True Blood.....red...juice!

   Remember when you were little and your parents told you to eat your vegetables?  And then there was the food pyramid that said everyone needed to eat 7 helpings of vegetables every day?  And for most of us, that was totally unacceptable, as well as impossible.  Well gentle readers, there is a way you can do that, and make it delicious, as well as extracting all the vitamins and minerals at once!  Its called juicing!

   70 percent of all the nutrients in a fruit or vegetable is contained in its juice.  Juicing is the extraction of these vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants by means of a juicer.  That is not to say that man can live by juice alone-in the case of vegetables and fruits, its also the fiber that is beneficial.  However, I'm going to assume you're going to eat your apple as a snack and that awesome steamed or grilled asparagus with your filet at dinner.  But that's not going to get you to your 7 is it?  Not even close.  Juicing will.  

   The benefits of fresh juice are legion.  Beets contain large amounts of magnesium, calcium, and niacin-all beneficial to the heart.  Kale contains vitamins K, A, C and more iron than spinach.  Carrots are good for the eyes.  At least that's what my mother told me and she was never wrong.  And it turns out that science backs her in this as well.  Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, which is a purple pigment necessary for night vision.  Great for the Urban night in the city or for desert warfare!  Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and cataracts.  But seriously, all fresh vegetables and fruits fight cancer, digestive and heart disorders and make a person feel just great thank you!  

   Since I live in a big city I have become passionate about juicing.  The reason being is that there are so many pollutants in the air and stress from daily living.  All these things sap energy and clog the body.  Since I started making fresh juice, I have found those negative effects from the dark side of urban living, alleviated.  A glass of fresh juice for me in the afternoon, gives me new energy, new vigor, and it just feels good knowing you are doing something good for your body that tastes great as well!  

   The juicer I use is the Breville BJE200XL.  Which sounds like a foreign sports car.  And I suppose it could be the sports car of juicers!  Its small but powerful.  It has a 700 watt motor that turns at 14,000 rpm, which is very fast.  It has a 3" chute that allows 4 carrots, or a small apple or beet, or whole cucumber. Actually the motor is so powerful that it begins to juice as soon as the chosen fruit or vegetable is inserted before the plunger is even deployed!  

   When looking for a juicer, a few things need to be considered.  First, application.  How many people will need to be served?  In my case, its only me and an occasional guest, so the Breville Juice Fountain is the juicer of choice.  Second, I find the large opening allows for faster time from raw vegetable to cup.  Power falls in this category as well.  And last is ease of cleaning.  You want something that you can use and then take apart quickly, rinse, wash and have done with it.  

   There are many excellent juicers on the market, but the best one, seriously, is the one you're going to use!  Who would not want something that is so good for you, tastes great, is easy to prepare and gives back so much energy?  Its the original energy drink.  Go get a juicer.  Trust me, you will thank me and your mother!  

                                     A quick 'pick me up' juice:

4 large carrots

1 small beet with greens

3 large kale leaves

3 large strawberries

1" slice of fresh ginger or a dash of ginger spice

   Process, pour into a large cup, add 3 cubes of ice and enjoy the elixir of the gods!