[Article updated on 19/09/2023]
Juice extractors are popping up everywhere for good reason! Drinking fresh vegetable juice can detoxify the body, help create a more alkaline body and provide a boost of energy and a clear mind. Vegetable juice is a powerful tactic that is being used by a growing number of people to lose weight quickly, get good nutrition and help you adopt a healthy lifestyle. Let’s see how vegetable juices are prepared and the benefits they bring to those who consume them.
Health benefits
Drinking vegetable juice has many benefits. It’s healthier than just eating vegetables. This is because the body absorbs nutrients in a much better way when vegetables are consumed in juice form.
Hair growth is another benefit of consuming vegetable juice. Vegetables like beets, carrots, spinach and onions are the best options. They will not only condition your hair but also promote its growth. Dark green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables and peppers help prevent hair loss.
Drinking vegetable juice is also the best way to stay hydrated. Drinking fresh vegetable juice in the morning with breakfast and in the evening before dinner will help you stay hydrated and keep you active and rejuvenated. Vegetables are the most alkaline foods found in nature. Drinking vegetable juice is the most convenient and delicious way to alkalize your system and maintain the pH balance required for excellent health.
Increasing the amount of vegetables in your diet will help reduce the risk of high blood pressure while strengthening your immune system and preventing major illnesses like heart disease and cancer.
By providing your body with everything it needs (essential nutrients and minerals), vegetable juices effectively satisfy your appetite and reduce your craving for unhealthy foods, which are the main cause of weight gain. Avoiding these junk foods and drinking vegetable juices regularly leads to a gradual reduction in your weight, helping you achieve your goal.
Tips for Preparing Vegetable Juice
There are many ways to get vegetable juice. On the market we find ready-made vegetable juices. In these preparations, pasteurization and sterilization significantly reduce the presence of nutraceutical substances and, therefore, also the beneficial properties of the juice. If we prepare a juice at home, it will be fresh and full of all those substances that are so important in vegetables, such as vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.
First of all, you will need to find fresh vegetables, preferably from organic farming. The starting raw material must be extremely fresh and healthy. Choosing seasonal vegetables is best because it allows you to minimize the risk of pesticides or chemical residues.
The vegetable, after being cleaned and washed, can be used to obtain fresh juice. This juice should be consumed immediately. In fact, conservation is not recommended. Even if it is made in the refrigerator, it can lead to the loss of valuable nutrients and beneficial substances, such as vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A. This is particularly due to the oxidation that takes place when the juice comes into contact with air.
What tools are needed to make vegetable juice?
The three most used tools are the blender, juicer and extractor.
The blender should be powerful enough to chop even the toughest vegetables. You should also add a liquid, such as water, milk or plant-based milk to mix the vegetables better.
The juicer is a device invented precisely to produce juices. Thanks to a basket that rotates at high speed and thanks to centrifugal force, it is able to release the juice from the plant cells. The centrifuged juice obtained is 100% vegetable without adding liquid. However, certain substances can be destroyed by centrifugation.
The juicer is a sophisticated device that is specially designed to extract juices from fruits and vegetables with maximum efficiency. It works with an auger which crushes the vegetable until juice is obtained. In addition, the extractor is quiet and easy to clean. The main disadvantage is certainly the cost of the device.
Vegetable juice recipes
Here is a set of vegetable juices that are as delicious as they are good for your health.
Spinach, celery, parsley and cucumber juice for weight loss
This vegetable juice is perfect for fighting water retention and getting rid of extra pounds thanks to the antioxidant and diuretic properties of celery. On the other hand, spinach is one of the best natural sources of fiber, which helps regulate intestinal transit and therefore improve digestion. If we add to these two vegetables the benefits of cucumber for weight loss, the result will undoubtedly be a very effective weight loss juice.
To prepare it you will need 2 stalks of celery, 6 spinach leaves, 1/2 cucumber and 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley. All you need to do is wash the vegetables well, peel the cucumber, place them in a blender and blend.
Carrot and beet juice to cleanse the liver
This smoothie brings together the concentration of vitamins A, B and C that carrots provide, as well as the great detoxifying power of beets. Both also provide a good dose of fiber. This healthy cocktail results in an effective home remedy for restoring liver health.
As ingredients, you will need 1 beet, 2 carrots, 1 piece of ginger, 1 stalk of celery and 240 ml of water. Wash and cut all the ingredients. Place all ingredients in the blender glass and blend.