Tag: juicemaster

Super Juicing: I Feel Good! Now What? 11 Tips on How To Maintain Your Juicy Success

As the irrespressible James Brown sang, ‘I Feel Good, I Knew That I would!’ (Click the link to see black & white footage of a very energetic performance and you’ll see what I mean).

So, here we are, the end of my Super Juice Challenge following Jason Vale’s SuperJuiceMe! Plan.

Results

I feel alert, energised, my digestion is calmed, I am calm, my aches and pains are calmed, no inclination to snack mindlessly, and I have lost 5lbs – but that was just an added bonus, I was not looking to lose weight. 

Plus, despite having to cope with some quite stressful situations, I am the only one in the family not to have caught a cold or cough this month!

There were times when I really wanted to crunch an apple and occasionally I added some ground seeds to a juice, but the Plan allows for occasional SOS additions. Apart from my Bit of a Wobble, I found it easy to get into the routine of it and didn’t have any desire for junk, sweet or savoury treats.

The plan is devised so that every so often you have a sweet, fruity, almond milk smoothie that assuages any craving for something sweet or just different from a juice, and the juices provide all the essential nutrients your body needs.

So no cravings.

Many people ask, so what now?

  1. Well, the first thing is to say what you don’t do: Don’t start planning your next visit to a fast food restaurant! Not that you will want to after any kind or length of juice cleanse. You will find that your tastebuds have been rewired. What you really look forward to is a colourful, crunchy salad or a big, juicy green apple!
  2. Likewise, don’t be persuaded by those around you to go out for a celebratory meal/drink – you will regret it. Your body has just been given a oil change and tune-up and you don’t want to start putting the wrong fuel in!
  3. It is important to ease yourself in gently to eating solid food or your digestion will suffer and you will lose some of the benefits you’ve striven to gain.
  4. Continue having a couple or more juices a day for the first 2 or 3 days at least – I do this normally when I am not juice cleansing anyway – no coffee, alcohol, grains, pasta, meat, dairy.
  5. Eat slowly and mindfully, chew thoroughly, sitting down at the table.
  6. Try to keep eating fresh and raw as much as possible, as many colours as possible on your plate.

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My First Post-Juicing Meal on a Plate: Mixed Rocket & Spinach Salad Leaves, Sugar Snap Peas, Mung Bean Sprouts, Carrot, Grapes, Broccoli, Cucumber with Tamari and Olive Oil Dressing

7. If you eat fish, you can then introduce fresh salmon (high in omega oils) or steamed or baked other fish. Light Soups or Baked Sweet Potatoes. Steamed Veg. Stir-Fries

8. Keep grains to every other day to begin with to allow your digestion to get back into the swing of things and to help identify any problem foods.

9. Take note of anything that makes you feel yuck. Anything that makes you feel tired, uncomfortable, bloated, have heartburn or indigestion and cut it out for a while. Try again another time and if the same thing happens, probably avoid.

10. There are several follow-on plans you can use if you need ideas and support: Jason Vale has his 5:2 plan, the Soup’n’Juice Plan and his new Super Fast Food App that has over 100 recipes and the facility to devise your own 7 Day Meal Plan with shopping list provided. See his website for details.*

11. Above all, Keep Juicing!

* http://www.juicemaster.com

NB If you are thinking of doing a Juice Plan, please see your doctor first.

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Super-Juicing: Day 13, Does It Have To End? Plus Tips on Preparing for a Juice Programme

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Here we are, the penultimate day of my Super Juice Fortnight and I don’t want it to end! I am loving the Sweet ‘n’ Smooth Veggie Blend for breakfast (see Jason Vale’s Super Juice Me! Plan*), despite the ever-present parsnip in the list of ingredients – and of course it was very swiftly replaced by a sweet potato!

It’s become so much of a routine now that my husband’s cooking no longer bothers me – not even the melted cheese! (see Super Juicing Day 6: Melted Cheese and Spicy Teacakes).

I am so full of energy and have been very productive, writing new blog posts and recipes, editing old ones, making cards and participating in a Blogging 101 course.

None of the usual January slump.

My brain is firing on all cylinders, I’ve made decisions I’ve been putting off for ages, I am bursting with ideas for writing – my body can’t keep up!

Many people find January a difficult month to do a juice cleanse due to the drop in temperatures, others find it an ideal time after all the Christmas over-indulgence, when they are full of New Year resolve.

Spring isn’t too far away – I have crocuses out already in the third week of January and daffodil buds that have been bursting to open for a couple of weeks now – so if you didn’t manage to join in the January Juicing, but have seen the stunning results achieved by others who have:

Why not plan to do it in February or March?

Here are some tips on how to begin:

  1.   Begin by reducing your intake of processed foods, sugar, coffee and alcohol while adding fresh veg and fruit. This will reduce any withdrawal symptoms you might experience in your first few days of a juice cleanse.
  2. At the same time as you are preparing yourself physically, prepare yourself mentally by reading a book or watching a film about juicing and how to go about it.*
  3. Make sure you use a nutritionally-balanced plan.
  4. Buy the best juicer and blender you can afford. Seek the advice of regular juicers, read my reviews and those of other bloggers/consumer sites. If you’re reluctant to splash out until you’ve given it a try, you can often find secondhand juicers at car boot sales and on eBay.
  5. Introduce one juice a day to get into the habit and get used to the preparation, timing and consuming of it.
  6. Find a good local source of organic fruit and veg if possible
  7. There will always be people around you who are sceptical, arm yourself with the knowledge you need to commit to your goal, don’t try to engage them, let them see your results.
  8. If possible, recruit some like-minded friends, or find support online, there are Facebook juicing groups and lots of juicers on Twitter who will provide support and advice.
  9. See your doctor before embarking on a cleanse, have your BP, cholesterol, blood sugar and so on tested, then again later on.
  10. Don’t just weigh yourself, take your measurements too. It is usually these that are the most startling if you need to drop a size or two.
  11. You don’t need to juice just to lose weight. Do it for your health!

You will be so pleased with the improved condition of your skin and your hair, your eyes will shine again, you will have more energy, feel more alert. Many people experience improvements in aches and pains and chronic conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, as well as more balanced hormones and a resetting of your taste buds!

You will discover which foods irritate your digestive system, produce mucous, make you feel tired and which make you feel more alive.

You will be flooding your system with all the nutrients it needs and it will thank you for it!

NB You don’t need to do a cleanse to beenfit from juicing, just adding one green juice a day will make a difference to your health and sense of well-being.

I have one more day of my Super Juicing and I am so looking forward to the shakes for tonight and tomorrow night’s meal – they both have home-made almond milk in them (see Nut Milks, Shakes and Smoothie Recipes). Yum!

*http://www.juicemaster.com for Jason Vale’s Juicing Plans

You can watch Super Juice Me! The Documentary free on YouTube here:

*Joe Cross’s website also has juicing plans and resources while his film Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is another inspirational tool when considering juicing.

http://www.rebootwithjoe.com

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Super Juicing Day 8 Back on Track – My Reward? Parsnips!

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Prep for Mineral Medicine

Here we are, Day 8, back on track after my weekend wobble, feeling good and very proud of myself for getting through it and sticking to my goal of 14 days’ juice only.

So what’s my ‘reward’ for making it through Saturday’s struggle?

Parsnip!

Except, not. As you can see from the photo, the offending parsnip is noticably absent from the prep board and replaced with a sweet potato. I have tried at least half a dozen times to have parsnip juice, but for me it never gets any better and I have decided to just give in and adapt accordingly. It is my one weakness and I think I’ve done well.

The juice turned out really tasty – sweet potato is one of my favourite vegetables to juice, skin on when organic – as was this morning’s Oxygen Elixir:

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Another lovely beetroot and avocado blend

Quiet day today, no disasters, no wobbles. Just lots of honest to goodness juicy veg and feeling fantastic!

 

Super Juicing: Day 7 – Bit of a Wobble

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For Goodness Shake

Yep, I admit it, I had a bit of a wobble yesterday.

I was hungry. I was cold. I was tired. I was fed-up with the grey, damp weather. Everything hurt. Then at night I couldn’t sleep. My tummy was gurgling. I was seriously concerned about being able to carry on another week.

I had decided to have a rest in the late afternoon. This caused me to break one of my own Tenets of Juicing: Remember to have your juice!

By the time I got up, I was so hungry I skipped the green juice and went straight to the more substantial evening shake, Tahini Cocoa Beany.* I had been looking forward to this all week, it was lovely.

But in doing so, I filled myself up and didn’t feel like having the skipped juice before I went to bed.

Big Mistake.

I just couldn’t fall asleep. I tried the slow breathing technique – breathe in to a count of 4, hold for 7, breathe out for 8 – which certainly made me feel more relaxed,  but I couldn’t drop off. My tummy growling and gurgling. I tried the audiobook. 3 cds later I could ignore it no longer.

Finally, I got up at 3 am, had the missed juice and 6 cashew nuts – magnesium helps you relax and can help with insomnia – and went back to bed. I fell asleep.

Today, I am back on track. All systems are go. I know I can do this. I no longer feel tired and am superalert again.

I think what also happened was that my body reacted to the tomatoes in a juice on Day 5. I haven’t had them since doing the Clear Skin Programme* and had always wondered if I was sensitive to them. My stomach felt bloated after the juice and I had slight indigestion. I felt uncomfortable that night, but not seriously. That’s the only other thing I can think of to explain yesterday’s pain and tiredness and consequent need to rest.

Further Tip:

I forgot to mention in an earlier post that, psychologically, it helps if you ‘eat’ the thicker blends and shakes with a spoon rather than straight from the glass. If you also chew, even better. It makes the juice last longer and you feel more satisfied.

A Juice Cleanse/Fast/Detox is Not a Diet:

I have so far lost 4 lbs. But as I indicated at the start, I am not doing this to lose weight.

When I was at the dentist’s last week, I got into a conversation with the receptionist about juicing. She asked me if I could recommend a plan.*

She also looked me up and down and said, ‘But why are you doing it?’ clearly linking juicing with dieting.

I told her I was doing it for the health benefits. That it helps with the aches and pains, that I hadn’t had to use an inhaler for 2 years, that I had cleared myself of a horrible rash,* that it eased my digestive problems, lowered my cholesterol and gives me more energy.

I am definitely carrying on.

*http://www.juicemaster.com

*A Rash Decision?

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Super Juicing Days 4 & 5: Beetroot & Snow!

Day 4 : Beetroot juice everywhere except in my tummy, and I was soooo hungry! Took us ages to clean up: after we took these photos, we lifted up the base to find red juice pouring out of the bottom like it had just had it’s jugular sliced!

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Tip No. 1 for today: Make sure you tighten the lid properly!!

(The juice, Anti-Oxidant King, was lovely by the way. Pineapple, beetroot, mixed berries, banana, apple, spinach. Yum).

No further surprises on Day 4, but the temperature was dropping and I know that for many, doing a juice cleanse in January is a real challenge.

Cycling to and from work every day in icy weather and working in cold conditions can cause a rethink. I am fortunate in that I am in a warm environment, but even I am sitting with a hot water bottle on my knee!

Lots of herbal and fruit teas and hot water can help, but if you really begin to suffer then transitioning to light soups is recommended. Jason Vale’s Soup’n’Juice me plan is a good place to start.*

Tip No. 2:  Try not to jump right back in to eating starchy, fatty meals. Your digestion will suffer. 

Day 5: Our first dusting of snow!

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It had begun to thaw by the time I took this. 

I am feeling good. No headaches at all this time. I am super-alert, my skin and hair look good and I also survived a visit to the dentist! I am keeping hydrated this time too. No cravings now. On Day 2 I would have given my right arm for an apple or some Brazil nuts – my usual morning snack!

After several juice cleanses, one thing I have learned is that I often can’t manage a whole serving of juice and I can’t go the full 3 hours between juices. So, if a juice is too much for me to consume all in one go, I divide them and have them more often, so every 2 hours or so rather than 3.

Tip No. 3: It is important to listen to your body.

I have lost another pound, making 3 so far. I am keeping an eye on my weight loss as I don’t need to lose any, having already lost 36lbs since I began juicing 2 years ago.

Tip No. 4:  if you want to do a juice cleanse for health reasons and don’t especially want or need to lose weight you can add ‘a little something’ to the juice in an easily digested form.

For instance, some Udo’s Choice Oil, or some ground up almonds or seeds. Yesterday, I added some homegrown mung bean sprouts that I didn’t want to waste. The extra ‘little something’ will help keep you feeling satisfied for longer too.

When I get into the juice plan and I get used to not eating whole foods, I have a tendency to forget my juice. When I am not having to think about meals or mealtimes, I become preoccupied with other things. I become involved, time passes and suddenly I am feeling light-headed. Blood sugar levels crash. Oops, missed a juice.

Tip No. 5: Remember to have your juice!

The next 2 days will be a bigger challenge I think because the temperature is set to plummet further and also because my body is used to beginning the transition after 5 days. But I am really looking forward to the Tahini Cocoa Beaney!

*http://www.juicemaster.com

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Super Juicing: Days 2 & 3 Trouble Sleeping? Hunger Pangs? 10 Tips to Help You Through The ‘Difficult Days!’

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The second night of a juice cleanse is usually the part I struggle with. I get quite hungry in the evening and often have trouble sleeping, partly through hunger but also from being super-alert.

The ‘juicy high’ begins to kick in just at the point where you’re wondering if you should just give in, get up, and go and raid the fridge or snack cupboard. So here is some advice:

  1. Don’t do it! It will pass.
  2. Listen to an audiobook or some relaxing music until you drop off.
  3. Have some valerian or chamomile tea. I also like Clipper’s Snore and Peace.
  4. Lavender drops in a bath, on your pillowcase or a hanky work well.
  5. I also find Rescue Remedy Night-Time Drops helpful for turning off the buzzing thoughts long enough to fall asleep.
  6. Rest is important when doing a juice cleanse, so if absolutely necessary, have a little something (as Winnie the Pooh was often inclined to do!), but make that little something count.
  7. Don’t be tempted to eat mindlessly. You will be proud of yourself for seeing it through and will feel amazing next day.
  8.  Don’t reach for your partner’s leftover pizza or that slice of carrot cake you selflessly made for your children’s tea. No, really, don’t. You’ll thank me for this. Promise.
  9. Instead, try half a ripe avocado with some black pepper and a squeeze of lemon. Or a small, ripe banana. Or half of one of the Juice Master’s Juice Bars.*
  10. And don’t give yourself a hard time for ‘giving in!’ Instead, give yourself a pat on the back for choosing a healthy option and sticking to your goal.

This time, although I had trouble getting to sleep – I had a lot on my mind – I did manage to eventually and didn’t have to get up in the night to assuage those demonic temptations.

I think I may have cracked this juicing lark!

I got up, congratulated myself, and looked forward to the first main juice of the day: Sweet ‘n’ Smooth Blend. 

Hang on. Parsnip?! No way! Jason, how could you?!

(Regular readers will already know of my complete antipathy towards this genuinely nutrient-filled vegetable, but if you are bemused then please read my post ‘Pears But No More Parsnips’)*.

My husband knows better and thankfully had replaced it with sweet potato. And very nice it was too.

Phew, that was close!

Ps Although I don’t normally weigh myself during a cleanse, and am not looking to lose a significant amount – just the extra couple of Christmas pounds – for those interested in knowing these things: I have so far lost 2lbs. If it starts going beyond 5, I will begin adding more extras to my juices, or have an extra one each day.

Onwards and upwards – or downwards, or something! You know what I mean!

*http://www.juicemaster.com

*https://pearsnotparsnips.com/2015/11/06/pears-but-no-more-parsnips/

Disclaimer: As always, if you are thinking of doing a juice cleanse, please be sure to check with your doctor first. These posts are my personal experiences with juicing.

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Super Juice Day 1: Keep Calm & Juice On! Tricks & Tips

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Well, not the best start. I woke up to hear that David Bowie had died. Then had my first juice and realised I had forgotten to remind my husband to cut back on the pineapple and replace the lime with lemon, so now I have a mouth ulcer and my stomach hurts. (I am sensitive to them both when taken in large amounts). Then I got into a ‘discussion’ with my husband about a 4p difference in the price of an item I was about to order (don’t ask!). All before mid-day! I am supposed to be having a stress-free day!

But back to the beginning.

My husband gets up much earlier than I do –  I am a night owl and he is up with the lark – so he is making the day’s juices and putting them in flasks and jars to keep in the fridge.

  1. It is a good idea to put ice in them to help keep them as fresh as possible. Also, try to fill up the containers so the trapped air doesn’t cause the juices to oxidise and deteriorate faster than is necessary. Keep them out of the light.
  2. I always enjoy my daily Ginger Shot and Jason’s coaching videos really get you motivated. I highly recommend his apps and books.* He just has a way of getting important points across in a non-hectoring, often amusing manner. You usually have a smile on your face as you sip your first juice, and if you find yourself flagging or being tempted by your spouse’s pizza, just play the video or read the book and you’ll be right back on track.

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Protein-rich Powerhouse with Peas, Avocado, Hemp Protein Powder & Mixed Seeds – where do I get my protein from? Right there.

3. I have no problem with hunger pangs. This is probably because I am used to juicing plus I have gradually altered my diet in the week leading up to the SuperJuice.

4. When I eat solid food, I eat when I’m hungry not according to the clock, ditto when juicing.

Over-riding natural hunger pangs or thirst reflex or eating through boredom etc leads to your body not being able to recognise genuine hunger from psychological hunger or actual thirst. It also leads to bingeing and poor food selection, where we get so hungry we reach for the convenience foods rather than cooking a meal from fresh, healthy ingredients.

I follow the same routine when juicing. The timings for consuming the juices on the plan are guidelines. The first time I did a plan I stuck to it rigidly. Which meant I went hungry sometimes and had to force down juices at others. Now I am more flexible.

5. Never force yourself to have a juice if you really aren’t hungry, but don’t let your blood sugar levels crash either by leaving too long a gap between juices.

I am also remembering to keep hydrated.

6. The first time I did a juice plan, I thought I was getting enough liquid in the juices. Not so, and I really suffered until I realised my mistake.

7. As it’s the depths of winter here, drinking between juices is a welcome opportunity to have something warming. I like Pukka* Licorice and Cinnamon tea, Chamomile, Peppermint, Lemon, Ginger and Manuka Honey, and I drink hot water too. I find hot water much easier to drink than cold, even in summer.

8. Days 1 & 2: Stay near the facilities!! Not going to elaborate on that one!

9. If you do get tired or have withdrawal symptoms like a headache and you are able to, have an afternoon rest. Go to bed early in the evening.  Try not to over-exert yourself. Try some meditation or yoga. Do not get into ‘discussions’ with your spouse or teenage offspring that you have no chance of winning!

10. Sip juices through a straw and rinse your mouth with water after a juice. I am oil-pulling too – rinsing my mouth with raw virgin coconut oil for 15 minutes a day. Don’t clean your teeth straight after a juice.

I promise by the end of Day 3 you will have so much energy and be so alert, you’ll think you’ve been kidnapped by aliens and had an energy transplant.

Stick with it, it’s worth it!

*http://www.juicemaster.com

http://www.pukkaherbs.com/pukka-products/pukka-teas/

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Retro Super Blend – Review

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If you are new to juicing, you will soon realise you need a good blender as well as a good juicer for adding avocado, banana, super greens or protein powders.

There are so many blenders available and everyone has their favourite.

I thought I did too after I bought Juicemaster’s Fusion Booster. It was used every day, two or three times, and was so easy to use: no buttons or settings, just press down the flask, turn clockwise and it goes. It was light, portable, took up hardly any space, was BPA-free and could go in the dishwasher. Perfect for blending-to-go.

Unfortunately it had one serious flaw: the separate black rubber seal on the lid of the blade soon perished and would need replacing every few weeks. It wasn’t very pleasant when I found chopped up bits of rubber in my smoothie! I complained and complained about this design flaw. Customer services were excellent, patiently listened and sent out several free seals – until it was out of guarantee and no longer manufactured. I was so disappointed.

But, someone at Juicemaster* and Retro* was obviously listening! They have just brought out the Retro Super Blend. It matches the Retro Juicer in style and available colours and for me it was love at first sight! In fact, I loved it so much, I bought one for myself and one for a gift, sight unseen.

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There are so many parts and functions, it seems overwhelming at first, but it couldn’t be easier to use. There are 3 large blender flasks, 2 blades – 1 for blending, 1 for grinding – 2 smaller blender/grinder flasks/cups, pouring cap, 2 screw-on rings for drinking, 2 screw-on lids and a shaker lid. And dishwasher safe. Ideal for family smoothies. Oh, and it has suction feet so it doesn’t travel when in use.

The best thing of all for me is that they have retained the twist and go action of the Fusion Booster. There are no buttons or settings, you just press the flask into position, turn clockwise and off it blends.

I was a little concerned at first about the large diameter of the flasks, it seems they are designed for a man – I can only just get my hand round them – and I thought it might take more pressure to put them in position on the base before turning, but this is not the case.

Everything is so lightweight and simple to use.

We used it first to make cashew nut milk. The Super Blend has a powerful 700w motor – more than twice as powerful as the Breville Blend-Active, a similar design to the Fusion Booster –  and in less than 30 seconds, we had ultra smooth and creamy milk.

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It made just under a litre of cashew nut milk, some of which we used to make a version of Happenin’ Hemp Protein Smoothie from the enclosed recipe booklet. Again, it took less than 30 seconds, and no bits.

The blender managed the ice cubes in the smoothie with no problems at all.

We have only used it twice, but so far we love it. It will be put through its paces regularly, so watch out for future updates – hopefully, I’ll have little to write but ‘as above’ or ‘still going strong!’

Available in several colours.

Update: A year on, it is still in regular use, often 2 or 3 times a day. We’ve had to replace the seal once, this was provided free of charge. I’ve just bought another at half-price during April (2017). It makes an excellent gift. We gave one to a family member who is a student and she loves it. It has made a healthy improvement to her diet. It’s become our everyday blender. (We use a larger Froothie Optimum 9200 Blender for making larger quantities of nut milk, for instance, or when making smoothies for a few people).

Highly recommended.

*http://www.juicemaster.com

*http://www.retrojuicer.com

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Which Juicer? – Where to Begin?

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I have been juicing regularly for 3 years and whenever people see me after a long time, they tell me how well I look. They comment not only on the weight loss and the fact that I’ve kept it off, but on my skin and general all-round brightness and positivity.

Many become interested in having a go at juicing themselves, but often feel overwhelmed and intimidated by the range of juicers available – and the cost.

In the past, juicers were clunky, complicated and required a lot of cleaning – and they didn’t go in the dishwasher! Fruit and veggies had to be chopped up and and it was all terribly time-consuming. The cheap one I had when I first tried juicing years ago was hard work and couldn’t cope with pips etc. So, it was consigned to the back of a cupboard and later donated to a charity shop.

Nowadays, there are juicers with wide chutes so that you can fit a whole apple in. They cope with pips, peel and larger portions. Some are a lot quieter too!

 (Tip: It is always an idea to ask a regular juicer what they are using and if there are any to avoid).

GRAB YOURSELF A CUP OF (HERBAL) TEA, HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS BASED ON WHAT I AND OTHER REGULAR JUICERS USE:

In Jason Vale’s early videos, he uses a Philips 1861 and so at the time did my nephew who was working on Jason’s SuperJuiceMe! documentary.* He sent me a link and I ordered it. Everyone I know who has ever had this model has liked using it – including Hanna Sillitoe at BeyondFitUk* and Mark Beddoe of Explore Juice.* (see Mark’s photo below with Philips 1861).

It is a great centrifugal – fast – juicer and everyone is mystified as to why Philips stopped selling it. It is a real workhorse and lasts years. It has a larger capacity than many centrifugal juicers so you don’t have to empty it as often. It has a wide chute. But it is a bit noisy. I only stopped using it because I wanted to step up, it is still in use (I gave it to my daughter), and my son has one too. I sometimes see them on ebay or Amazon secondhand and you can still buy spare parts on ebay.

(Tip for using the Philips 1861: place a small glass under the spout as soon as you remove the juice jug so it doesn’t carry on dripping onto your work surface).

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Fusion Juicer

After a few months of juicing, I knew I was in it for the long haul so I stepped up a bit and bought Jason Vale’s new Fusion juicer. It is a bit more powerful and the pulp is a bit drier than with the Philips.  We found this easy to use, it has a wide chute too but it didn’t take as much effort to push down the veg. With the Philips, you fill the chute and then push it through, with the Fusion you put them in one at a time. You get into a rhythm and it is quick and easy. We also found it a little easier to dismantle. We loved the non-drip articulated spout which was a refreshing addition after the drippy Philips! The cord comes from the middle of the back so there isn’t a problem siting it in relation to sockets.

It is sold on the Juicemaster website* (as I write it includes a recipe book and the SuperJuiceMe dvd). We used it for a year and it is still in good working order, it is mothballed at the moment waiting for someone to try it out or as a back-up in case – fingers crossed – my current one faints from overuse!

(Tip for using the Fusion: It has a useful handle so that you can tip up the juicer to drain the remainder of the juice, less waste).

Earlier this year I was very kindly given some money and told to spend it on myself. Right, I thought, time to hit the big time! I had long wanted to progress to a masticating juicer but they are very expensive. They produce more, better quality juice that keeps longer in the fridge. The pulp is practically dry. In the long run, you get more juice for your money. And they are quieter! Sometimes I’ve felt like I should be wearing industrial ear defenders!

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Mark Beddoe with his collection of Optimum Juicers and Blenders, his first juicer, the Philips 1861, is at the back, right

Neil Martin, the Natural Juice Junkie* and my Twitter friend Mark Beddoe of Explore Juice* favoured the Optimum 400 and more recently the Optimum 600 sold by http://www.froothie.co.uk. These have all the bells and whistles as they also make nut milks. They even manage pineapple with the skin on!

Everyone I know who has one of these thinks they are the bee’s knees! They produce excellent quality juice. On their recommendation, I ordered one and was very excited about the prospect of becoming a serious juicer and joining the big boys.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be too heavy, we couldn’t move it. This is a big problem with slow juicers. If you have a weak back or you are elderly or frail, they can be on the heavy side. It was also too tall to sit on the counter under my top cupboards, so it would have to be stored in a cupboard and brought out every time we needed it.

(Tip: A juicer that is stored away will rarely, if ever get used. It needs to be in position, ready for use or you will get tired of having to set it up and it will just gather dust).

My other problem with the Optimum is that the cord was on the wrong side to fit in my sockets and it was too short to reach. So, sadly, I had to send it back.

However, it is a reliable brand and Froothie have excellent and responsive customer service. (Unable to find the dimensions and weight of their blenders on the website, I received a call from Bernard who took on board my suggestions and promptly added this and other info to the specs on the site).

The Optimum 600 has a 10 year warranty on the motor and 2 years on the parts. 

(I did choose one of their blenders and I am very pleased with it. More on that in a later post).

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My Retro Juicer

Eventually, I was seduced by Jason Vale’s latest model, the Retro Cold Press masticating juicer. Not only does it look good and come in several colours – including Union Jack! – it does the job easily and relatively quietly.

My version doesn’t do nut milks, it is solely a juicer – I got it on special offer and it didn’t have that accessory, but other full-price Retros do. They also make sorbets. It is easier to manoeuvre and the veggies easily go down the wide chute. It produces great quality juice and dry pulp. In fact, we used to use a compostable bag to collect the pulp with the other juicers, but this pulp is so dry you just tip it straight into the compost bin and there’s hardly a trace of it left in the jug! Some people have problems with celery, but we find if we cut it up and feed it through near the end with other veggies it is fine. This has a non-drip spout too.

It has a massive 25 year warranty on the motor and 5 years on the parts.

(Tip: If you pour a glass of water through the juicer at the end you will get more juice and less waste).

And finally: Joe Cross*, aka Joe the Juicer of Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead fame, always uses a Breville juicer in his films and videos. It has a wide chute and juices quickly and efficiently. It is a reliable brand and although I have never used one of their juicers, I have a Breville Blend-Active blender which is excellent.

(Tip: Clean up as you go! It keeps your working space clear if you wash and prepare all your fruit and veg, clear away the debris, juice them and then rinse out your juicer straightaway. It is much easier and quicker to clean it out immediately before you have your juice and it is also more hygienic, less risk of bacteria developing).

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UPDATE: Retro have just brought out their new Retro Super Fast Juicer, a centrifugal juicer, which really looks the business, matching both the Retro Cold Press Juicer and the Retro Super Blend, both of which we own and use on a daily basis. I think my husband would leave home if I suggest buying another juicer (we have 3!), so I can’t comment in detail, but the thing I like immediately is that it is ambidextrous. Some juicers have the plug on one side which means you can only use them in a certain position on the counter and in my case this was an issue because of the position of the sockets in our kitchen. I also like the large pulp container, meaning you can juice continuously. Jason Vale recently did a comparative juice-off with the favoured old stalwart, the Philips 1861 and found that the new Super Fast Juicer produced slightly more juice. The Retro Super Fast Juicer is now available from Retro and Juicemaster.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE! I did buy the Retro Super Fast Juicer (of course I did!) and I think it’s great. It is easy to assemble and take apart, very easy to clean and use. It is light and clean-looking. One word of warning: you can’t put a glass of water through this at the end to push the remainder of the juice through, it will flood your counter, but you can tip it up when it’s switched off to drain it.

I would recommend this model for anyone new to juicing.

See also: Juicemaster Retro Super Fast Juicer: Review

My Top 20 Tips for Juicing – updated to 25!

Juicing: How to Begin or Do As I Say, Not As I Did!

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There is a saying amongst regular juicers: the most expensive juicer is the one you don’t use.  My advice is to make a mental commitment to juicing, get the one you can best afford and look on it as an investment in your health: think of all the potential prescription charges you might save! As you become more adept and more interested in juicing for health, you will probably want to move up the scale from a centrifugal – or fast – juicer to a slower but more nutritionally efficient masticating juicer.

In the end though, as The Juice Junkie says: Any juicer is better than no juicer!

I hope this has helped you sort the wood from the trees and good luck!

(Final tip: USE YOUR JUICER!)

PS Nutribullets are not juicers.

*http://www.thejuicemaster.com  https://m.facebook.com/ShayanScottFilm

http://www.beyondfit.co.uk

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Mark Beddoe: @explorejuice

http://www.rebootwithjoe.com

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Pears But No More Parsnips: In Which I Confront My Parsnip Phobia!

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 Parsnip-Free Zone!

In our family, everyone is allowed one vegetable they dislike and can choose to avoid: my daughter’s is Brussels sprouts – though perversely she chooses to eat them at Christmas! – my son doesn’t like cooked carrots (I used to grate them into stews and casseroles to hide them), and my husband picks out all the mushrooms. For me, as regular followers on Twitter will know, it’s parsnips. I hate parsnips. No, that’s not quite true: I have a real phobia about parsnips. Just writing the word makes me wince and feel queasy. I shudder at the mere thought.

I have no idea how this began. I don’t recall any parsnip trauma growing up. I don’t ever remember them being served up, though my mum eats them when offered. She even brought a can of Parsnip Soup with her recently – vegetarian or otherwise, I was nearly sick! imagePerhaps my dad didn’t like them. My own family is split firmly down the middle when it comes to this vegetable: my husband and daughter love them while my son and I recoil in horror whenever they appear. In our house, they are bought, prepared, cooked and served by my husband once a year at Christmas, when he makes roast parsnip chips. He loves them.

It’s not just the taste that is off-putting to me, there are other root vegetables that I’m not keen on, like swede and turnip, but I still have them in soups and stews.

Nope, it’s the smell! I can’t be anywhere near the kitchen when parsnips are being peeled. I have tried, really tried to get over this. I haven’t felt this strongly about a vegetable since my first pregnancy when I couldn’t be around potatoes in any way, shape or form.

When I first began juicing (see My First Juice Plan: Advice for Beginners or Do As I Say Not As I Did!), I followed Jason Vale’s 5lbs in 5 Days juicing plan. I was so excited at this new challenge, looking forward to not just losing some of the weight that had crept up during the previous year, but having more energy, feeling more alert and generally a lot healthier.

I did so well. The plan delivered in every respect: as promised, by Day 4 I was on a ‘juicy high’.

But, dear reader, imagine my dismay, my sheer horror when Day 5 came around and there, right front and centre was not one but two (!) juices called Pear ‘n’ Parsnip! Jason promised I would be surprised and have ‘a newfound respect’ for the humble parsnip.

I summoned up the strength and determination of hundreds of doughty ancestors, intent on not falling at the final hurdle. I even attempted to peel the parsnips myself, with a scarf over my face! I will admit, it wasn’t as I expected and I did drink them both down, but I can’t say it was a pleasant experience – because I could still smell them!

Not to be discouraged by my first attempt, I tried again a few months later. I am nothing if not stubborn and determined, I don’t like something to get the better of me.

But, Jason, I’m sorry, you did your best, I know you did, but I can’t, I just can’t…

Except that I did! In December, I began following Natural Juice Junkie‘s Winter Cleanse 2015. Loved the Winter Slammer (see Juicy Winter Warmers), The Beet Goes On, the raw Pea and Mint Soup and Pearfection.

But what’s this on Day 2? Hang on, not just Day 2 but Day 4 – twice: ‘Back to my Roots’, which means *4* parsnips in total!

Well, nothing ventured nothing gained, I am no wimp. Down the hatch they went. Still didn’t like them. But I did it. Very proud of myself. That’s it then.

But no, there was more!!

On Day 5, I discover the final meal of the plan is – drum roll – Parsnip and Ginger Soup which also has not 1, not 2, but *4* parsnips in the ingredients list!

Neil, you’ve broken me. I can’t go on. I have to draw the line. From now on I shall be replacing parsnips with squash. Or sweet potato. Total immersion therapy has not worked for me!

NO MORE PARSNIPS!

Here is my take on Jason’s Pear ‘n’ Parsnip Juice, replacing the parsnip with sweet potato.
Sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants, B vitamins, Vitamin D, magnesium, iron and potassium.
Use organic if possible, scrub well and leave the skin on for extra nutrients and flavour. You won’t be disappointed!
(Unless you have a sweet potato phobia!)

image    Ingredients

1 Apple, 2 Pears,
1 large sweet potato
Half a lime, peeled but with the pith still on
Few sprigs of mint

Juice all the ingredients and pour over ice. So refreshing. Cheers!

Update: My daughter-in-law, who loves parsnips, recently posted a video for my benefit of my 3 year old grand-daughter chomping on a raw ‘yellow carrot!’ <sigh> My daughter-in-law loathes celery and so my son delighted in posting this rejoinder: ‘don’t worry, I fed them both celery afterwards!’

Disclaimer: Please remember, these are my personal experiences. If you think you may wish to embark on a juice plan, be sure to consult your doctor first.

Jason Vale/Juicemaster

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Copyright: Chris McGowan