Loving my new juicer!!

[Zizzle]

My brother-in-law has been telling us to get a juicer for months. He says he only feels good when he's doing a juice fast. I keep telling him it's because he's gluten intolerant like his mom and brother, and he's not eating gluten when he's juicing...but that's another topic.

I bought a Breville Juice Fountain Plus for $150 after reading tons of stellar reviews. I could have gone with the fancier Ikon with 5 digital speeds, but I don't trust microchips in appliances, especially those made in China, so mine has a simple hi/low speed option. Then I shopped at Whole Foods for lots of organic fuits and veggies. We started with carrot, orange, beet juice which my son liked and my daughter hated. Then apple, pear, cherry for my daughter... she still didn't like it. (what's wrong with her!! I swear she only likes food that is processed to death!). Then I made beet leaf, ginger, apple -- definitely a "health food" acquired taste -- but I'll drink it to get my greens in.

Then I used some of the carrot, beet & apple pulp and mixed it with GF oats, brown rice flour, agave syrup, honey, coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, one egg, and some almond-coconut milk and spread it into a brownie pan. Baked it at 350 for 45 minutes and had great bars to eat on the run! Of course I don't need all that fiber, but pulverized beats eating the fiber whole - less work breaking it down. It also feels like less work than digesting my usual nuts and nut bars, with much less sweeteners, and MUCH, MUCH cheaper!! I've eaten several helpings already, and no D yet. I only plan to use some of the pulp when I use organic produce. The rest goes into the compost tumbler. My garden will be very happy next year!

Finally I made a pitcher of carrot, orange, apple juice with one beet for interesting color and brought it to a dinner party. People loved it.


Just wanted to share my new health-promoting adventure!! Incidentally, my juicer came with a free copy of a documentary titled "Fat, Sick and nearly Dead" about a guy with autoimmune disease who apparently cures himself through juicing. I haven't watched it yet, so I'm not expecting this to cure me, just feed me tons of healthy nutrients at the peak of freshness (not rotting in my fridge waiting for me to cook them )!

[GRB]

I've seen that documentary and it's inspiring. Good luck in your new diet. Know that I will be watching closely because I've been wanting to do it too but have been afraid to try it. Also, do you have mast cell issues? I'm asking because I do and it's another thing I have to watch. You sound so excited, I wish you success! Be well, please give a report now and then as I'll be watching for you!

[Leah]

Sounds delicious Zizzle. Can I ask how much produce you are buying per week and how much that produce costs?

Leah

[Zizzle]

Whole Foods prices for now

2 x 5 lb bags of large organic carrots @ $4.69
Organic beets with greens, $2.49/bunch x 3
Organic celery $2.49
5 lbs Organic apples @ $2.49/lb=$12
5 lbs bag of oranges, $4.99
Pears at $1.69/lb
ginger
rhubarb

So, not cheap, roughly $40 in produce, maybe more.
I plan to shop next at a local farmer's market store, which sells the same local produce for less than the farmers market, although technically not all organic, but very fresh.

The juicer did not do well with parsley, so I'm wondering how many greens I'll juice. I cooked the beet greens instead tonight, yummy.

[MaggieRedwings]

Great for you Zizzle. I am happy that it is working for you and yes produce is high at Whole Foods. Farmer's markets for the season are your best best. I wish I could do some juicing but tried it for a week or 2 and my system did horribly.

Enjoy your new toy!

Love, Maggie

[mickjcat]

Hi Zizzle,

Let me ask, can you drink juice when you are still in a flare up? I feel like I am suffering from lack of nutrients, minerals, etc. on my restrictive diet.
Thanks in advance...

[Zizzle]

Hi Mickey,
Yes, I am drinking juice even during flares. I find that the juice has no effect on the D, and in fact it seems to make things better, faster. My husband and I have noted occasional nausea if we juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. He prefers sweeter juices like carrot, apple, beet, so I wonder if we're getting too many sugars all at once. I am trying to juice more vegetables with less fruit now. Tonight I plan to juice some of the plentiful Purslane that is growing all over my yard. I've tried eating it as a salad, but it feels like too much fiber to digest. It's a very succulent weed, so I bet it will juice well. It has more Omega-3s than any other plant!!

We bought some non-organic produce yesterday to juice since we had no time to get to a Whole Foods (and to save a little $$), so we plan to peel most of it first.

Last night I had overripe bananas and avocados to get rid of, so we made smoothies with some leftover juice. Almond/coconut milk, ice, carrot/beet/ginger juice, cantaloupe, banana, avocado and rice protein powder. It was fabulous and not too sweet!

Incidentally, we spent last week at the beach and I avoided the sun on my rash-prone areas only, wearing a 3/4 sleeve rash guard and a hat all the time. I stayed under a beach umbrella, but otherwise got more sun than usuall, and my rash did not flare at all. In fact my elbow rash has dried up and is flaking off. Yay!

[mickjcat]

Thanks Zizzle,
I may give it a try with my tolerant veggies and fruits. I feel like my colon needs to rest, cleanse, something......this ailment does make one sort of desperate....

[coryhub]

Happy juicing Zizzle!
I purchased the Jack Lalane juicer and the Ninja processor since my diagnosis. My staple juice is carrot, orange, lemon, ginger juice. I think you're idea to add beet greens is excellent! With the ninja I make smoothies with: yogurt, fruit, dry milk powder, honey and vanilla and these are as good as ice cream. It's only been recently that I was able to add fruit back in this way - so far so good. It has been one month without a entorcort pill and I am hyped and in good spirits and hope I can keep my stress level down when first class day arrives.

[mickjcat]

So, do you think carrot juice and some beet greens might be ok, for me? I have some beets and greens from my garden.

[Lesley]

I have a keuvings juicer, which has a number of accessories to make nut butter, ice cream from frozen fruits and others. I love it.
I bought it after seeing "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.". At the time it was pretty new, so when I wrote to the dietician she sent me some very interesting answers re: juice vs smoothies, pulp vs juice. Essentially I find that juice is far better than veggies in any other form for the nutrients without triggering a flare.
I tend to make juice from a lot of different veggies together, adding carrots, melon, grapes and apples for a touch of sweetness. I am on my own, so making it more than once a day (and often keeping some for the next day - not as good nutritionally, I know, but, if stored properly, not TOO bad! And I love it cold!) is a drag for me, so I include a lot of leafy greens (chard, spinach, kale).

I got some ice lolly molds at Ikea, and use juice to make lollies. They are refreshing and delightful. Kids LOVE them! Seems to be a really good way to get veggies into kids.

I often use the veggie pulp for veggie stock, which I boil down and use as a base for soups.
I have added flax and chia seed to it, and made it into crackers. I have been more successful with some tries than others.
I never thought if making bars! Great idea, Z!

Smoothies from the pulp? another great idea! I generally get my fruit as a smoothie. I bought a "vintage" vitamix on ebay. I love the fact that it's chrome and has a reverse button. I freeze fruit and throw it in frozen in chunks, or I puree when cheap and plentiful and make mango/strawberry/nectarine etc. ice cubes to throw into smoothies of ice creams.

I make great ice cream using coconut milk. Adding some oil into the pureed mix makes it much richer and creamier. It's delicious. Olive oil with bananas is wonderful. You don't taste the oil, but it's adds creaminess.

Organic/fresh produce from a farmer's market is a lot cheaper than from stores right now, especially if you go later, before they are shutting down. They offer what they have very cheaply - 2 bunches of carrots for the price of one etc.

I am growing tomatoes, cucumbers and many herbs in my small balcony, and have had some really yummy ones.

I seem to need so much more equipment since I got sick! I am really worried about my 6 week trip in November, not having all my stuff to make what I need.

[mickjcat]

Lesley,

Sounds like a great use of juice and pulp! I am just a little nervous juicing, I guess I can't be any worse off than I am now.

I have a 20+ year old Acme juicier.....I know it sounds like a cartoon name, but it is for real....

[Lesley]

Whatever works!

Try watering down the juice 50% and working towards full juice when you see things begin to improve. That method helped me (Suggested by Joe Cross's nutritionist).

I was also afraid at first, but it's worked for me, and, it seems, for Zizzle and others. You can but try. I believe the nutrients are absorbed and do you good.

[coryhub]

Hi Mickey,
I did not try to add fruit - juiced or not - for the first couple of years. I was afraid to eat anything acidic that would disrupt the acid/alkaline balance in my gut. I only added pureed fruit recently as I seem to be in a remission after months of diet trials and tribulations. I would try something safe first like plain carrot juice and see what happens. I understand your nervousness as I was the same way.
Cory

[mickjcat]

Thanks gals!

I got my trusty ole juicer out and did some carrot juice, maybe 6-7oz and drank water after. I also made a little bit of beet leaves and took a couple of sips and drank water after. I had some roasted chicken, acorn squash, and Brussel sprouts for dinner.

My stomach so far, after 3 hours is still quiet!

I will try to update and I hope to hear more of your recipes!

Thanks again!