Vegetable Juicing - Best Juicers for Juicing Vegetables

Vegetable juicing has countless benefits and everyone who seeks to improve their health and increase vitality should include fresh vegetable juices in her/his diet. Juicing vegetables can be a part of raw food lifestyle but drinking fresh veggie juices regularly will definitely improve anyone's health.

Some even say that fruit juicing should be omitted because fruits are high in sugar and fruit juices cause a sharp increase in the blood sugar level. I think, however that a varied and balanced diet that contains both vegetables and fruits is more beneficial in the long run. Read on for tips on juicing vegetables including recommendations for some of the best vegetable juicers.

Benefits of Vegetable Juicing

Fresh vegetable juices contain lots of vitamins, enzymes, minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron), and trace minerals, anti-oxidants and other phytonutrients in a concentrated, live form that can be easily assimilated by the human body. Most vegetables, leafy greens and herbs are low in sugar (except for carrots and beets) thus they are highly recommended in weight loss diet.

Besides these nutrients, green vegetables have a very important component that fruits don't: chlorophyll, a phytochemical responsible for the green color of plants. Chlorophyll molecule absorbs sunlight and utilizing its energy to make carbohydrates from carbondioxide (CO2) and water during a process called photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll acts in plants as hemoglobin does in human blood. Hemoglobin transports oxygen in blood. Even the two compounds' structure is almost the same with the difference that chlorophyll molecule has magnesium in its centre while hemoglobin has iron.

Chlorophyll, the lifeblood of plants, has many health benefits to humans. It is a very effective cleanser helping to get rid of heavy metals and other toxins from the liver and kidney.

Besides detoxification chlorophyll also helps to build cells and blood, improves blood flow and heart functions.

Recent studies have shown that by counteracting the effects of free radicals chlorophyll can prevent certain cancers too.

It also functions as a skin remedy and is very effective in killing certain germs.

Dark green leafy greens such as spinach, Swiss chard, kale, alfalfa, green beans, lettuce are the richest sources of live chlorophyll that is best extracted by low-speed juicing (low-RPM juicers).

Vegetable juices get absorbed by the digestive system more quickly ( cc. 15-20 minutes) and without putting stress on it. Nutrients in the juice get built into cells and used in bodily functions faster and more effectively than if you ate the veggies whole. The digestive system needs more energy for breaking down and assimilating nutrients from veggies eaten in whole form taking away energy from other sources. The effortless digestion of vegetable juices has the benefit that you'll feel more energized and invigorated.

Many nutrients are bound in the fibers and cell walls of vegetables and fruits and are inaccessible in this form for the digestive system. A good vegetable juicer (the auger-type juice extractors like the Green Star, Omega 8006, Omega Vert or the Samson juicer) however extract even these hidden, locked nutrients without destroying them.

Drinking vegetable juices (and fruit juices or the combination of the two) regularly eliminates the need of taking expensive vitamin and other food supplement pills. While providing for vegetables, especially organic ones for juicing, can put a strain on one's budget you'll save by not buying artificial vitamins pills that are less effective anyway because they don't contain the vitamin in live form.

Vegetable Juicing for Beginners

If you've never drunk vegetable juices regularly before then read the following tips and advice on juicing vegetables.

When and How much Vegetable Juice to Drink?

Juice vegetables that you like the most (and not just sweet carrots or beets). Include green leaves (spinach, lettuce, wheatgrass, celery stalk and leaves, parsley) for chlorophyll intake.

Let your taste buds get used to the fresh, natural taste of pleasant tasting veggie juices first then experiment with harsh tasting greens like kale and cabbage.

If you're really don't like the taste of vegetable juices try drinking fruit and vegetable juice combos and add some sweet stating veggies like carrots, beets. Juice a few apples together with a medium celery root, some stalks and leaves and a few sticks of carrots. Apple is a neutral fruit that you can use together with vegetables and other fruits when making juices.

It is best to start the day with a few ounces of freshly pressed vegetable juice. If you are just starting to drink green juices then it is best to take it slow. Start with around 6-8 oz. then if everything is fine, increase the volume to up to 12-16 oz. per juicing session.

Make sure that you aren't nauseated or belching too much or don't get bloated. These symptoms usually indicate that your body cannot digest certain foods properly. Next time use less of the veggie you think was responsible for the problem, then gradually increase the amount until your digestive system gets used to it.

You can add some of the pulp back in the juice because it provides for fiber intake which is beneficial for proper digestion.

How often?

It depends on one's needs and aims. If you'll be juicing for health improvement and/or to get rid of certain health related problems then you should drink vegetable juice 2-3 times but at least once a day.

Best vegetables to Start your Vegetable Juicing Project

Juicing - Carrots

Juicing - Beets

Juicing - Leafy Greens

The Best All-Round Vegetable Juicers - Top 5 Picks

If you plan to juice mostly vegetables (leafy greens, herbs, wheatgrass, and root veggies) on a daily basis then you need a reliable, high-performing masticating-style (single-gear or twin-gear) juice extractor. Centrifugal juicers aren't designed for juicing greens and wheatgrass; they're best for making juice from fruits and firm vegetables (carrot, celery, beetroot). Here are some high-quality vegetable juicers that juice vegetables and greens well.

Omega 8004/8006 Juicer The Omega 8004/8006 is one of the best vegetable juicer for domestic use. It is basically the same as the Omega 8003/8005 models with a stronger auger and two-stage juicing process. Strengths: - efficiently juices all kinds of produce (soft and hard veggies, leafy greens, wheatgrass, fruits) even citrus fruits which other similar juicers can't process well, - 15-year warranty, - easy to use, fast juicing, - high juice volume. Price range: $270-$300.
L'equip Omni Juice Extractor The Lequip Omni is a single-auger low-speed juicer similar to the Omega 8004/8006 that juices vegetables (hard and soft), greens, wheatgrass and even aloe and pine needles very well. An oil-press kit is included for making cold-pressed oils from seeds (sesame, sunflower, and flax). Strengths: - high quality of juice - efficient extraction from a wide variety of produce - high juice yield - 10-year warranty Price range: $290 - $399.
Solo Star II Juicer Similarly to the Omega 8004/8006 the SoloStar II is a single auger juicer that juices in two steps. Strengths: - juices well all kinds of veggies, greens, wheatgrass, pine needles and aloe. - simple to use - high juice volume Price range: $190 - $280.
Green Star Juicers Green Star and Green Star Elite juice extractors are undoubtedly the best household juicers regarding nutrient content, storage life, and extraction efficiency. That's why they are more expensive than the other three units recommended above. Green star juice machines are twin-gear units equipped with advanced features like bioceramic and magnetic technologies for increased extraction efficiency of nutrients. Read a user opinion on juicing wheatgrass with the Green Star 3000. TIP: read more on twin-gear juicers. Price range: $420 - $500.
Samson Juicers (aka Oscar Vitalmax Juicer) Two models are available the Samson GB-9001 is a single-auger unit, the Samson KPE-1304 (also known as Samson Ultra or Green Power Kempo) is a twin gear juicer. Samson juicers are excellent for juicing vegetables, leafy greens and wheatgrass. Optional oil extractor attachment is available for $100. Price range: Samson GB-900: $230 - $300, the Samson Ultra 1304: $400 - $470.

The Most Inexpensive Vegetable Juicer

If you're tight on money then take a look at the Lexen Healthy Electric Juicer which is currently the cheapest unit (costs cc. $160) in the category of low-speed single auger juicer machines. It has other functions besides juicing (pasta, nut butter, baby food, fruit sorbet making) making the Lexen Electric Healthy unit a great economy kitchen appliance.