If you don’t already own a juicer, now is a great time to invest in one. It will change your health.

Fruit juices are the cleansers of the human system …Vegetable juices are the builders and regenerators of the body. They contain all the amino acids, minerals, salts, enzymes, and vitamins needed by the human body, provided that they are used fresh, raw, and without preservatives, and that they have been properly extracted from the vegetables.

The Earth and its waters are full of minerals, but the only source we have of organic minerals and organic water that our body can assimilate is plant life. "The rays of the sun send billions of atoms into plant life, activating the enzymes and by this force they change inorganic elements into organic or life-containing elements for food. In order to regain and maintain the proper balance of health, most of the food we eat must contain live, vital, organic elements. These elements are found in fresh-raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds." Once food is cooked, its oxygen (a vital element) is lost, enzymes are destroyed and most of the vital force needed for nourishment is dissipated … One can eat four or five big meals a day, and yet the body may be starved through the lack of the vital elements in the food and the disturbance of the enzyme balance.

As for "foods" such as candy, soft drinks and ice cream… The human digestive processes were never intended by Nature to be called upon to convert these so-called foods into nourishment for the cells and tissues of the body. The result of using them is apparent in the degeneration of the human system... The average person uses more care in selecting the grade of gasoline to put into their automobiles than they do the food they put in their mouth. This is the reason education is so important in learning how to be healthy. Knowledge is Power!

Benefits of Juicing

There are many advantages juicing can have on your health, whether it be preventing disease or aiding in the recovery process of an illness. There is no doubt in my mind that raw juicing can save your life. I have seen it work miracles in some of my clients. The juice from raw fruits and vegetables has powerful healing and rejuvenating properties that can help people with all sorts of health problems.

You can ensure that you get your daily requirements through the nutrition of the juice.

Juicing is also fantastic for those who suffer from digestive problems as the juice is easily absorbed by the body. It is 95% predigested, so your body does not have to go into overdrive to digest and absorb nutrients. A fresh juice can also be a great substitute for a meal for those who have a poor appetite, or no time to eat a meal. Your body has to break all foods down into a liquid state anyway before it can absorb nutrients. With juicing, the hardest work the body has to perform… is already done!

So, what are the benefits of juicing?

· High in vitamins, minerals and enzymes (which makes food easier to digest)

· Powerful blood cleanser

· Helps to fight disease

· Proven healing properties

· Energizing

· Easily absorbed

· Quick and easy to prepare

· Detoxifies the body

· Concentrated phyto-chemicals and antioxidants

· Reduces acidity in the body


As listed above, there are numerous benefits to juicing. With their high intake of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, they provide an instant supply of nutrients; which can help to build a healthy and strong immune system. I firmly believe that regular vegetable juicing may be one of the keys to good health as it is an important source of raw food, which contains chlorophyll and phytonutrients. This is one of the most powerful tools one can use to obtain high level vitality. All of us need raw foods every day, and this is an excellent technique to assure you receive large quantities of them.

Modern day medicine is focused on treating the symptoms of disease with suppressive drugs. Sometimes this is necessary when a disease is very aggressive and acute in onset, however raw juice therapy is something that should always be used, even in conjunction with drug use. I have seen many of my patients recover form chronic disease after they started juicing, and this has been after they have tried many other things. People of all ages can benefit from juicing, especially the very young and old, or those with serious disease such as cancer, immune dysfunction and liver problems.

JUICES ARE EASY ON YOUR INTESTINES

Juices are packed with living enzymes to assist the digestive process, which means your gut, liver and pancreas do not have to work too hard to provide you with vital nutrients. This conserves vital body energy, which means that you do not feel heavy or weighed down after drinking juices. You can absorb up to 99% of their nutritional value. Juices supply a concentrated supply of vital nutrients. A medium size glass of carrot juice (250 mls) is approximately equivalent to eating 500 grams (over one pound) of raw carrots. Eating so many carrots at one time would be hard on the jaws and teeth, and would take a long time to get through.

Juices are unique because they allow the gut to receive very concentrated amounts of phyto-nutrients that could not be obtained by eating a normal amount of raw vegetables and fruits.

Ideally, you should consume a diet that consists of a high percentage of raw fruits and vegetables, with cooked vegetables and raw juices. If you find the juices too strong, simply dilute them with water or flavoured herbal teas according to your taste. If you are sensitive to fruit sugar (fructose), or are diabetic, then it is better to avoid fruit juices and use only vegetable juices.

JUICES CAN REDUCE ACIDITY AND TOXICITY IN THE BODY

Many people consume a diet high in processed foods, along with tea, coffee and alcohol. This causes a build up of acids and metabolic waste products in the body, which can result in more inflammation. This acidic-state of the body can be neutralised by drinking raw juices. Celery, cucumber and cabbage juice are excellent to reduce acidity. This is an effective way to balance the pH levels (acid-base) balance in the body, which will dramatically increase energy and well-being.

Raw juices are able to stimulate the function of the bowels, liver and kidneys, which increases the breakdown and elimination of toxic chemicals and waste products from the body. The raw juices can increase the quality and flow of the bile. This is very important in detoxification, because the liver pumps large amounts of toxic poisons out of the body through the bile. In some people, the biliary system is like a "sewer" in that it is laden with unhealthy fats and toxins. Little wonder that millions of people suffer with liver and gall bladder diseases and stones. If only they knew about the power of raw juicing and "The Liver Cleansing Diet", they would be able to keep their gall bladder, and enjoy a healthier life.

It is quite safe and very effective to go on a raw vegetable and fruit juice "fast" for 2 to 3 days. During these days, you have nothing to eat except raw juice combinations, and raw vegetables and fruits. Diabetics cannot do this, as they must have regular protein and complex carbohydrates, but they can still enjoy raw juicing.

There are so many sick people on this planet searching for lasting solutions to their health problems. Furthermore, some of the drugs used to treat common ailments, can themsleves cause diseases, and we call this drug-induced disease "iatrogenic disease". For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can damage the stomach, kidneys and the liver, if they are taken on a long-term basis. The cholesterol lowering drugs known as "statins" can cause severe muscle diseases. Some of the drugs used to lower blood sugar levels can cause liver disease.

Long-term antibiotics can cause severe liver damage, which can lead to immune dysfunction resulting in allergies and autoimmune diseases. Steroids like cortisone may lead to weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes and osteoporosis. Also, these drugs become increasingly ineffective over long periods of time.

The incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes has tripled in the last 40 years because we are not in tune with our body’s natural needs. It is true that "the food keeps getting faster and faster and we keep getting slower and slower"! You may be aware that in the early part of the year 2000 there was an emergency recall in the USA of a drug called "Rezeulin". Rezeulin had been initially released onto the market for diabetics to lower their blood sugar levels. Rezeulin caused severe liver damage in a significant percentage of diabetics, and some of these cases were fatal.

We often tend to panic when we become sick and rush in to taking drugs or having surgery. It is often better to sit down, relax and think for a while, so we can look at more natural alternatives. Can we change our diet and lifestyle, reduce stress, and take the time needed to truly heal ourselves? Yes, we can afford some more time for ourselves, and even if we need to take drugs, it is vitally important to start a program of raw juicing and raw foods. This is so important but rarely given the credibility it deserves.

It is surely time to turn back to the treasure house of nutritional healing, so that we can work on the causes of disease and rejuvenate the sick cells in our bodies back to health. I am always hearing stories from clients that make me saddened because they were not offered the benefit of using raw juices (or any nutritional information whatsoever.) Even though a program of raw juicing may to many seem simple and nothing new, it is an incredible healing tool.

Why use "greens"? Just take a look at all the benefits of greens in your daily "juice" routine:

GREENS are filled with Chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is like a mini-transfusion for the blood and works like a tonic for the brain and the immune system.

GREENS are filled with vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes.

GREENS have wonderful healing properties: Anti-infective properties, carries off waste matter, neutralizes body pH, and mucous cleansing. Clears and cleans: skin, kidneys, purifies and builds blood.

Add SEA GREENS to your daily diet and get an additional boost to your health. Two tablespoons chopped, dried sea greens daily.

Why not just eat the food whole? Isn't that a better way to get fiber and nutrition? Yes and No! Yes, eating foods whole is an excellent way of getting needed nutrition. However, our bodies are over-worked by eating too much food, eating too often, eating too many combinations, and just plane eating the wrong combinations. Any of these can overwork the digestive system. Why not give your digestive system a rest for a MEAL…...for a DAY.

Vegetables, when juiced, is an excellent way of getting QUICK energy and needed nutrition without taxing the digestive system. When you juice with a juicer that extracts the pulp (rather than just blending everything together) and then drink that juice you are eating food that has been masticated and it is in a "pre-digested" form. What does that mean? Your food, when put in the mouth, is ready to be assimilated in the body for QUICK energy and nutrition, minus the work put on the digestive system when the food is not in its pre-digested form.

BUT - you say, "I need that fiber that the juicer is taking away." There is some fiber left but the major portion, the tougher stuff, is left out. By taking some fiber out it helps the body to quickly and easily assimilate the food for instant nutrition. Try one juice a day for a week and see if it doesn't ENERGIZE your life.

Okay, but I don't care much for GREENS, they are so……... green! Add those carrots and beets, celery and parsley, and garlic. Make your own V8 or special combination. BUT…..until you get use to juicing, check out some recipes for targeting trouble areas that you may have.

Now, let's take a look at Fruit Juices. I can already hear the choruses of……..Hurray!!!!!!!! But let me give you one caution. Drink your fruit juices at a different time of day than your vegetable juices. Remember this rule: Fruits are for cleansing and vegetables are for healing. Most resource books advise taking the fruit juices in the morning and vegetables juices around noon or later.

Why Fruit Juice? Well, fruit juice is like a QUICK car wash. Fruit juice helps the metabolism because of the high water and sugar content. Fruit juice helps speed metabolisum to release wastes quickly. Because of the high sugar content (remember this sugar is different than refined sugar) fruit acts more alkalizing and helps reduce cravings for sugar. If you aren't using organic fruits, remember to wash fruit thoroughly because of sprays and chemicals. AND remember…….fruit juices are best when taken ALONE, eaten before noon for best energy conversion and cleansing benefits.

The following website is beneficial in many health issues. It offers information on juice fasting, and diseases it can play a beneficial role. Juice fasting can be done safely by most people. If you have serious health issues or are not sure, check with your healthcare provider. http://www.juicefasting.org/

Below are some favorite juice recipes. There are a lot of combinations you can use. Be creative. For more recipes, you can purchase this great book:

Juicing for Life A Guide to the Health Benefits of Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Juicing Authors: Cherie Calbom & Maureen Keane 351 pages

An A-to-Z guide to using nature's bounty in the prevention and treatment of our most common health disorders. Written in easy-to-understand language, Juicing for Life provides complete nutritional programs for dealing with over 75 health problems. It tells you what fruits and vegetables have been shown effective in combating specific illnesses and explains why they work nutritionally. It provides dietary guideline, detailing which foods to eat and which foods to avoid. It offers hundreds of delicious, nutrition-rich juicing recipes to use daily. It also presents ten diet plans to follow in conjunction with your juicing regimen.

Beta Blast

Using juicer, process carrots, apricots and cantaloupe. Whisk together and pour into a glass.

Flaming Antibiotic

From The Juicing Bible. If you're unaccustomed to the heat of chiles, start with a small piece and add more once you become accustomed to the fire.

Using juicer, process carrots, garlic, thyme, chile, cucumber and apple. Whisk together and pour into glass.

Rust Proofer #2

In simple terms, aging is the process whereby our cells are damaged by oxidation. In truth, we are rusting from the inside out. Antioxidant herbs and vitamins help prevent the damage to cells by oxidizing agents, which makes them a kind of rust proofer!

Using juicer, process sweet potato. Set aside. Using another container, process carrots, broccoli and peppermint.

When white starch has settled on the bottom of the container, pour sweet potato juice carefully into carrot juice mixture, being sure to leave starch behind. Discard starch, whisk juices together and pour into glass.

Hangover Remedy

Using juicer, process the apples, ginger and lemon. Whisk in lavender and pour into a glass.

Bone Builder

In a medium bowl, pour water over kelp. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes or until kelp is reconstituted. Drain soaking water, reserving for another use.

Jamaican Dream

Cut the pineapple to fit the juicer & push through with the safety plunger. Peel and chop the banana. Blend the banana, juice, coconut milk and grated coconut to a creamy consistency.

Summer Bliss

Cut the mango to fit the juicer. Wash and hull the strawberries. Push the mango and strawberries through the juicer using the safety plunger. Peel and chop the banana. Blend the banana and juice to a creamy consistency.

Berry Bloom

High in antioxidants! The anti-aging nutrients.

Wash the blueberries and raspberries. Wash and hull the strawberries. Push all the berries through the juicer.

While you may be just getting started in the world of juicing and might anticipate merely dabbling a bit, many people find that they become avid juicers once they start. So it makes sense to buy a juicer that can withstand daily use, since that's just how often you might end up ucing your new juicer. Compare all the products on the market, see what fits your needs, and buy the best-quality juicer you can afford, so that it will last for many years to come.

There are many different juicers available. Here's a sampling of the juicers available online:

LIFE GIVING NUTRITIENTS IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES LISTED

The Healing Power of Vegetables
This page is an excerpt from the easy-to-read book, Fasting to
Freedom (see below), by guest author, Tom McGregor.

Asparagus
Available in early spring. It can be expensive due to the difficulty in cultivating. Its claim to fame is the amino acid aspargagine that is destroyed by cooking. Aspargagine is a strong diuretic, stimulating the kidneys. Asparagus is a great blood cleanser and excellent for healthy bowel maintenance. Some find that it soothes a nervous mind. You may find your urine turning dark and develop a strong odor. This is a harmless by-product of asparagus. Asparagus contains beta-carotene, vitamins B1 and C, bioflavinoids, potassium, and vitamin C.
Fresh, it will be bright green and firm to the tip. Will keep a couple of days in the refrigerator. Asparagus is an expensive but delicious addition to any veggie juice drink. Excellent to juice with carrots.

Beets
Famous for their ability to cleanse the blood, beets contain calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, choline, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Beets are also high in minerals that strengthen the liver and gall bladder, and are the building blocks for blood corpuscles and cells. Beet greens are excellent for salads and juicing. Beet greens are a good source of carotenoids that help in the prevention of all types of cancers. They are high in manganese, an important mineral for brain function.

Beet juice is very concentrated. Do not drink it alone. Dilute with a milder juice such as carrot or apple. Beet juice has been proven therapeutic in the treatment of leukemia and cancer. In a clinical trial, 22 patients with advanced inoperable cancers were given 10 oz. of beet juice daily for 3 to 4 months. Twenty-one of these patients showed marked improvement in health.
Beets cause the stool to turn red and may give the urine a reddish tinge. When juicing beets, alternate between pieces of beets and pieces of carrots, otherwise the beet pulp tends to build up on the side of the spinning extraction basket and causes the juicer to vibrate.

Lactofermented beet juice is fermented with lacto bacillus, making it sweeter. On a juice fast, this delicious juice is like a bottle of Champagne.
Purchase firm, rock-hard beets. Being a root, they can be stored for months in the refrigerator.

Broccoli
Broccoli is a flower top picked before it blooms. It is dense in nutrition, full of beta-carotene and an excellent source of fiber. Inexpensive and available all year round. It is full of vitamins B1 and C, and has a generous amount of calcium, sulfur, and potassium. Surprisingly, forty-five percent of calories in broccoli are protein.

Broccoli contains inderol-3. The National Cancer Institute discovered that inderol-3 emulsifies estrogen, reducing the risk of breast cancer in women. Broccoli is excellent when juiced, stems and all, but like all green vegetables, it should be mixed with lighter juices such as carrot or apple. When buying broccoli, look for tight tops with no yellow, firm but not limp. Will store well for 5 days in the refrigerator.

Brussels Sprouts
In the cabbage family, similar in nutritional value to broccoli. A good source of vitamin C, potassium, calcium, sulfur, vitamin A, and contain a decent amount of protein. Forty-four percent of calories in Brussels sprouts come from protein. Look for dark green coloration with no wilting or yellowing. Should have a light smell. A good addition to juice but adding too many will give the juice a sharp bite.

Cabbage
A vegetable full of history. It was a mainstay during the great depression, but unfortunately was often overcooked and garnished with fat.
Cooking cabbage destroys most of its nutritious value and causes gas because of the sulfur. Raw cabbage is an excellent source of beta-carotene, sulfur, vitamin C and the trace mineral selenium, which is excellent for fighting cancer, protecting against heart disease, improving conditions of arthritis, slowing the aging process, giving beautiful skin and increasing male potency. Within cabbage is a delicate amino acid called glutamine. This is excellent for healing stomach disorders, including ulcers. When making cabbage juice, it must be consumed within 60 seconds or this precious amino acid will begin to decay. If straight cabbage juice causes gas, mix with carrot and celery.
Will keep up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

Carrots
Deep within the soils of the earth grows a golden root that has amazed nutritionists and scientists alike in its powerful healing qualities. One 8-oz. glass of carrot juice contains 20,000 mg. of vitamin A. Toxicity can occur when vitamin A is taken in supplement form or in fish oil, but is completely safe in the vegetable form. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that is able to attach to free radicals in the body, stopping them in their tracks. The damaging effect of free radicals has been associated with cancer.

Carrots are a natural blast of high energy. The sugars are released more quickly than from white sugar, but without the harmful effects. A mug of carrot juice in the morning will give you a competitive edge over coffee drinkers. Like all root vegetables, they are packed with minerals. Carrots are rich in organic calcium that is invaluable to bones and teeth. Inorganic calcium is almost useless to the body. The calcium in milk and white bread is inorganic and known to cause arthritis and gallstones.

Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin C, including most of the B complex, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. Carrots are easy to digest and cause the liver to release bile and excessive accumulated cholesterol. They have an alkalizing effect on the blood, soothing the entire nervous system and toning intestinal walls. Carrot juice is the best base for vegetable juice combinations. It is delicious, sweet and readily accepted by children. Carrot juice is considered the golden juice of healing. Even drinking a few glasses a day has healed many infirmities without fasting.

During fasting, its healing effect is increased. Carrot juice helps in cleansing the liver. Drinking large amounts may cause the harmless effect of a slight yellowish color of the skin. Skin will feel velvety soft. The beta-carotene present in the skin is a natural protector for the common skin cancer, melanoma. Also, the slight yellowing of the skin can make a tan look deeper.

Juicing two to five pounds of carrots a day is standard for juice fasting. Unless carrots are fresh, the juice tastes better if they are peeled. If you don't have the time to peel them, put the carrots in the sink and scrub with a brush. In purchasing carrots for juicing, your local vegetable wholesaler can supply you with large, juicing carrots in 50 lb. bags at an affordable price. Carrots should be firm, smooth-skinned, without cracks or small rootlets. The brighter the orange color, the sweeter the carrots. They will keep for weeks in the refrigerator and months in a root cellar.

Celery
High in magnesium, iron and chlorophyll-which is an excellent blood builder. One of the richest sources of organic sodium. This is excellent for those who enjoy vigorous workouts, maintaining valuable body fluid and electrolytes.
Celery juice is a superb nerve tonic. Celery juice alone, tastes a little bitter and is usually mixed with carrots or apples.

Great for adding a salty taste to vegetable juices. Do you have a headache? Drink a glass of celery juice. Even the ancient Greeks used celery for the universal problem of headaches. Do you live in the air-polluted inner city? Celery/apple juice is able to cleanse the body of carbon dioxide. Were you thinking of buying an air conditioner? Celery juice cools down the body and is great for hot weather. Are you on a diet and craving a Snickers bar? Celery juice helps curb the craving for sweets. Do you have a problem with muscle cramps and fatigue during workouts? The potassium/sodium balance in celery juice will be a great asset. Always leave the celery leaves on for juicing, but juice the celery stalks last because it is stringy and clogs the juice machine.
Look for firm, solid stalks with bright green leaves.

Cucumber
Being as cool as a cucumber comes from the fact that the internal temperature of cucumbers remains 20 degrees lower than the external temperature on a hot day. People living in the Middle East and India have been eating cucumbers for hundreds of years as a natural coolant. When buying cucumber for juicing, look for non-waxed which allows you to juice the cucumber in its skin. Always wash vegetables thoroughly before juicing. This juice contains 40% potassium, 10% sodium, 7% calcium, 20% phosphorus and 7% choline. It is an excellent source of silicon. Cucumber is good to rub on your skin, giving it elasticity, resulting in a more youthful complexion. It is suspected to help in reducing hair loss. Cucumber juice is usually mixed with other juices.
Look for firm cucumbers with a dark green, wrinkle-free skin. Will store in refrigerator for 6 days.

Collards
Per calorie, collards have more calcium than milk. Thirty calories of collards, one cup, contains an incredible 218 grams of calcium! It is twice as high in vitamin A as carrots. An excellent source of organic, highly absorbable iron, and high in chlorophyll.
Look for crisp leaves, free from wilting, and without spots.

Fennel
If you enjoy the taste of licorice, you will love fennel. This unusual vegetable looks like a fat celery plant with feathers. In fact, it is in the celery family and has much of the same nutritional qualities. Its distinct flavor really spices up a juice or salad. Some have found fennel juice good for relieving migraine headaches, and overcoming night blindness.
Look for a white, solid bulb with healthy leaves. Will keep in the refrigerator for one week.

Garlic
There are entire books written about the curative abilities of garlic. Research suggests that it reduces blood pressure, helps with the problem of blood clotting, lowers the LDL (which increases bad cholesterol), boosts the immune system and encourages recovery in heart attack victims. Garlic's famous smell comes from allicin, which inhibits bacterial growth and fungus. It also helps with an overgrowth of yeast in the body and is used in treating Candida. Therefore, do not use odorless garlic pills. If they don't smell, your body can't tell.

Garlic increases the flow of digestive enzymes and encourages detoxification through the skin. Despite the odor that comes through the skin, garlic is good for you. Throwing a clove of garlic in your vegetable juice every day will be excellent for your health; nonetheless, it may reduce your social life. One clove in the juicer is enough. Five cloves will cause a life of solitude, unless you can convince all your friends, family and people within a thirty-foot radius to also take fresh raw garlic juice! A better solution is swallowing chopped garlic at night with water. It will not cause odor and will release its antibacterial agents into the colon throughout the night.

Ginger Root: If you feel a cold coming on, or if you have a bout of laryngitis, juicing a small piece of ginger root with your carrots is a perfect solution. Kills internal parasites and bacteria. Great for making ginger tea or spicing up herbal tea. For ginger tea, throw slices in boiling water to taste.

Kale
Has a similar nutritional quality to its close relative, the cabbage. An excellent source of calcium. Look for solid, deep green leaves. Will store in refrigerator for 5 days.

Lettuce
Iceberg lettuce or head lettuce is useless. You might as well drink a glass of water for the same amount of nutritional value. The leaves of romaine, Boston, Bibb or any leaf lettuce that is dark green in color will be rich in chlorophyll. Good source of sulfur, chlorine, silicon, B complex, all contributing to hair growth, healthy skin and defense against lung cancer. Lettuce is a wonderful addition to any vegetable juice. Adding any green, leafy vegetable to juice will add chlorophyll, which immediately enters the bloodstream.
Leaves should be crisp with no dark spots. The darker green, the better.

Onions
Onion is in the garlic family and has many of the same therapeutic properties. Their strong flavor is attributed to natural oil that strengthens the nervous system, and encourages the growth of healthy bacteria. Large, Spanish onions are sweeter and milder in flavor, which makes them better for juicing. A sliced onion added to a juice mixture is excellent in helping to loosen and rid the body of excess mucus. Look for firm onions with dry, papery skins. Do not store onions in the refrigerator.

Parsley
Ancient civilizations have used parsley in medications and in poultices on wounds, boils, cysts and to draw the pus out of an infected cut. Parsley is one of the highest sources of life-giving chlorophyll, which acts like iron to oxidize the blood. Chlorophyll will help neutralize the strong odor of garlic, and is used in chewing gum to sweeten breath. It is a cleanser of the kidneys, liver, and urinary tract. Parsley is effective for upset stomachs by stimulating digestive enzymes. Excellent for the colon by encouraging the peristaltic wave in the intestines.
Parsley juice, added to vegetable juices, will enter directly into the bloodstream, immediately impacting your body. Both flat and curly parsley have the same nutritional value. Look for healthy, dark green leaves. Parsley can be grown inside and outside the house. Will store in the refrigerator for a week. Always add parsley with other hard veggies like carrot so it will not affect the juicer. Parsley alone can be hard on a juicer.

Peppers
Peppers come in many different colors. The most common is the green pepper which is an unripe red pepper. Red peppers are more expensive but sweeter and higher in vitamin C. Great for the skin and swelling due to arthritis because of the high silicon content. They are an excellent addition to any vegetable juice. Juice seeds, stem and all. Look for smooth, firm, non-waxed peppers. Will keep in refrigerator for one week.

Potato
They are in the same family as tomatoes and peppers. An excellent source of vitamin C and high in carbohydrates, potassium, calcium and iron. The most nutritious part of the potato is the skin.

This juice helps in curing stomach ulcers. Potato juice is a wonderful addition to any vegetable juice. When potatoes are juiced, a white silky paste will form on the bottom of the glass. This is potato starch and is mucus-forming with little nutritional value. Of all the vegetables, potatoes are slightly mucus-forming, but are still a valuable food, especially when juiced.

Red potatoes are less starchy and lower in calories than white potatoes, making them less mucus-forming. Look for potatoes with eyes, revealing the fact that they are alive with enzymes, ready to sprout, given the opportunity. They should be firm, without black spots, and with no green color, which can cause a slightly toxic effect. Never juice a green potato. Will keep well in a cool, dry place for a number of months.

Radishes
Radish added to vegetable juice will help clear sinus cavities and calm a sore throat.

Spinach
Never cook spinach. Oxalic acid is destroyed when heat transforms it into oxalic acid crystals that are harmful to the kidneys. It also binds to iron, making it unabsorbable. Spinach is important due to its chlorophyll content, and also supplies an abundance of nutrients such as oxalic acid, beneficial in the cleansing and healing of the intestinal tract. Spinach juice, mixed with other vegetable juices, turns the mixture brown. Although it may look unsightly, it is a beautiful sight to the cells of the body.

Finding good spinach can sometimes be difficult. Look for crisp, dark green leaves. Rinse spinach well, removing sand and grit. Will store in refrigerator for only a few days, as spinach quickly becomes slimy.

Sweet Potato
The darker the color, the higher in vitamin content. They are one of the greatest sources of beta-carotene. They are plenteous in vitamin C, potassium, carbohydrates, calcium, and a good source of fiber. History has shown that people can live exclusively on sweet potatoes and remain healthy and strong. Carrot and sweet potato juice is tasty and outstanding for complexion. Yam can be added to any fruit juice, giving the juice a smooth, milkshake-like taste.

Look for firm, not too large yams that are tapered at both ends. Skin should be smooth without brown spots. Will store in the refrigerator for two weeks.

The Cleansing Power of Fruit

Apple
All of these types are wonderful for making juice no matter what time of year it is. Apple juice is a powerful cleanser and a general tonic for the entire system. It has an abundance of vitamins A and C. The juice tastes strong and may be diluted with water or mixed with other fruit or vegetable juices, such as carrots, cucumbers or melons. To keep apple juice from turning brown, juice a lemon before juicing the apples. Apples should be crisp and firm. Soft, mushy apples do not juice well. Always store apples loosely in the refrigerator.

Apple Cider Vinegar
If you have a batch of carrot juice with a tart flavor, a few tablespoons of cider vinegar will greatly help the flavor. It contributes to healthy veins, blood vessels, and arteries. Apple cider vinegar has extraordinary potassium content and beneficial malic acid. When purchasing cider vinegar, it should have fuzzy sediment (mother) on the bottom, proving that the vinegar is still in the live fermentation stage. A tablespoon of cider vinegar and honey in hot water is a tasty health drink.

Cantaloupes
Cantaloupes are considered the most nutritious of all fruit. The Center for Science in Public Interest compiled a list of fruits rated by their nutritional value. Cantaloupes came in first place, followed closely by watermelon, then oranges. Next came strawberries, grapefruit, pineapples, tangerines and peaches. In last place the lowly plum.

Cantaloupes are packed with vitamins A and C. Per pound, this fruit has 15,000 I.U. of vitamin A and three times the vitamin C content of apples. They also contain myoinositol, a lipid that helps with anxiety, insomnia and in battling hardening of the arteries. Cantaloupes contain the greatest amount of digestive enzymes. The American Cancer Society recommends melons as powerful agents in the fight against intestinal cancer and the all-too-common skin cancer, melanoma. One average-sized cantaloupe contains approximately 100 calories, yet, is dense in nutrients. Melons are perfect for weight loss.

Cantaloupes should be purchased firm, sweet smelling with a soft navel. During the summer, cantaloupes are cheap. To check for ripeness press firmly against the fruit with your thumb. They should give a little but not be soft. Cantaloupes can look decrepit, but still produce excellent juice. A major part of the cantaloupe’s nutritional value is in the rind but it is high in mould and fungus so scrub the skin well with water and an organic cleaner. Juicing the rind will give more nutrition but diminish the taste. Slice and juice, seeds and all. When juice fasting, cantaloupes are the most convenient source for large volumes of cheap, nutritious, delicious, refreshing, colorful, revitalizing, energizing juice.

Grapefruit
With five times the vitamin C content of oranges, this juice is a powerful cleanser. The tastiest grapefruit is grown in Texas and Florida. Pink is sweeter and less acidic than white. Many people can tolerate grapefruit more easily than oranges. Juice some of the white pith for valuable bioflavinoids. Grapefruits can be prepared in a hand citrus juicer quickly. All citrus juices should be drunk immediately because of the fragility of the vitamin C.

Grapes
There are between 40 and 50 different varieties of grapes that come in a rainbow of greens, whites, reds and purples. Grapes fill the mouth with an explosion of delicious flavors. Grapes are an excellent source of potassium, which encourage an alkaline blood balance and also stimulate the kidneys and regulate heartbeat. The restorative power of grapes is phenomenal, cleansing the liver and removing the uric acid from the body. In France, many people go on a grape fast during harvest time. Studies have shown a lower incidence of cancer in the areas of France where this grape fast is practiced yearly.

Grapes are the most over-sprayed of all the fruits; therefore, wash thoroughly. Always look for a faint, powdery appearance, indicating blooming. A grape bunch should have a few grapes either falling off or mushy. The stems should not be shriveled, but green looking. Grapes keep for a week in the refrigerator. Raisins are also a wonderful, healthy candy and a good source of iron.

Honeydews
When ripe, honeydews have a light green, juicy flesh with a sweet flavor. It is a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium and zinc and excellent in digestive enzymes. To juice, wash skin and juice with seeds. Look for honeydew melons that have a creamy, yellow navel and are slightly soft when pressed by the thumb. Rock-hard honeydew melons will not be sweet and will take a long time ripening. They should also have a pleasant honey aroma. They will store well at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Lemons
Lemons are the king of citrus fruit. Because of their high source of bioflavinoids, they are powerful in detoxifying the body. They are also an excellent diuretic. During fasting, lemon juice has a tremendous ability to dissolve mucus and scour toxins from the cellular tissue.

When juicing lemons, leave some of the inner white peel for the bioflavinoids. Dilute five-to-one with water. One of the most refreshing drinks on a hot summer day is chilled mineral water with a splash of freshly-squeezed lemon juice. Juicing a lemon before juicing apples keeps the juice clear and pleasantly colored. Lemon juice is an excellent addition to vegetable juices. It acts as a delicious lift to the heavy flavor commonly associated with vegetable juice.

Limes
Similar to lemons. They are an excellent addition to any juice.

Oranges: What is breakfast without a fresh, tall glass of orange juice? Some of the highest quality oranges are grown in the sunny state of Florida. Florida oranges have higher juice content than oranges from California. The Valencia and Navel oranges from California are considered excellent for eating. Orange juice, fresh from the juicer, has a live taste. The powerful healing effects of fresh juice come from the dramatic increase in enzymes available to the body. Orange juice, frozen or bottled, has no enzymes, but can be added to freshly made juice.

Green skin on oranges is not necessarily an indication of their being unripe. In fact, the familiar bright orange color is a result of an orange dye having been applied to the skin. Oranges in their true color are yellow and green. It would be far healthier if the consumer could grow accustomed to what would appear to be an esthetically unappetizing orange. Look for thin skin, heavy fruit, and store in the refrigerator.

Pears
When pears are perfectly ripe—not too soft and not too firm, they are the most delicious of fruits. The juice from a pear is thick and sweet and can be diluted with apple juice. They are high in thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid, which help establish a healthy cardiovascular system. They are also a good source of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and minerals. Levulose is the fruit sugar in pears easily tolerated by diabetics. Pears are higher in pectin than apples, which encourages regularity. Common varieties are Bartlett, Bosc, Anjou and Comice. The sweetest and juiciest are the Bartletts, with their bright yellow skin. Bartletts are available from summer to fall.

Look for slightly soft flesh around the stem area. For juicing, a firmer pear is desirable, so that it will not clog the juicer. Firm pears can be ripened on the counter in a couple of days. Keep juicing pears in the refrigerator.

Pineapples
Take a cold, fresh glass of ripened pineapple juice in crushed ice. Find a quiet, comfortable corner in your home and close your eyes. You will begin to hear the waves of the ocean lapping on the powdered, white shoreline of a tropical island. Above you, the gentle dance of palm leaves moved by hot tropical breezes. Add a pinch of coconut juice and you have been transformed into Robinson Crusoe, living a life of solitude in a tropical paradise. Pineapple has the taste of sun-soaked tropics, especially if you find one that was picked in its ripened state.

Pineapples are jam-packed with minerals, potassium, choline, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, and iodine. They have loads of vitamins, including vitamin C, and are an excellent source of bromelain, an enzyme that helps digestion. Bromelain has also been known to cure laryngitis, and is soothing to the throat.

To cut pineapple for juicing, remove top and bottom. If not organically grown, stand vertical and remove skin. Cut in slices, including the core and pass through the juicer. Learning how to choose a sweet pineapple may take some practice.

Your pineapple ought to have a strong, sweet aroma. Look for a large plump, heavy fruit. The leaves should easily pull out. The skin should be a dark golden color. The summer is prime pineapple season because the sun is at its strongest. Jet-shipped or jet-fresh are more expensive, but have been flown from the field a day or two before you eat them. The majority of pineapples is shipped by sea and are often months old. Always keep pineapples at room temperature unless cut.

Tomato
Tomatoes are considered a vegetable but are really a fruit.

Providing tomatoes are vine-ripened, they are a high source of vitamin C; in fact, one tomato is equal to more than 50% of the recommended daily allowance. Good source of organic sodium phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, malic and oxalic acid, and sulfur.

The problem is that most tomatoes found in the supermarkets during the off-season have the quality, taste and vitamin C content of a baseball. Vine-ripened tomatoes may cost you a little more because of the difficulty in shipping, but it is well worth the money in nutritional value.

Tomato juice has a wonderful taste that is quite different from store-bought juice, which is boiled and stored in cans for months. The health-giving acids in tomatoes are beneficial to the body unless heated or canned.

Look for bright red, soft, sweet-smelling tomatoes. They ought to be plump, heavy and filled with juice. Always buy from your local farmer, when in season. Do not juice green tomatoes as they may irritate the kidneys.

Watermelons
There is nothing more refreshing than a slice of watermelon on a hot day. Why, it is even better than beer— legal to eat in a public place, and does not result in a hangover! For $2.50, you can produce a gallon of juice. Whereas eating the rind would be hard on the stomach, juicing it is a wonderful source of chlorophyll, vitamin A, protein, potassium, zinc, iodine, nucleic acids, and enzymes that aid in digestion. Ninety-five percent of all the nutritional content of watermelon is in the rind.

Thump a watermelon with your knuckles and if it sounds hollow, it’s going to taste sweet. They should be dark green in color, dull rather than shiny, and their underbellies should have a pale yellow color. Store whole watermelons in a cool place.