. Specifically, scientists claim that blueberries maintain and restore a healthy nervous system, prevent the death of brain cells that lead to health concerns like Alzheimer's disease, and keep your memory sharp for a long time. That's a lot of brain power.

Better vision is another benefit associated with consumption of blueberries, due to the fact that they contain compounds called anthocyanosides and flavonoids, which can slow down visual loss, as well as help prevent macular degeneration, myopia, and cataracts.  Blueberries also have some heavy molecules which can help prevent urinary tract infections by washing away harmful bacteria.

Another important antioxidant is anthocyanins, known to benefit the prevention of heart disease and good cardiovascular health. Blueberries have been found to contain even more anthocyanins than red wine, long thought to be one of the better sources of this defender against free radicals. Even hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and peptic ulcers can benefit from the antioxidants found in these super berries.

A couple interesting cautions regarding blueberries are coming to light. Apparently, the protein in milk depletes the antioxidant power of the acids contained in blueberries. One study suggests eating blueberries either one hour before or two hours after drinking milk. So, blueberries on your morning cereal may not be, nutritiously speaking, the wise thing to do. Instead, choose blueberries as a high-energy late morning snack or to top off a green salad.

Image via WikipediaAnother interesting aspect of blueberries is that they contain oxalates, which can become concentrated and crystallize, creating some concern for those with a tendency for gallstones or kidney stones.  As with other life choices, do all things in moderation and pay attention to allergies and other health concerns before indulging. But, for the vast majority, blueberries offer a wealth of nutrients that will benefit our health and well-being.

How to Select and Enjoy Blueberries

With so many health benefits, the question is not whether to eat blueberries, but how to eat them. First, you need to pick good specimens. Choose blueberries that are firm and uniform in color, not dull-looking or watery. (Note: Domestic blueberries ranked #10 in EWG's 2011 pesticide guide, which isn't the absolute worst, but still, anything at least in the top 10 should probably be purchased organic.)
Water will cause the berries to spoil more quickly, so they should be kept in dry containers in the refrigerator. For this reason, you'll also want to dry blueberries thoroughly after you wash them, or don't wash until ready to eat.

If you can't buy fresh, buy frozen.  Blueberries freeze nicely and can be purchased whole or smashed. When you want to eat them, just thaw and enjoy.  If frozen blueberries are used in cooking, you can thaw them or throw them into the recipe frozen and just adjust your cooking time slightly.

You'll find blueberry recipes in every section of a cookbook.  From breakfast to breads, salads to sauces, and desserts to drinks, blueberries can be enjoyed from morning to night. Even without a cookbook handy, you can eat blueberries very simply as a 'one ingredient' super-food snack. (Check below, or come back later this week for a couple of recipes!)

If you're looking for an easy to eat super-food that is loaded with not only nutrition, but flavor and versatility, get to know this beautiful berry.  Perfect as a snack, a dessert, or any number of dishes, blueberries definitely earn their place in your kitchen, and your healthy diet.

A Couple of Blueberry Recipes to Try:

• Blueberry Vinegar (nonnaluna.wordpress.com)
• Healthy Wild Blueberry Bran Muffins (thismamacooks.com)
• Intro to Cooking: Blueberry Salad (collegecandy.com)

Recipe - Leftover Spaghetti Pizza

Here is a fun one that the kids will love! (What kid could resist a pizza made of spaghetti?) :-)  You can use whole grain pasta to make it healthier, and she gives some suggestions at the end for additional veggies you could add as well. It can be made with or without meat, and of course you can try different kinds of cheese too. Feel free to experiment, and be creative, but this is a great way to use up leftover spaghetti, in a way that is healthy and delicious for the whole family.

Pizza di Spaghetti Recipe (a recipe for leftover spaghetti)
This yummy recipe uses leftover spaghetti with sauce to make a delicious meal. It is vegetarian or meat eater friendly. The leftover spaghetti used in this example is simply 100% whole grain pasta and jar spaghetti sauce. Below is my recipe which I a...



More Recipes for Leftovers:
    

How to Use Leftovers

After all the family picnics and barbecues this week, you may be stuck with a lot of leftovers. Not to worry - there are lots of ways to use leftovers and make them feel like a new meal altogether!  This article offers some suggestions for how to use leftovers creatively in ways your whole family will enjoy.

Image via WikipediaWhat do you do when a meal is finished? Most of us wash the dishes and wrap up the leftovers, but what happens to the leftover portions not eaten? Do they get consumed later or do they sit in the refrigerator until they start to smell and you finally throw them out? If you tend to do the latter, how about saving some time and money by learning how to use those leftovers in new ways to surprise your family at dinner time.

Some people like leftovers and some do not. Still then, many will eat them one day out, but quickly get tired of eating the same thing over and over. Here’s a way to fix the problem if you or someone in your family is the same way. Let’s start with an example.

You prepare a roasted pork loin and rice for dinner one night. The family wants something else for dinner the following night so the pork loin gets pushed to the back of the refrigerator. Normally, that’s where it will stay until you clean out the fridge, right? Not anymore. Let’s do something to keep that pork loin from going to waste.

Image by chooyutshing via FlickrEating leftovers the way they were originally served, is probably what’s turning family members off from wanting it again the next night. Your family doesn’t have to eat the pork loin again as is. So, chop that pork loin up into bite size pieces.

Now you’re probably thinking, ok that’s great, but what do I do with it now? In a large skillet or wok, stir fry the leftover rice with a bag of frozen veggies, an egg, and some of the chopped pork loin to make pork fried rice. Add a little soy sauce and you’ve got a whole new dinner for your hungry family.

This is just one way that leftovers can be turned into a new dish with a new flavor. The same can also be done using chicken, seafood, or beef. Let’s take a look at beef.

If you have hamburgers left from dinner (or your 4th of July barbecue), chop them up until they resemble ground beef again. The meat can be combined with chili powder and taco sauce to make beef tacos. Or, add some beans, chopped peppers and tomatoes, and sauce to create a pot of chili. If you have the imagination, there are an unlimited number of possibilities of what you can do with meats and side dishes from a previous night’s dinner.

Image via WikipediaUsing a little leftover magic can make one meal last for two, three, or even four more days. But, you don’t have to eat it all in the same week. Fix a new meal with the leftovers and freeze it until you are ready to have that particular meat again. On that day, dinner will already be made, all you’ll need to do is heat it up. Yes, it really can be just that simple.

Your family will be amazed at your ability to transform any meal into a new creation they will enjoy. Besides that, you will save money on your grocery bill and won’t be throwing it away in the trash can as spoiled leftovers. Try these and similar ideas to expand your family’s palate.

Great 4th of July Recipe Ideas

Happy Birthday America!

If you're a little short on recipes for today's festivities, check out some of these tasty 4th of July suggestions - from side dishes to desserts, salads to ice cream, burgers to buns, there are lots of great, delicious, and healthy from-scratch options to inspire you:


Image via WikipediaFourth of July Recipe Roundup | 52 Kitchen Adventures
A list of recipes perfect for the 4th of July. Side dishes, grilling entrees, and desserts for a BBQ or other party. Vegetarian options included.
Publish Date: 07/01/2011 14:00
http://www.52kitchenadventures.com/2011/07/01/fourth-of-july-recipe-roundup/

Gluten Free Fourth of July Recipes | Elana's Pantry
For our July 4th celebration this year I will be serving some of my favorite gluten free recipes (pictured above/listed below). We will have a.
Publish Date: 06/30/2011 20:25
http://www.elanaspantry.com/gluten-free-fourth-of-july-recipes/

Happy and Healthy 4th of July Recipes
Our plans for the 4th are still brewing. Meanwhile, I thought I would share a few recipes that are fun to share and great for celebrations. Persian Watermelon Rose Salad Floral water is amazing with watermelon.
Publish Date: 07/01/2011 13:04
http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2011/07/happy-and-healthy-4th-of-july-recipes.html

The Thrifty Deafies: 4th of July Recipe: Homemade Hamburger Buns
4th of July Recipe: HAMBURGER BUNS! Ingredients: 1 cup milk 1/2 cup water half stick of butter 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 (.25 oz) package instant yeast 1 tablespoons white sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons salt ...
Publish Date: 07/02/2011 17:05
http://thethriftydeafies.blogspot.com/2011/07/4th-of-july-recipe-homemade-hamburger.html

Recipe - Super Spiced Garbanzo Bean Snacks

Here is a tasty and healthy snack even the kids will love! (It's so easy, they can help make it, too.) Or toss a couple of handfuls into a tasty summer green salad for a quick and easy lunch that will give you energy throughout the afternoon.
Image via WikipediaSuper Spiced Garbanzo Bean Snacks

Ingredients:
2 cans (15 oz size) garbanzo beans
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and get out a large baking sheet.
2. Drain garbanzo beans, rinse, and drain well.
3. Put garbanzo beans in bowl and pour olive oil in, tossing to coat the beans well.
4. Spread garbanzo beans out on baking sheet.
5. In small bowl, mix together the seasonings.
6. Sprinkle 1/2 seasoning mixture evenly over garbanzo beans on baking sheet, shake beans to coat, then sprinkle remaining half of seasonings over beans, and shake again to coat.
7. Put in preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, shaking to mix up beans once during baking time. 
8. Garbanzo beans are done baking when they crisp up; adjust your cooking time accordingly.

Serve warm as a snack or use as a topping for green salads, soups, or casseroles.

Other Garbanzo Bean Recipes:

• Roasted Chickpeas (adashofdomestic.wordpress.com)
• Lemon-Garlic Garbanzo Bean Pasta (rosebites.com)
• Homemade Hummus: Cheap, Simple, Nutty and Yummy (25dancer.wordpress.com)