The Juicing to Detox Collection

Before You Begin Tools: Measuring spoons Knife Chopping board Water filter (optional) Colander Cocktail shaker (optional) Vegetable peeler (optional) Blender Juicer A few tips before you get started: 1. Wash everything first. If you’re using organic fruits and veggies, you can keep the skin of some fruits and veggies on. The obvious skins to avoid are kiwi, mango, grapefruit, etc. Use common sense here. If you’re not using organic ingredients, peel all the fruits and veggies that have a skin.

2. Cut your ingredients in chunks that will fit into your juicer. For smoothies, cut them in smaller chunks.

3. When making smoothies, use the blender at low speed so the heat it creates doesn’t destroy some of the important enzymes in your fruits and veggies.

4. When a recipe calls for nut milks, pomegranate juice, coconut water, and the like, make your best effort to get them fresh. Commercial versions have been pasteurized at high temperatures and are devoid of many of the amazing nutrients that abound in the fresh product.

5. Drink your juices and smoothies as soon as you make them whenever possible, to get the best nutrition out of them. If absolutely necessary, keep in the fridge for up to a day in an airtight glass container filled all the way to the top (mason jars work well). If your time is very constrained, you can make several juices at once, and freeze them immediately. Thaw in the fridge individually, when you’re ready to drink them.

6. Keep your veggies in separate plastic bags in the fridge, and don’t wash them until you use them. This way they will last longer without going limp. As a general rule, fruits and veggies are easier to juice when they are fresh and “crunchy,” leaf greens and herbs in particular.

7. Herbs can be stored in the fridge with the stalks inside glass with water (just like you would do with flowers), and the leaves covered with a plastic bag.

8. These recipes are not set in stone. Add the flavors you enjoy, and leave out those that don’t work for you.

The portions will also vary depending on the size and quality of the fruits and veggies you buy, and the juicer you have. So feel free to adjust the amounts the recipes call for to get a portion of juice that feels right for you.

9. The less sweet your juice is, the better it is for you. It’s okay if you have to start with the sweeter juices, but try to slowly work your way to a ratio of 3 to 1 (three vegetable portions for every fruit portion).

10. There are several types of juicers, and any of them work well to get you started in juicing. However, there are a few types that perform better than others: starting with a twin-gear juicer, followed by a masticating juicer, and lastly, a centrifugal juicer. They also tend to be priced according to quality, so keep that in mind if money is an issue.