Juicing

(These are some of the tropical fruits found here in South America. The yellow fruit is what Americans know as Passion Fruit, called "Parchita" here in Venezuela. This fruit is really interesting as it doesn´t really have any flesh inside, it is more of a yellow liquidy gel with many small seeds, it is a very appealing, acidy type juice that has such a pretty color. Once the shell is shriveled and old looking it is ripe and ready for use. The nobby green fruit is call "Guayabana" and I don´t believe this fruit is known in the U.S. It has a white meaty flesh with many black seeds throughout the flesh. It is not necessary to remove the seeds prior to blending. The texture and flavor of this fruit is almost like the mexican drink "Horchata", somewhat milky.)

-Michaelene had some questions about juicing that I have tried to answer here-

These are her questions:

(Prior to your juicer, was there any other way for you to make juice at home?? I know that a juicer can be expensive....any other ideas for making juice? Can you use a blender??)

It is important to consider with what we are nourishing our bodies. For this reason I start each day with a freshly extracted raw fruit or vegetable drink, usually the combination of both.

In considering the nutritional value of a fresh raw juice, the method of preparation must be understood.

The two methods of preparation that I am most familiar with are by Extractor and Blender. I believe these would be the most common household appliances used for juicing. However, there is a vast difference in the outcome and quality of juice prepared in one or the other.

Let´s talk about juicing with a blender. Although it is entirely possible to use the blender for making juices it is not really practical, from a nutritional stand point, because a blender merely cuts up the fruit or vegetables into fine pulp. In addition, water must be added to allow the pieces to move freely through the blades of the blender. Once it is sufficiently blended for drinking purposes you have a thick pulpy and rather unappetizing drink. It can be strained, but because water has been added you no longer have a flavorful concentrated juice and it will be inferior in every way to a juice made with an extractor. Sugar will, generally, need to be added ,as well, to give it an appetizing flavor.

Now, I have learned a few things about juicing along the way, and I can tell you, without a doubt, there is no comparing a juice made with a blender with one that´s been made by extraction; in quality or flavor. The extractor removes all the fiber or pulp from the fruits and vegetables leaving pure concentrated and delicious raw juice, full of nutrients that can be assimilated within minutes.

I believe that when we give thought as to how we are nourishing our bodies the benefits far outweight any doubt about whether the investment of an extractor would be valuable. I have seen good quality extractors for under $150.00. When we consider the cost of some of our other kitchen appliances this is quite reasonable. Not to say the least of the health benefits it will provide. I consider it a worthy investment and would recommend three points when considering healthy juicing:

• Buy the best extractor you can afford
• Look for the best quality produce, organic if possible
  
• Drink a mimimum of one pint a day, and preferably more

That said, I don´t want to leave the humble blender left as a worthless tool to be foresaken. I will admit to using it for a number of things, including using it daily, for our noon meal (in the way of which I have discussed above), in what is known in Latin America as "Aqua de Fruta." This translates as "Fruit Water", and for good reason, because they are made from any fruit, or combination of, by adding water. It is not really juice because the juice has not been extracted from the fruit, but water has been added while blending which draws some of the juice out of the fruit and blends it with the water, to flavor it. Depending on the fruit, it may or may not have to be strained. This is, definitely, a healthier alternative to the canned concentrated juices or the pasturized juice one finds in the supermarket, but it still does not compare in flavor or nutrition to extracted juice.

This method allows us to stretch our produce further since, for example, I am able to use one-half of a large melon to make half a gallon of beverage compared to the same amount extracted making approximatley one 8oz. glassful, more or less. It is not the healthiest alternative, but truely healthier than some of the other options mentioned previously. Because it is prepared using raw natural fruit there will be the benefit of nutrients, but not comparitively when talking about extractor vs blender method.

I am not a purist by any means, though vegetarian and do consider with what I am nourishing myself and family. We must consider, economically, what is the most affordable way of doing that, and for our family it is a combination of good quality extracted juices and blender juices, just keep in mind that the extracted juices are far superior, nutritionally.