Hi Sweet Friends,
I haven’t 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 wasn’t always second nature. I’m reminded of my early juicing adventures each time I receive a question from a reader who wants to juice, but just can’t 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 can’t mess it up!
I don’t want anything to stand in the way of you and your green juice. That’s why I made this video and released my book, Crazy Sexy Juice. There’s 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 doesn’t 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. Don’t get me wrong, fiber is awesome! But it’s 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 that’ll 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, let’s 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.
Dear Kris
How much kale can I use or
Eric day in my smoothie. One large leaf? Can too much kale be harmful?
Many thanks
Thank you for his wonderful blog! Who doesn’t love a great, fresh green smoothie?
For more healthy drinks you can sip on all summer, check out my website at http://www.opentherapy.se
Thank you and wishing everyone a fabulous summer!
Jivan
Yes, yes, yes, I am constantly recommending juicing to my clients, and I sometimes just blend everything for a smoothie. I too use mostly veggies and less fruits to reduce the sugar content. Thanks for sharing!
How do I use food grade hydrogen peroxide to clean my produce? Rinse? Soak? How long? Ratios? Thanks!
Second after thought.The glass pitcher I catch it all in.I get it in from 5 celery 2 apple’s 2 carrot’s 1’2 cuccumber un-peeled.Is close to a quart. Downing it as quick as possible.I get 5 hrs. of energy.Being able to focus directly at someone I’m talking to.I’ve been juiceing about 3 yrs.Started with a jack La lane.I was only doing it 3 time’s a week.Some people I brag to.Have beef of what it cost’s.But my reply is.What’s the quality of health worth to you ??Amazeing the re-proccess of thinking that goes on.I just juiced a 30 minute’s ago.
I use the Omega (bmj390) big mouth juicer every day! [retired 5.5 yrs.]My regular receipe is: I use (5) celery (2) apple’s 2-3 carrot’s(1/2)cuccumber small portion of broccile and spinach small portion. 1/4+ of ginger root.The machine is so powerfull.I purchased a 2 qt. glass pitcher.Opened the kitchen counter draw.Set in draw with something in draw to have it adjusted to the right level for the spout.Work’s great! I use the sink spray hose for the screen cleaning. Placed screen bowl up side down in sink.Clean’s up very quickly.I found the Omega bowl has to be placed dead center over the spout.When putting it back together.Then when clamping it all together.There is no strain on the clamp’s holding it all together.I use small plastic bag for the dry pulp that come’s out.Put in garden for compose in soil.Wish some of the info was in the book.Instead of experimenting.
I just love to experiment! Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink juice, my-produce-is-about-to-go-bad juice, as long as there’s a green base and a little bit of fruit, anything goes. It is THE best way I can nourish my mind-body-soul. Hands down.
The Gerson Institute has a really good and credible guide to juicers as well:
http://gerson.org/gerpress/gerson-guide-to-juicers/
BTW thx Kris for using what looks like the Omega VRT in your video. My hubby and I currently use the Omega 3000 series and love it…so easy to clean up. My husband was inspired recently to juice and started with your morning green juice. He liked it but had to pump up the green apples to adapt to the ‘greeness’ as he put it. But the next morning he found a recipe for a carrot ginger blast juice that he loved with 3 carrots, 1 inch of ginger (he LOVES it), green apple and maybe a half a lemon. I was amazed when he had more juices that evening and the next day including beets, tomatoes (little hard on the bladder for him), Swiss chard, spinach, sprouts etc. The mornings he has his usual cereal and skips his juice he says he misses the juice! He even found a great recipe for a pre game green juice for his baseball nights! He’s also SLOWLY taking out chicken and red meat and is dairy free. I’m not sure who this new man is but he says he feels so much healthier! And for those who think their too old… he’s 62! I’m younger ; )
Cheers!
Oops, I meant to say we currently use the Omega masticating 8004 and love it.
Ugh, just a few days out of surgery and dealing with the wonderful post op nausea and drug brain fog! I know many of you can relate…can I have an amen?! Ah well life can always be worse somehow and this too shall pass (just hopefully not out of my mouth if you understand)
Night all. Xx
Forgot to say we like our current Omega so much we were just talking about moving up to the Omega VRT next. We’ll keep the one we have now for homemade nut butters, nut milks, etc.
Thx again.
dear kris,
first: it’s so wonderful to have a person like you to share important information, spread the word about healthy living and doing it so amazingly passionate and with an inspiring honesty. thank you.
i am from germany and i am following you since i had a tumor in my womb at the age of 28.
i love green juicing, but what i always ask myself is (following other american food/health blogs, too)
where do you all get your (organic) kale, when it is not season? well at least in germany it is not in season until october and until then i can’t get a hand on it…nowhere…i am just curious, because kale is fabulous and i love it. can’t wait for the season to start again.
love from overseas.
Janine,
Had to send out BIG hugs and love to you as I dealt with something similar a few yrs ago. It always makes me sad when disease hits another women in (one of) our most precious and literally life giving parts of us and you’re so young. Be well and much love and luck on your path to wellness.
Marie xx
Hi Kris, I’ve been following you since I was diagnosed with leukemia three years ago. Three years in remission and I’m doing great! Regarding juicing, I love it but I do feel like I have skin issues when I’m doing it. Since you mentioned that this could be a side effect of detoxing, do you have any thoughts on how long the reaction would normally last? I’m always reading about people having glowing skin after juicing, but unfortunately I feel like my skin goes the opposite way. The breakouts sink my mojo to say the least and I feel like it all defeats the purpose. Just curious if you have known anyone to experience this and if it’s a temporary thing that just needs more time to work out? I eat everything I juice (kale, celery, cucumbers, etc.) on a daily basis so I know it’s not a food reaction issue.
I am wondering how long exactly it is ok to leave green juice for? I have been making big batches on Sundays and keeping it in the fridge in a large juice container with a lid as I don’t have much time during the week for juicing. I have been using spinach, celery, carrots, green apples, ginger and lemon (rind on) as my recipe and it is quite delicious. I have also been making batches of mason jar salads on Sundays to take to work for lunches during the week to save time as well. I wonder what kind of routines other juicers use to make good use of their time?
Hi Kris
I have to ask you something. Do you get gas from your green drinks. I make about a litre (quart) every day. I put some in a mason jar and the rest I drink immediately. What I drink in the morning is fine. But when I drink the mason jar later in the day, I get a lot of gas. I am wondering if it has to do with the fact that is sits for a while? Just so you know I have been juicing daily for over a year now.
Any thoughts or comments on this embarrassing phenomenon?
Sue
I had the same problem and stopped adding cukes but the gas for me was painful and even mild greens weren’t digesting well. Try taking the cukes for a few days and other possible gaseous plants (just Google) and see what happens. You may need to just back off for a while. Kris has also suggested digestive enzymes in the past as well…again just Google to find what’s out there and pick good qlty ones.
Good luck!
Thanks for the article, very helpful and inspiring all. I usually add about about 6 different veggies and one fruit. Or in place of fruit I use Simply OJ instead of water. I also add all ingredients to the blender at night, close tightly, refrigerate overnight, then blend in the morning (to save on time). Does this affect the smoothie? Am I affecting the nutrients or benefits of the veggies?
Hi. I like the idea of juicing, but wonder if blending or smoothies with all the vegies and fruits are better with the fiber? I do a veg and fruit shake every morning and love it. I also have a good juicer. Seems a bit wasteful to me?
So why would juicing be better than smoothies? Both pureed and have all the phytonutrients in them.
Thanks, Gale.
I’m willing to give it a shot. I found the name of the juicer you’re using, but the website gives you choices of “Masticating, Centrifugal, Citrus, Pulp Ejecting, Low Speed”. Is there a certain direction I should head in/an option that is important?
Hi Kris,
I shop for juicing veggies at my local farmers market. One of the main farmers, whose prices would make green juicing financially friendly, uses a natural neem spray as pesticide. It is not certified organic, but it sounds much less toxic than standard treatments. In fact, his produce isn’t perfect looking like a lot of conventional ones … leafy veggies have some bug holes & a few bugs stuck to the kale leaves : ) Would this work for my daily juicing?
Hi Suyin
I realise that you posted 7 months ago so don’t know if you’ll see this, but I’ve spent quite a bit of time with organic farmers in India and they all use neem as an approved insect deterrent. I don’t know about the certification process in the States, but in a lot of countries certification is so expensive that small farmers can’t afford it. If you trust your local farmer, go for it!
I’m more of a green smoothie gal myself, but I totally appreciate the green juices. In fact, my green smoothie is making itself right now in my blender. Ever since February of 2012 when I first found Kris Carr and her Crazy Sexy Diet, I have been making green smoothies! They never get old or dull.
One thing I have read that I think is important is to rotate whatever green you are putting into your juice or smoothie. You don’t want to be ingesting say, kale or broccoli week after week. Veggies have small amounts of alkoloids that can build up in our bodies if we do this.
I’m in the middle of my 7th CSD Cleanse and I am so grateful that Kris has brought us all this fabulous way of healthful living.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you just commited 2nd degree ‘vegie-slaughter’. The type of juicer you used in the video is centrifuigal…no?
This type of juicer oxidises most of the good stuff (vitamins, minerals) so I’m told.
I believe you should use a masticating juicer, while more expensive, is worth the investment because it not only maximises the nutrients you get but is so efficient you wouldn’t need to re-juice the pulp as it comes out as dry fibre?
Hi Kris!
Thanks for the great resource – I still have not started juicing at home – I found this a-mazing juice at Whole Foods which I think is the perfect solution for me – and it’s the only one I’ve seen that’s 100% organic: http://www.sujajuice.com/
Have you tried it yet??
Thank you for the inspiring post and comments! I just tried the cucumber-apple-greens-cilantro-lime juice and my 4-yo and I are happily chugging.
I usually make green smoothies because I have a Blendtec but not a greens-worthy juicer. But today I tried running my blended smoothie through my 20-yo secondhand juicer and got a great result (haven’t tried squeezing the smoothie through a nutmilk bag yet). It’s a lot of cleanup but fast prep. I’ll probably do this from now on, but I used to use grapes instead of apples in the smoothie because they gave a less fuzzy result. (More sugar, though.)
Excellent green juice formula Kris. I’m sipping on some kale, swiss chard, celery, cucumber & green apples green juice 🙂
Delish!