One of Dr . Walker ’ s little books , “ Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices ” has been in print since 1936 , detailing conditions and appropriate formulas to help alleviate them . This was my main source of reference in the beginning and I continue to refer to it along with other sources .
Motivation and Resistance to Change
When I first discovered the benefits of juicing for myself and experienced every physical ailment going away ( sciatica , debilitating knee pain , chronic bronchitis and much more ), lost the extra weight and gained boundless energy and vitality , I was so eager to share my new knowledge and naively assumed everyone else would want to start juicing right away , too . I now knew how to help our bodies heal and live a better quality of life , right ? I was stunned to learn that there were many people who would rather die or live a life of pain and visit doctors than make radical dietary changes , including juicing . I say this without judgement because I know how hard it is to make those changes ( pain was an excellent motivator for me ), especially when most of us have grown up accepting whatever our doctors told us as gospel . Thankfully this is a new day and juicing has become more mainstream as people are looking for ways to improve their quality of life and to just feel better .
A growing body of research shows that drinking fresh juice can prevent and even treat many of our chronic diseases such as diabetes , heart disease , asthma , arthritis , and even cancer . Research conducted by Dr . Garnet Cheny of Stanford University ' s School of Medicine found that cabbage juice helps treat peptic ulcers ¹. Research conducted by L . W . Blau and published in the Texas Report on Biology and Medicine shows that cherry juice effectively treats gout . Other studies show that three glasses of grape juice daily are just as effective as aspirin in preventing heart attacks , and cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections and kidney stones . We ’ ve discovered nutrients in fruits and vegetables that fight high blood pressure , reduce inflammation , improve memory , control or eliminate diabetes and many cancers … the list goes on .
Juices vs Smoothies
I often get asked if juices can be made in a blender , and what the difference is between juices and smoothies . Smoothies are made with a high-speed blender and usually include nut milk , banana , fruit , kale leaves and maybe seeds ( Chia , hemp ) or almond butter . They are a meal in themselves and although also healthy they contain all the pulp and fiber , which adds to the calories and puts them in a separate category .
Next Steps
If you ’ re intrigued but don ’ t want to take the time to include juicing in your routine , fresh juice bars are popping up all over and are a great option . Bottled juices have been pasteurized and therefore heated to temperatures that kill all the enzymes and nutrients , but they could at least be a replacement for an unhealthy drink .
If you ’ re curious enough to investigate further , you may be wondering which juicer is best . My conclusion after owning many juicers over the years is this : whichever one you will use is the best one . There IS no “ best ” juicer – each one has its own strengths and weaknesses , and no one does it all ( i . e . fruits and veggies equally well ). Keep it simple and don ’ t start with a high end one . Borrow one or watch a friend juice with theirs , if you can . I am always lending one of my juicers out . �
I hardly ever make the same juice exactly the same way twice . It depends on what I have on hand and what effect I ’ m looking for , but here are a couple of ideas to get you started . Exact quantities depend on the size and quality of the produce and how well your juicer extracts the juice .