Hi Sweet Friends,
I havenβt been able to stop talking or writing about green juice since my first sip. What can I say? That green nectar feels like pure, invigorating oxygen shooting to every corner of my being.
Today, juicing is as much a part of my life as brushing my teeth, but it wasnβt always second nature. Iβm reminded of my early juicing adventures each time I receive a question from a reader who wants to juice, but just canβt seem to get the hang of it or is too intimidated to even try.
People think they have to do it perfectly, but the bottom line is you canβt mess it up!
I donβt want anything to stand in the way of you and your green juice. Thatβs why I made this video and released my book, Crazy Sexy Juice. Thereβs no better time than today to begin, spice up or revive your love affair with juicing.
So what is green juice and why is it so spectacular?
When you run your produce through a juicer, the pulp is separated from the juice. You may be wondering why anyone would go through all that trouble. Absorption, baby. Since your body doesnβt have to work to digest the fiber, it can easily pull the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients straight into your bloodstream. Plus, giving your digestive system a break means your body can focus on resting and repairing your hard-working cells. Donβt get me wrong, fiber is awesome! But itβs OK to skip it in my glass of emerald sunshine, since radical roughage is a big part of my Crazy Sexy plant-filled diet. Plus, you can fit a lot more vegetable goodness in a green juice (a pound or more!) than you can eat with your fork in one sitting. What else can you drink thatβll do such phenomenal things for your health and put a large dent in your five recommended servings of fruits and veggies per day? (Hint: Nothing beats green juice!)
Now that we know more about the how and why of juicing, letβs break down the Crazy Sexy Green Juice Formula.
My handy-dandy infographic walks you through my daily recipe and gives you lots of room to play. See it as a jumping off point and a tool for you to create your own green juice masterpieces! Bring it with you to the grocery store and post it next to your juicer for inspiration.
Hi Kris
Whatd’ya think about juicing the night before?
XO
Tanya
We juice the night before because we live in an apt and hubby drinks his at 6am. It is fine, but I think it depends on the machine. Something about the higher rpms can oxidize the juice faster? Our masticating juicer will last up to 72 hours in a fridge, not sure about a centrifugal juicer? I gues just make a sample juice up and see π
I noticed that your cucumbers were peeled. Is that important to avoid toxins? I’ve been throwing whole cucumbers into my green smoothies. (I’m not juicing yet. We have a Vitamix, but no juicer. It’s a start!)
It’s best to peel your cukes if they aren’t organic. π
Is this true of all non-organic fruits and veggies (with skin)?
Thanks Kris. I have been juicing on a near daily basis since the start of the year and am so glad I started, but I have had a few days without juicing. Watching your video this morning made sure I started off the morning with a green juice (greens, cucumber, celery, ginger, lemon and apples), rather than the coffee I was contemplating! I love smoothies too. Thanks for being such an inspiration π
Over the years I have learned that is not wise to juice kale or spinach due to the concentrated amount of oxalic acid in those greens. What have you found on that topic in our studies of juicing?
Love, love, love your videos.
Peace and Raw Health,
Elizabeth
This was perfect even for me, whose been juicing all kinds of things for awhile. I loved watching it. My tip today is: sometimes, just to mix up the nutrition a bit, instead of using ginger I juice a bit of turmeric root or gobo root. Doesn’t really change the flavor PLUS i get the bennies of those.
I have been juicing and making green smoothies for a number of months but wonder if the green apple is really ok as I really struggle with Candida. The same queston applies to using carrots. Advice anyone?
Unfortunately, you may need to cut it out Hilda. You can use the lemon though.
According to Doug Kaufman from Know the cause TV show, green apples is the only one he recommends on his Phase 1 fungus/candida diet. I have watched him for years and believe in him 100%.
Hi Kris
I have a few digestive issues for which I have going to an acupuncturist
He has diagnosed it as a weak spleen combined with gall bladder toxicity. Even though there has been marked improvement in the digestion I feel we have now reached a point of stagnation. I do want to try juicing but according to him things may get worse becauseof the spleen.
Please advise.
Hi! I’m no expert but I had a similar spleen issue recently, and by that I mean, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, and I had to stop the green smoothies for a couple of weeks. I’ve been reintroducing them gently and so far no problem. You may want to look up what’s good for the spleen online. Since according to TCM, the spleen is basically where energy is generated, I found that it likes the feeling of home. It likes feeling homely, and safe. So I started resting a little more, taking care of myself a little more. It also likes cooked things rathen than raw, and warm things so it prefers warm drinks rather than cold, but if you are gonna drink something cold, drink something warm before that. There is much more, just look it up. Also, what someone recommended was that I take a bunch of veggies and cook them and then blend them so I’d have a cream of veggies π Not as nutritious, but I’d get the veggies in, ans easier on the spleen π I really love the feeling the green smoothie gives me so I just try to balance stuff out. Start small and see how you feel. Good luck!! π
Love it “Emerald Sunshine” that’s a great description!
After reading “Crazy Sexy Diet” three months ago, I began juicing and haven’t looked back! Well, until this morning. I blew out the second-hand juicer I have been using! Bummer. I hopped on line to see what you recommended and have upgraded a bit to the Breville Compact Juice Fountain. Can’t wait till it arrives on my doorstep on Wednesday.
Thank you for all the inspiration. I am trying to keep my LGL (Large Granular Leukemia) in check by “using my kitchen as a pharmacy.” I have my next doctor’s appointment this week– this will be the first one since I have been seriously juicing and watching my alkaline level. Looking forward to seeing some difference in my numbers! Thanks again.
My juicing tip is when you juice… do so with love and a smile. Know you are doing something great for yourself! Thx Kris. Love you!
Ok so I realize I only have a mixer and not a proper juicer so I might as well not try… Alos, you never talk about the taste. i’m afraid I will find this mixture disgusting… once it’s all juiced it’s going to be wasted; Lastly is there anything left of the juiced veggie that can be eaten ? Sorry for my questions but I never juiced !
sorry you did mention running the pulp a second time as to not waste this veggies.
You will think i’m crazy but can I juice some frozen fruits and veggies (defrosted) that I buy in the store or does it have not point ?
Adjust the recipes to suit your taste buds Elli! Add pear or lemon, try pineapple etc. Experiment till you make something you love.
Thank you for mentioning running the pulp through a second time. I will try that. It always looks like I’m throwing away perfectly good by product.
I’ve heard you can use veggie pulp in soups and such….and fruit pulp in desserts…etc….
I use – especially the green (+ carrott / beetroot) pulp – by adding seasoning, onions or leeks, garlic + ginger, chickpea flower (+ eggs, if you are not a vegan), and lots of fresh herbs. I add anything else I like, e.g. grated carrotts. I mix it all with my hands. Then I press the pulp into an icecream scoop, and put it on baking paper (on an oven tray) into the oven. Bake them at 180Β° C – for about 20-25 minutes in the oven (check with a pointed knife, but don’t let them get too dry). Over time, you will get routine!! Enjoy!
if you have a garden, you can also compost the pulp and let it go back to nourish the ground now that the juice has nourished you!
This makes me want to juice! I’m dusting off the juicer this week.
I have been reading in some reputable health blogs about juicing being not so great with all of the oxalates in the greens and them being difficult for the kidneys. Can you please expand on this?
Some greens have more than others. I think spinach has the most.
Been reading about that, too. According to Bulletproofexec for kale fans: “Unfortunately oxalates are not just in kale. Other high sources of oxalate are, from highest to lowest, β buckwheat, black pepper, parsley, poppy seed, rhubarb, amaranth, spinach, chard, beets, chocolate, most nuts, most berries, and beans. ” 2 things are recommended to help: steaming those veggies (which negates juicing) or when making a smoothie “…toss your calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide supplements in the blender with your kale. Let the harmful oxalic acid precipitate out in the blender, so your body can filter it out when you drink it. If you allow free oxalic acid into your body without minerals at the exact same time, it will absorb into your body…” Supposedly, goitrogenic veggies (e.g., kale) that contain oxalates bind with minerals and can cause nutrient deficiencies. They say they don’t recommend supplementing calcium/magnesium in general, but in this case, it helps.
Really? Never heard this, would love a more detailed explanation on this.
I started juicing almost a year ago and love it! When i started out, I found I had to actually get used to some of the tastes of the juices, but now, I love them all. Actually even crave them. A trick I found out from one recipe, was if you are having trouble with the taste of some of the bitter leafy greens, add in a little (slice or two) of watermelon. It makes a difference and my 5-year-old son will drink any juice if it has a slice of watermelon in it. Give it a try!
Oh Watermelon! What a great idea for summer too!
Also watermelon is awesome juiced during the summer and frozen, so in need of a quick juice on the go, you can pull something out and viola, yummy juice! Dad showed me that trick in the snowstorm over christmas stuck in the middle of nowhere, I was over the tea and hot chocolate and wanted something juiced, and outcame his watermelon juice he had done up earlier that past summer.
XO
Kris, I’m salvating for a green juice but got out of my juicing mojo routine. Slap my hand and send me to the corner of the classroom since I don’t even own a juicer anymore. You’ve inspired me to hop on the green giant juice wagon again but I’d like a juicer more compact in size. I do make smoothies but there’s something light, fluffy, and cloud like about fresh juice. Can you or anyone reccomend a juice machine compact in size or blink and command the universe for me to fall head over heels in love with one while strolling through my day. Thanks!
Hi Rachael! The Breville compact juicer is fairly small. Check it out.
I just blinked for you. Did it help?
I love the infographic, Kris! I just pinned it to one of my Pinterest boards! My fave juice is cuke, cilantro, greens, lime, and apple!
I just started juicing this past March after reading Crazy Sexy Diet and I am in love. I’ve struggled with anemia in the past so I always make sure I juice lemon along with my dark leafy greens so I get the most benefit from the iron!
Hi Kris! Getting to experience your authentic warmth and generousity at this weekend’s NYC Writers Conference was amazing! When I started juicing/smoothying last year, the first thing I did was buy your ebook which you had “coincidentally” just released. π Your ebook is so simple and yet also so very comprehensive! It gave me exactly the support I needed to get over my inhibitions, and OMG! The difference juices/smoothies have made in my health and clarity has been unprecedented! My new motto: Drink green and prosper! I tell everyone who is interested about your wonderful offerings, and how instrumental you have been on my journey of healing. Thank you!
Thank you so much Carolyn! And I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the weekend. π
Hi Kris
Hi Kris
Love your blogs – always inspiring and informative.
Re green drinks/juicing – Not sure if you mentioned how DELICIOUS green juice can be – half an apple and/or banana is a great addition for people just starting out.
I use kale or spinach, LOTS of cilantro (cleansing and so yummy), parsley, celery, dark green lettuce, apple/banana
and lemon juice (helps to keep it fresh). If I have left over, I freeze it – losing a bit of nutritional value but not much.
And I know you are a fan of the Vita Mix but I don’t see it mentioned. It is the ONLY juicer I will use for two reasons…it breaks down the fiber in the veg/fruit to the cellular level (even apple cores, seeds and all) and you are not wasting or missing out on all the benefits of fiber in your drink; and it is super super easy to clean…a big plus for those new to juicing. And of course you can use it for all sorts of other things…making your own almond milk, ice cream, soup etc.
Yes, it’s expensive, but I have had mine for over ten years with no problems.
Hi Patricia: I believe that a Vita mix is a blender rather than a juicer. I’ve heard Kris explain before that the juicer takes out the fiber (all the pulp that comes out) which may be hard to digest for some people. My parents bought a Vita Mix probably 15+ years ago and haven’t had any problems. I just got married just under two years ago & bought one with the cash we were given as prezzies. I’ve been loving it!
{JOY & PEACE to you & CHEERS with the green juice}
IN SUPPORT~ Rachel D.
Hi Rachel
They are great machines…and they are juicers and blenders and grain grinders…multi use which makes the price more palatable. As juicers they sort of “pre-digest” the fiber by breaking it down so small; very easy to digest.
Cheers
Hi Patricia,
You may be confusing your VitaMix and Juicer… you can’t “juice” a banana, in fact all instructions for juicers will tell you not to juice a banana. However, a banana in a smoothie made in a VitaMix is great. A VitaMix is not a juicer, it is a high speed blender, which is probably why Kris didn’t mention it in her blog about juicing.
Both are great to have!
Wendy
Exactly!
The Vitamix can also be used as a juicer. I just put it through a nut bag or cheesecloth to separate the juice from the pulp. It’s a little more work squeezing it through a bag, but worth not having the extra cost! It’s started me juicing without having to put out extra $$ up front.
I find that alternating harder veggies like brocoli stems & celery, with the leafy greens, a good way to help move the leafy greens thru the juicer. In fact if I don’t go it, the leafy greens tend to get stuck