A few years ago, I decided to purchase a juicer. That was a huge step for me. I didnโt realize just how quickly Iโd get hooked on fresh vegetable and fruit juice. (I even did a crazy 10-day juice fast!)
Juicing has so many amazing health benefits, but it might also leave you wondering if itโs really something you want to dabble in or if youโd rather just chew your fruit and veggies.
When I first started juicing, I got a lot of questions from family and friends. Why are you doing this? Isnโt making smoothies the same thing? How does it taste? What kind of juicer should I get?
Juicing 101
I started juicing as a way to get more nutrients from fresh fruits and veggies into my day. I mean, I can only eat so much salad! Itโs been a great way to supplement my otherwise healthy diet. And that holds true for people who maybe arenโt eating a very healthy diet. Everyone can benefit from consuming more fruits and veggies [source].
As Iโm sure youโve noticed, some fruits and vegetables have a higher water content (i.e., are juicier) than others. Oranges, cucumbers, melons, carrots, beets, celery, and the like are going to produce more juice than, say, a handful of spinach. Itโs important to juice a mix of high- and low-yielding fruits and veggies.
As Iโm sure youโve noticed, some fruits and vegetables have a higher water content (i.e., are juicier) than others. Oranges, cucumbers, melons, carrots, beets, celery, and the like are going to produce more juice than, say, a handful of spinach. Itโs important to juice a mix of high- and low-yielding fruits and veggies.
All fruits and veggies have vitamins, antioxidants [source], and phytonutrients, but those low-juice-yielding leafy greens are especially packed full of nutrition [source]. Unfortunately, it takes a high volume of greens to yield just a few tablespoons of juice.
Thatโs why you see those small shots of wheatgrass juice as opposed to an 8-ounce cup. But those juices are highly concentrated, so itโs good to mix them with the juicier veggies and fruit. It also helps dilute the strong flavor, which can be a little off-putting if youโre not used to it.
Foods to Start With
Some fruits and veggies are sweeter than others, too. When I started juicing, I would mix just about anything together and try to choke it down. Nope. Totally the wrong tactic. If youโre unsure where to start, seek out some tried-and-true juice recipes. Here are some tips:
Good starter foods
If youโre not used to the strong flavor of juiced greens, start out by using a greater proportion of apples, pineapples, and carrots, which are sweet and higher-yielding.
Surprising green goodness
Remember that just because it might smell or look funky, it doesnโt mean itโs going to taste bad. One of my favorite green juices is broccoli juice, which smells pretty much like death. But thatโs just the pulp. The juice is very sweet.
And you wouldnโt believe how much juice you can get out of the light green stalks. Donโt throw those away! Juice โem!
Watch the sodium
I used to hate cucumbers until I started juicing. Itโs incredibly refreshing and turned me into a big cuke fan in a hurry. Celery is naturally high in sodium, and the flavor is pretty strong. Itโs good for juicing and will produce a good amount of juice, but go easy unless you really, really love it.
Sweet stuff
Beets, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, pears, and oranges are going to add a lot of sweetness to fresh juice. I tend to go easy on them because my body doesnโt do well with a big sugar rush. But if youโre trying to cut down on refined sugar, a sweet juice in the afternoon is a nice little pick-me-up.
Add-ins
You can get a lot of flavor and pep into your juice by adding small amounts of onion, garlic, ginger, or herbs. Donโt go crazy with the garlic unless youโre trying to scare away vampires. A little goes a long way.
Ginger is great and produces a moderate amount of juice, but it can get spicy quickly. I like it, but consider yourself warned! Herbs are packed with nutrients and vitamins. Good herbs to add into your juices include basil, mint, cilantro, and parsley.
What not to juice
I donโt juice berries, mangos, bananas, and other softer fruits because they clog up my juicer. If I want to incorporate them into a fresh juice, I will juice the other fruits or veggies first, then blend them up with the softer fruits in my blender. (An extra step and extra thing to wash, so Iโll usually just make a smoothie instead.)
3 Basic Healthy Juice Recipes
Pineapple Beet Carrot Juice
This juice is a great one for beginners because it is super sweet and delicious. Make sure to peel the beets, or the juice will taste like dirt. (Trust me.)
I donโt peel the carrots but will give them a good scrub. This juice blend can be overly sweet depending on the fruit you use, so you can dilute it with water or add a bit of ginger if itโs too sweet for your taste.
Beet Carrot Pineapple Orange Juice
Ingredients
- 1 large or 2 small beets, peeled
- 4 large carrots
- 1/2 pineapple (do not remove core)
- 2 medium oranges, peeled and seeds removed
Instructions
- Juice all ingredients according to manufacturer directions. Serve immediately. Makes about 25โ30 ounces.
Notes
Minty Cucumber Melon Juice
This is hands down one of my very favorite juices. I would drink it every single day if I could, and during the summertime, I do. Cucumber and melon go really well togetherโthey are related.
Try to use a very ripe melon for the sweetest juice. The spinach gives it some added nutrition. I love the addition of mint and lime. It almost tastes like a healthy cocktail.
Minty Cucumber Melon Juice
Ingredients
- 1/2 medium cantaloupe, rind and seeds removed
- 1 large English cucumber, peeled if waxed
- 1 large bunch fresh spinach (about 4โ5 cups, stems included)
- 1 small bunch fresh mint, leaves and tender stems
- 2 limes, rind removed
Instructions
- Juice according to manufacturer directions. Serve immediately. Makes about 25 ounces.
Notes
Mean Green Juice
Mean Green Juice is one of the first juices I started making. Itโs not sweet! The celery and ginger pack a punch in this one, so itโs not for pansies. :)
I love it because it feels zingy and helps clear things outโฆif you know what I mean. The celery also makes it taste a bit salty.
For a yummy veggie juice, sub 1/4 of an onion for the ginger, and use tomatoes in place of the apples.
Mean Green Juice
Ingredients
- 6โ8 kale leaves, washed well and end of stems trimmed
- 4 celery stalks
- 2 green apples, peeled if waxed
- 1 lemon, seeds and rind removed
- 3โ4 inches fresh ginger, peeled
Instructions
- Juice according to manufacturer directions. Serve immediately. Makes about 15โ20 ounces of juice.
Notes
Fresh juice can and will naturally separate as it sits. You can see in the picture above how much water there was in the green juice. The upper layer is the concentrated kale juice. The rest came from the celery, lemon, and ginger. If it separates, just give it a stir and drink.
The physical effects of juicing might catch you off guard. I mean, it has to be said. You will probably run to the bathroom a few minutes after you drink your first juice. Thatโs a good thing. One benefit is to help clear out your digestive tract and keep things moving along, even without all of the extra fiber. Donโt do a juice fast without talking to your doctor first.
Once your body gets used to fresh juice, you will crave it!
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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I like juicing. is juicing good for a heart patient?
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Your beet and pineapple juice recipe is simply awesome! Loved it so much. Such a great post with many healthy juicing ideas.
I like the ‘mean’ green juice recipe the most.
This Pineapple Beet Carrot Juice recipe is awesome for a start-up natural juice drinker like me. I always like my juice to include carrots as main ingredients for it boost digestive tract and gut health.
Thank you for making things so stinkin’ simple. My new juicer arrives today and I’m so pumped about getting some things made! Thank you for having such an interesting blog. I appreciate it.
Hooray! You’re going to love it!
Can you do a post about juicers? I don’t have one and would like recommendations.
It’s in the works. :)
Can you please do a post about juicers? I don’t have one.
I’ve been juicing for awhile now and make one similar to the minty cucumber one! It’s so refreshing.
I just started a juice cleanse today and I’m super excited to try some of these recipes after I finish! I’m especially looking forward to the Mean Green Juice because I love ginger.
Gosh, you Juicing 101 makes my site look second-rate!
Could you please tell me which camera you use to take your photos? The resolution is amazing, I feel like I’m looking at the kale and lemons in person.
Aaron – asking these questions is like drinking Coke and asking Coke to give you the recipe so you can try to duplicate it. The photography used in a web site is part of the success of web site. There are an endless number of photography tutorials online. Start there. A good photographer is born out of taking lots of photos. There are no shortcuts, I’m afraid. I am a professional photographer, and I empathize with with your wish to improve your craft. Good luck!
Hi Aaron! I use a Nikon D610. It’s a great camera, but I do practice a lot every single day. :)