by Ashley Dennis
A juice extractor turns your favorite fruits and vegetables into a refreshing beverage. How is this done?
You simply insert the foods into the feeding chute of the machine. This process involves squeezing, crushing, or pressing into a drinkable form depending on what type of machine you use.
Why is this beneficial? It’s hard for a lot of us to eat all the fruits and vegetables we need each day between working, taking care of the family, and affording healthy food. It’s also not easy for our stomach to break down vegetable fiber containing the nutrients.
A good juicer efficiently breaks through those hard fibrous skins and expose the nutrients making digestion easier and faster than chewing.
Antioxidants from fresh juices strengthen our immune system, and the best part for you is creating recipes to fit your taste buds and nutritional needs.
Unnatural Bottled Juices
Most bottled juices in the supermarkets are full of preservatives and sugar. Fresh juice cleans the cells of built up toxins from the environment and the processed foods we eat. It’s hard for a lot of us to find the time to prepare healthy meals when we’re busy working and taking care of the family.
A juice extractor can be one of the most helpful tools to improving your health. Creating healthy and fun recipes are endless with the amount of fruits and vegetables to try.
My favorite combination is an apple, pomegranate, and a slice of lemon. I also do a lot of vegetables like celery, cucumbers, kale, dandelion greens, and beets which are so cleansing for me.
Buying A Juicer On A Budget
Many types of juicers are available to buy:
- blenders
- citrus juicers
- centrifugals
- single augers
- twin gears
The most expensive ones are the single augers (masticating) and twin gears, usually $200 or more. Some are close to $1,000!
That’s because they have multiple features to make baby foods, frozen desserts, spice grinding, and some do pasta making.
You can find a good juice extractor in a variety of prices to fit your budget.
Yes, the heavy set popular ones are usually above $200.00, but there’s always a good one to find under $100.00, preferably under $50.00.
Most of those are blenders, citrus, and centrifugal juicers. Theses ones are light weight with limited features, but they’re easy and very convenient to use.
Look for a wide feeding chute if it’s available. You won’t have to chop your foods as much for them to fit in.
I used the small Black and Decker brand machine which is easy to assemble and juice, although the feeding chute is small. The cost was a little over $30.00. I did a variety of my favorites like apples, carrots, beets, celery, and cucumbers with no trouble
Brand Names To Buy
Affordable brand name juicers are easy to find. Look for stores like Walmart, Target, K-Mart, and online ones like Amazon in the kitchen appliance section.
Also look for more affordable brand names like Black & Decker, GE, Hamilton Beach, and Cuisinart.
Shopping On A Budget
Organic fruits and vegetables are considered healthier than regular ones because they have little to no chemicals sprayed on them. The downside is that they’re also more expensive.
If cost is an issue, look for items that go on sale. Buy the regular kinds and purchase a vegetable wash in stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. You can also find homemade vegetable wash recipes online. Foods like strawberries and cherries have a lot of chemicals sprayed on, so washing is very important.
Consider a good blender or centrifugal. A citrus juicer is also a budget friendly machine if you only want fresh citrus juice from oranges, lemons, limes, pomegranates, and grapefruits. They’re super easy to operate and have few parts to clean.
Juicing As A Preventative Measure
With the uncertainty of the economy, it’s a struggle for some families to get affordable healthcare. A medical diagnosis could mean paying for expensive medications out of pocket.
I strongly believe a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of getting serious health conditions like heart attacks or high blood pressure. Consistently making the choice to eat healthier leads to a better outcome. The best thing to do is talk with your doctor or a nutritionist about adding fresh juice to your diet.
High Quality Food Supplements Help
Another healthy alternative is to buy a high quality super food powder. These powders can be greens, fruits or a mixture.
What I love about them is how easy they are to take. Add a spoonful to water, juice, or your favorite smoothie.
I highly recommend Jordan Ruben’s Perfect Food, which is a blend of highly nutritious foods from spinach to apples. This helps me improve my mental clarity and promotes better sleep.
Juicing For Beginners
If you’re a beginner, I highly recommend doing a drink with some fruit in it. If the first drink isn’t delicious, then you’ll probably won’t want to do it again.
I love vegetables so much that I don’t need a sweetener to drink them down! As healthy as vegetables are, their taste is bitter so an apple or two should make it appealing. The vegetables I’m referring to are foods like kale, spinach, beets, celery, cucumbers, etc.
If you really want to try it out, buy an affordable one. Have fun and enjoy a juicer with your family and friends!
(Author Ashley Dennis is from Long Island NY, and the owner of www.juice-extractor-guide.com. Her site is dedicated to her passion for juicing and helping visitors improve their lifestyle.)
What is your favorite juicer? Please leave your comment below if you already use a juicer or if you are planning to buy one.
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