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Mentor

Juicing - Why would I want to try it?

Posted by John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop, Dec 2, 2017

So, all of you juicing members out there - I'm reaching out to you in hope of gathering some first hand information. I can think of no better way to get some honest opinions and suggestions. This morning my daughter introduced me to juicing. We had a discussion about juicing over breakfast when I was talking about tapering off of prednisone and looking for natural ways to reduce inflammation. Besides PMR I also have osteopenia and am supposed to take 1200 mg calcium daily which presents some output challenges for me. We stopped by the grocery store on the way back to her house and picked up all the ingredients to make some ginger juice for inflammation (2 large oranges and some ginger root) and red cabbage juice to help with the constipation (2 heads of red cabbage, 3 apples, 2 oranges, 1 lime, and small bag of carrots). Into the juicer they went! She poured the juice into 18 oz glass containers for me to take home and keep in the refrigerator.

Juicing

What have I learned so far? Well, when I got home I poured about 4 oz of the red cabbage juice into a glass and topped it off with about 1 oz or more of ginger juice. I learned not to use so much of the ginger juice in my drink as it kind of has a zingy feeling on the tongue and throat. The red cabbage juice tastes a lot better than I thought - better than my breakfast smoothie. My plan was actually to use a little of both in my breakfast smoothie and reduce the amount of fruit but add the greens (kale, spinach, arugula, etc..) into a blender with the juice.

Questions for anyone willing to share:

-- Has juicing helped you?
-- What tips or favorite recipes can you share? and how do they help?

Looking forwarding to hearing from you!

John

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.

Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Nov 3, 2018
In reply to @gardeningjunkie "lioness- My oil filter wrench is a rubber gasket with a plastic handle that adjusts; sounds..." + (show)
@gardeningjunkie

lioness- My oil filter wrench is a rubber gasket with a plastic handle that adjusts; sounds like your rubber gasket, but I really like the info about an electrical jar opener. I will look up and get one.

Most juicing are looking for more nutrition as it is a great way to get it naturally and most herbs are full of nutrition. I grow many fresh herbs in zone 6. Some are perennial like the mint; always grow in a pot, it will come back, but if you allow it in garden bed it will take over. Basil and dill freeze out, but I save dill seeds for the next season (plus dry and keep in pantry. Rosemary, thyme, parsley and oregano are available year round, even with the light snows we get. Fresh herbs are not even close to their dried up version, the taste is far superior.

For a month now after reading more I learned about the multiple benefits of OREGANO-Based on scientific studies researchers have concluded that oregano is an effective anti yeast agent and more potent than caprylic acid, which is natural and also anti-yeast.
(Stiles, J. C., Sparks, W and Ronzio, R.A., "The Inhibition of Candida albicans by Oregano'"J. Applied Nutrition, 1995; 47:96-101).
Jonathan Wright, MD Kent, Washington found oregano to be a safe and excellent anti yeast agent and in his experience it was as effective as Nystatin. His dose is 50 mg tab- 4 times daily. I am not sure how much that translates to so I put a small handful in smoothly and tear off leaves to put in my salads or cooked veggies. I have a raised bed for herbs and oregano is so easy, plant once and it's forever, in mint family but not as aggressive.

Reducing yeast, which our bodies naturally make out of fermented sugars and fruits in our guts (just like moonshine is made from fermented fruits) creates an overabundance of yeast for many. This raises our inflammation levels and aggravates conditions like eczema (that's one reasons why sugars/fruits are limited or not allowed at all in eczema diets) or other female yeast related issues. I love fruit and would snack on it daily, besides having a fruit smoothly with my breakfast every morning.

John- My experience with juicing to improve my inflammation levels actually backfired, as I started consuming too much fruit which aggravated my eczema and yeast issues. I was adding the wrong smoothly ingredients for years- too many delicious fruits full of natural sugar and no veggies. For a month now I have changed over to allowed veggies and herbs and although a major taste adjustment, in time will find out if these non fruit smoothies are a benefit.

Jump to this post

Hi @gardeningjunkie, my "experiment" with juicing was more about convenience of not having to make a veggie smoothie each morning for breakfast and to use to take my neuropathy supplements (pills, capsules and more pills). I was buying fresh greens - spinach, arugula, kale, and a few others along with blueberries and strawberries (my staples for fruits) and a few other fresh berries. But I was spending a half hour plus the cleanup afterwards every morning. The juicing I could do once a week and have enough juice to get me through the week to use with taking my supplements for PN. I've since recanted on both as much as I like the green smoothie and the juices. There was no joy in mudville for cleanup of my "easy to clean" juicer either. Not that I'm lazy it's just hard for me to stand for any length of time over 15 minutes.

I may go back to the green smoothie soon though as a break from my current breakfast trend - glass of fat free milk for taking the supplements and a small banana or sometimes half the milk with the supplements and the rest with a 1/2 cup of some healthy (?) cereal. Last month I picked up some Nature's Path Organic Turmeric Cereal that has coconut, turmeric, cinnamon and honey. It wasn't too bad - gave some away for a friend to try. Last week I found some Ancient Grain's organic granola type cereal at Costco and am working my way through it. I think I like the green smoothie route better than both of the cereals so I just need to plan a little better and maybe do the prep in the evening and the blending in the morning. I have a Ninja blender - kind of loud but does do a good job and it's easy to put the parts in the dishwasher ☺

REPLY
1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Nov 3, 2018
In reply to @gardeningjunkie "lioness- My oil filter wrench is a rubber gasket with a plastic handle that adjusts; sounds..." + (show)
@gardeningjunkie

lioness- My oil filter wrench is a rubber gasket with a plastic handle that adjusts; sounds like your rubber gasket, but I really like the info about an electrical jar opener. I will look up and get one.

Most juicing are looking for more nutrition as it is a great way to get it naturally and most herbs are full of nutrition. I grow many fresh herbs in zone 6. Some are perennial like the mint; always grow in a pot, it will come back, but if you allow it in garden bed it will take over. Basil and dill freeze out, but I save dill seeds for the next season (plus dry and keep in pantry. Rosemary, thyme, parsley and oregano are available year round, even with the light snows we get. Fresh herbs are not even close to their dried up version, the taste is far superior.

For a month now after reading more I learned about the multiple benefits of OREGANO-Based on scientific studies researchers have concluded that oregano is an effective anti yeast agent and more potent than caprylic acid, which is natural and also anti-yeast.
(Stiles, J. C., Sparks, W and Ronzio, R.A., "The Inhibition of Candida albicans by Oregano'"J. Applied Nutrition, 1995; 47:96-101).
Jonathan Wright, MD Kent, Washington found oregano to be a safe and excellent anti yeast agent and in his experience it was as effective as Nystatin. His dose is 50 mg tab- 4 times daily. I am not sure how much that translates to so I put a small handful in smoothly and tear off leaves to put in my salads or cooked veggies. I have a raised bed for herbs and oregano is so easy, plant once and it's forever, in mint family but not as aggressive.

Reducing yeast, which our bodies naturally make out of fermented sugars and fruits in our guts (just like moonshine is made from fermented fruits) creates an overabundance of yeast for many. This raises our inflammation levels and aggravates conditions like eczema (that's one reasons why sugars/fruits are limited or not allowed at all in eczema diets) or other female yeast related issues. I love fruit and would snack on it daily, besides having a fruit smoothly with my breakfast every morning.

John- My experience with juicing to improve my inflammation levels actually backfired, as I started consuming too much fruit which aggravated my eczema and yeast issues. I was adding the wrong smoothly ingredients for years- too many delicious fruits full of natural sugar and no veggies. For a month now I have changed over to allowed veggies and herbs and although a major taste adjustment, in time will find out if these non fruit smoothies are a benefit.

Jump to this post

@gardenjun kie. Wasnt aware of the benefits of oregano A friend here has this so will have to tell her @johnbishop thats why I like my bullet easy to clean Ive had mine so long Im looking at getting a newer version. How do you keep herbs in an apartment? When I had my garden it wasn't a problem Maybe I can get a window box and grow some I dont want the mint to spread .

REPLY
1 reply
gardeningjunkie | @gardeningjunkie | Nov 3, 2018
In reply to @lioness "@gardenjun kie. Wasnt aware of the benefits of oregano A friend here has this so will..." + (show)
@lioness

@gardenjun kie. Wasnt aware of the benefits of oregano A friend here has this so will have to tell her @johnbishop thats why I like my bullet easy to clean Ive had mine so long Im looking at getting a newer version. How do you keep herbs in an apartment? When I had my garden it wasn't a problem Maybe I can get a window box and grow some I dont want the mint to spread .

Jump to this post

Most of my herbs are Mediterranean so they love fun sun with a minimum of 6 hours and well drained soil with occasional water. Personally I have never had any luck growing inside. If you have a sunny window, the older kind without UV filters or tinting you may have some luck, but but your success will be marginal. Do you have a friend with a terrace you could set up a whiskey barrel or large pot or who has an unused corner in their garden you could put in a small herb patch. Even in the heat of summer they only need water once a week. Some senior center work with Master Gardeners or garden clubs who will help put in a raised bed and contribute herb starts from their gardens. Even if the seniors aren't cooking with them they like being able to take a pinch and smell them.

REPLY
1 reply
gardeningjunkie | @gardeningjunkie | Nov 3, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @gardeningjunkie, my "experiment" with juicing was more about convenience of not having to make a..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @gardeningjunkie, my "experiment" with juicing was more about convenience of not having to make a veggie smoothie each morning for breakfast and to use to take my neuropathy supplements (pills, capsules and more pills). I was buying fresh greens - spinach, arugula, kale, and a few others along with blueberries and strawberries (my staples for fruits) and a few other fresh berries. But I was spending a half hour plus the cleanup afterwards every morning. The juicing I could do once a week and have enough juice to get me through the week to use with taking my supplements for PN. I've since recanted on both as much as I like the green smoothie and the juices. There was no joy in mudville for cleanup of my "easy to clean" juicer either. Not that I'm lazy it's just hard for me to stand for any length of time over 15 minutes.

I may go back to the green smoothie soon though as a break from my current breakfast trend - glass of fat free milk for taking the supplements and a small banana or sometimes half the milk with the supplements and the rest with a 1/2 cup of some healthy (?) cereal. Last month I picked up some Nature's Path Organic Turmeric Cereal that has coconut, turmeric, cinnamon and honey. It wasn't too bad - gave some away for a friend to try. Last week I found some Ancient Grain's organic granola type cereal at Costco and am working my way through it. I think I like the green smoothie route better than both of the cereals so I just need to plan a little better and maybe do the prep in the evening and the blending in the morning. I have a Ninja blender - kind of loud but does do a good job and it's easy to put the parts in the dishwasher ☺

Jump to this post

Like you I have had friends who were passionate about juicing give it up because of the clean up mess and also the space it took up in their kitchen. I applaud you for adding healthy greens from the start, it simply seemed wrong to me to be drinking a green or brown liquid, still I have come around- but as mentioned I still can't do kale uncooked!

If using a blender and with either fruit or veggies I find if I made too much and blended hours ahead it often browns and simply doesn't taste as good to me, so your idea of evening prep is a good one because of all the washing greens require. You could wash and bag them up and then be ready to blend.

My husband likes 3 hot meals a day (love it if he is off golfing or target shooting and he eats out) so I am on my feet in the kitchen for hours a day. My step stool with a seat is not tall enough for my counters; found a simple light weight, but sturdy metal counter-top stool, backless on the internet. I keep it in a corner and move to a counter for food prep longer than a few minutes. It significantly cuts down on leg fatigue. Most the senior women in my family wear support hose but I can't wear support hose because of my allergies to rubber which all elastic contains.

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Nov 3, 2018
In reply to @gardeningjunkie "Most of my herbs are Mediterranean so they love fun sun with a minimum of 6..." + (show)
@gardeningjunkie

Most of my herbs are Mediterranean so they love fun sun with a minimum of 6 hours and well drained soil with occasional water. Personally I have never had any luck growing inside. If you have a sunny window, the older kind without UV filters or tinting you may have some luck, but but your success will be marginal. Do you have a friend with a terrace you could set up a whiskey barrel or large pot or who has an unused corner in their garden you could put in a small herb patch. Even in the heat of summer they only need water once a week. Some senior center work with Master Gardeners or garden clubs who will help put in a raised bed and contribute herb starts from their gardens. Even if the seniors aren't cooking with them they like being able to take a pinch and smell them.

Jump to this post

@gardenjunkie that might work I know a guy who does hydroponic garden not sure thats the correct word but I,ll talk to him and see if its possible . When married I grew and canned everything but I still can vegetable soup and beets love the freshness.

REPLY
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