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Juicers

jasride

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2006
1,069
5
PA
Anybody do it?

Is it worth it?

What's the difference between a 30 dollar and a 220 dollar juicer?

What kind of a routine and how often are you making and drinking
anything to have any positive healthy feedback to you and your body?

How many different combinations of fruits and or veggies does
someone who commonly juices use? 1 or 2 or more like 6 to 10?

How common is common?

Could I get away with mixing and drinking one glass a day consistently
and feel good about it?

Is this something you do for a month and then put away never to be seen
again?


i feel I'm a pretty healthy human but recent irregular digestive movements
and just wanting to explore and see if I can improve my overall health has
me pondering the life of a juicer.


I searched for the word "juicer" and didn't come up with anything so thought I'd ask away. Thanks.


Kip
 
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pnj

Turbo Monkey till the fat lady sings
Aug 14, 2002
4,696
40
seattle
Welcome to the hundred dollar club. Once you start, you'll have to buy organic and you'll find yourself spending $100.00 a week for your juice habit. :)


We own 2-3 juicers and a vita mix. For me, the vita mix is superior.

There are two main types of juicers.

centrifugal and masticating.

The more expensive juicers USUALLY get more juice out of the food items.

Cleaning them after each use eventually gets old, quickly.

That is one of the reasons I like the vita mix over juicers. One item, blend your food, drink. Clean one item.

Also, I like the idea that I'm getting the entire veggie/fruit (fiber, etc) and not just the juice. (which means you throw away a bunch of stuff if you're juicing)


When I'm not broke, and it's not cold outside, I like to have a morning blended drink.

frozen blueberry's, mango, pineapple, etc and a huge handful of spinach. Maybe some protein powder.

IMO, from a good number of years doing it, juicing is a pain in the bum.
 

bean

Turbo Monkey
Feb 16, 2004
1,335
0
Boulder
Also, I like the idea that I'm getting the entire veggie/fruit (fiber, etc) and not just the juice. (which means you throw away a bunch of stuff if you're juicing)
My wife and I have a friend who is a nutritionist, and she doesn't like juicing because of this. She said if it's the only way you're going to get any vegetables to go with it, but otherwise you're better off eating them.
 

BUFFALO

Vigorous Giver of Reputation
Feb 11, 2005
150
0
Renton, wa
We did a juice fast for 3 or 4 days. Only juice. The first day was pretty rough. Feeling tired and hungry. But at the end I actually felt much better than I did before. If it wasn't such a pain to clean the juicer 4 or 5 times a day, I would continue to do it. Buy a cheap juicer or borrow one, that's what I did to have one at work and at home. If you like it, I would say spend the money on the Vita Mix so you don't spend so much time cleaning a juicer. I did read around and found that the more expensive juicers are worth it. Better results, less parts and easier to clean.

I think if you supplemented at least one meal a day with juice, you would feel much better and see the difference over time in your health and the way you feel.

We were using maybe 5 or 6 different ingredients per drink. The best stuff (for you) is the green veggies. They don't taste the best though. Just put a bunch or random stuff in until you find something that tastes good. It is possible! A bit of fruit goes along way to make it test better but if you are really juicing, they say keep the fruit to a minimum.
 

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,520
7,069
Colorado
This is not what I thought this thread was going to be about...
 

jasride

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2006
1,069
5
PA
and I thought the coffee maker thread was ghey.
oh man, we're just gettin started.


pnj, all great info, thanks for that. Good perspective on the life of a juicer. But I'm cautious on what bean has to say about not getting the "fiber" out of it being an issue. For that reason only I'm not sure I'd want to invest what it takes to juice. But I may pick up a cheapo and see how it goes. Also want to learn about the vita mix.
 

pnj

Turbo Monkey till the fat lady sings
Aug 14, 2002
4,696
40
seattle
You may find a used one on craigs/goodwill.

One of our juicers is a Champion. My girlfriend has had it for over 15 years. It was 300 bucks or so and like all good tools, still works like new, despite being used a lot.

The vita mix (or similar blender) is expensive but well worth it.

I research the fvck out of everything I buy so feel free to ask all the questions you have. I probably have an answer. :)
 

jasride

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2006
1,069
5
PA
I saw one of those guys while I was in OC last weekend. Round belly, extra chin, and massive, yet bulbous pecs and arms...
yep, usually that's the case. those dudes are usually big and strong as an ox. the feller in Crabs pic is an anomaly and appears to have the forearms and hands of a 12 year old compared to the rest of'um.
 

SkaredShtles

Michael Bolton
Sep 21, 2003
65,379
12,533
In a van.... down by the river
<snip> if it's the only way you're going to get any vegetables to go with it, but otherwise you're better off eating them.
This. Think of it this way - unprocessed food is generally better than processed food. And "juicing" stuff is processing...

So yeah, if you otherwise aren't going to eat fruit/veg, juicing may be right for you. But just eating the stuff straight is still better.
 

Polandspring88

Superman
Mar 31, 2004
3,066
7
Broomfield, CO
I think if you supplemented at least one meal a day with juice, you would feel much better and see the difference over time in your health and the way you feel.
I did that exact thing a year or so ago and it f'cking sucked. After 5 days I was hungry, miserable, and feeling like sh!t. YMMV, but I could never in good conscience recommend that approach to anyone.
 

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
So yeah, if you otherwise aren't going to eat fruit/veg, juicing may be right for you. But just eating the stuff straight is still better.
Actually its not that simple. I do consulting work for an Asian manufacturer that makes house brand and major brand small appliances.

The fiber in fruits and vegetables has no nutritional value - your stomach cannot break it down. If you were a cow it would matter but for people no so much. The fiber still has health benefits from the mechanical benefits of it moving through your system, so it is good to get fiber from time to time.

Its best to juice vegetables and eat whole or blend fruit as fruit has significantly higher levels of sugars. Eating fruit whole with the fiber helps buffering its absorption (especially if you eat it whole more slowly vs in a blended smoothie). Also the type of juicer makes a difference in the fiber content of the juice - high-speed (10K RPM) centrifugal typically have less than the low speed (80 RPM) - the vertical auger units especially have high fiber (so much so many people pour the resulting juice through a strainer if they prefer less pulp).

Its hard to get your recommended servings of fruits and vegetables in the typical modern diet which is why juicing and blending do make sense for most people. Realistically most people are not going to meet the daily recommendations by eating the produce whole.

As mentioned above a high-speed blender is much easier to use than juicer.

Top three brands are - Vitamix, Ktec (Blendtec), and Waring. Waring's commercial MX series is the best value - I would recommend the MX1200XTX. It works with Vitamix and Waring carafes and can be easily modified to work with the better plunger-free Vitamix commercial carafe.

I had a Vitamix TNC for about ten years but gave it away a long time ago. Currently own a MX1000XTX (great if you only make smoothies) and Ktec designer series. I use them every day.

I also own two juicers (one high-speed and one low-speed unit), I only use them once every couple of months now.
 
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syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
It is pretty simple to mod a MX blender, easier than making adjustments to fit an e13 chainguide system:

Remove pad and trim to fit with dremel cut off disc:



Result - top of the line Vitamix Advance Container also works in addition to regular Waring and Vitamix carafes:


The best container on the market is the Ktec Wildside - Vitamix proved this. Vitamix ripped off Ktec with the XP (the last commercial container design prior to the Advance) and lost big in court for copying them:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/01/vitamix_ordered_to_pay_23_mill.html

"the substantial similarity between the Vita-Mix products and the K-Tec design demonstrates an 'objectively high likelihood' of willful infringement."

"Nothing in the record shows that Vita-Mix took any steps to avoid infringement," she added.
 
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syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
Only you and JBP would be kidding yourselves to think the average person has time to get the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables in your daily diet even if you eat an atypically healthy diet. Most Americans, even those who exercise, do not eat enough produce which is very important for your health - especially your heart.

Cardiovascular related diseases are the leading cause of death according to the CDC - we are talking over a million a year from related conditions like heart conditions, diabetes, etc... Not only that but think of the healthcare costs. You'd have to be stupid to think its not important to eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables any way you can - juicers and blenders make that much easier for the average person.

Harvard said:
What does &#8220;plenty&#8221; mean? More than most Americans consume. If you don&#8217;t count potatoes&#8212;which should be considered a starch rather than a vegetable&#8212;the average American gets a total of just three servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The latest dietary guidelines call for five to thirteen servings of fruits and vegetables a day (2½ to 6½ cups per day), depending on one&#8217;s caloric intake. (1) For a person who needs 2,000 calories a day to maintain weight and health, this translates into nine servings, or 4½ cups per day (2 cups of fruit and 2½ cups of vegetables).

For most fresh or cooked vegetables and fruits, 1 cup is just what you would put in a household measuring cup. There are two main exceptions to that rule: For lettuce and other raw leafy greens, you need to eat 2 cups to get the equivalent of 1 cup of vegetables. For dried fruit, you only need to eat ½ cup to get the equivalent of 1 cup of fruit.

...

Over the past 30 years or so, researchers have developed a solid base of science to back up what generations of mothers preached (but didn&#8217;t always practice themselves). Early on, fruits and vegetables were acclaimed as cancer-fighting foods. In fact, the ubiquitous 5 A Day message (now quietly changing to Fruits and Veggies: More Matters) seen in produce aisles, magazine ads, and schools was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute. The latest research, though, suggests that the biggest payoff from eating fruits and vegetables is for the heart.
The juice you buy in the store is not the same either - pasteurization is required by law. Heat pasteurization breaks down the nutrients in the juice - you won't be getting the same level of nutrients and enzymes as fresh juice. In recent years there are a select few companies using ultra high pressure instead of heat for a better nutrient profile but this is the exception and still not equal to fresh juice.

Enriched foods and supplements/multi-vitamins are a poor substitute for the real food - many of the nutrients aren't as bio available so you will be wasting most of your money literally down the toilet.
 
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$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
anybody who's watched 1/2 a season of no reservations has had this pounded in.

as for us, we have an omega 8006, and it's very easy to clean (5 or so parts; all dw-safe). once/wk we make a gallon from the following properly cleaned ingredients:
- bunch of kale
- dozen carrots
- 2 cukes
- stalk of celery
- lb of strawberries
- a few oranges
- a few lemons
- a few pears
- dozen red apples
- 6 green apples
- pineapple

that's not a hard & fast recipe, but it roughly follows that. only drawback is it takes 1/2 hr from prep to clean, but it's a small price to pay to insure i get my nutrition i would otherwise neglect. i never fast, but will drink a quart in lieu of a meal a few times/wk. poop is normal, and i'm no more gassy than usual. we compost the flotsam.
 

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
You have to keep in mind it's more ideal to make only enough juice you can consume fresh or ideally in a day refrigerated. The nutrients start rapidly oxidizing as soon as they're juiced. If you have any contamination time allows it to multiply which is why all juice on the shelf is pasteurized. The low speed masticating juicers like the 8000 series don't mechanical separate or beat in air as much so most manufacturers tout you can keep the juice refrigerated up to three days - aim for one

The parts won't hold up as long in the dishwasher especially those that have different materials bonded together as they expand and contract. Keep all plastic and delicate items on the top shelf if you are dishwashing.

In the industry they will favor advertising dishwasher safe as a marketing point as most small appliances aren't used frequently and its easier to sell something that seems easier to clean.
 
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dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
We have a vitamix pro 300.
Wifey makes some neon green kale/spinach + fruit smoothies every morning.
Looks foul, taste awesome (our kids love the ****).
 

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
You have to keep in mind it's more ideal to make only enough juice you can consume fresh or ideally in a day refrigerated. The nutrients start rapidly oxidizing as soon as they're juiced. If you have any contamination time allows it to multiply which is why all juice on the shelf is pasteurized. The low speed masticating juicers like the 8000 series don't mechanical separate or beat in air as much so most manufacturers tout you can keep the juice refrigerated up to three days - aim for one
good point; following up here
http://www.discountjuicers.com/juicequality.html
In the industry they will favor advertising dishwasher safe as a marketing point as most small appliances aren't used frequently and its easier to sell something that seems easier to clean.
qft
We have a vitamix pro 300.
Wifey makes some neon green kale/spinach + fruit smoothies every morning.
Looks foul, taste awesome (our kids love the ****).
well, give them 2 glasses, then you can say "our kids love the ****s"
 

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
JK of discount juicers prolific on youtube and has three helpful channels but keep in mind he is a salesman and often uses editing tactics and focuses on unimportant topics or uses pseudo science in the hope of selling his products and viewpoints. He'll act like he isn't buying the marketing in an article like that but then he will still mention it in a product comparison as if it's valid criteria or focus on insignificant differences or problems shared across brands to sell. Again still lots of good information but he is selling and is paid by certain brands...
 

mandown

Poopdeck Repost
Jun 1, 2004
20,133
7,680
Transylvania 90210
juiced for a bit. it wasn't worth the cleanup. in the summer, the wate attracted flies like mad, so it was an outdoor garbage drop every single use. it can be tasty.

i've got a friend swearing by the juice lifestyle. she's lost a ton of weight on it (around 70lbs, if memory serves). two jucie meals and one solid for lunch.
 

ebarker9

Monkey
Oct 2, 2007
848
242
Top three brands are - Vitamix, Ktec (Blendtec), and Waring. Waring's commercial MX series is the best value - I would recommend the MX1200XTX. It works with Vitamix and Waring carafes and can be easily modified to work with the better plunger-free Vitamix commercial carafe.
I'm actually considering the MX1200XTX. What's better about the Vitamix commercial carafe? I'd probably use it about 50/50 smoothies and sauces, although I'm sure I'd find other cooking uses as well. Also, how ridiculously loud are these things? I've never owned a crazy blender before...even the pitiful $40 thing that I have now is probably enough to wake up the neighbors.
 

mandown

Poopdeck Repost
Jun 1, 2004
20,133
7,680
Transylvania 90210
I call mine The Neighbor-hater 2000. The sound output can be high, and if you live in an apartment, the vibrations through the wall can be awesome.
 

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
I call mine The Neighbor-hater 2000. The sound output can be high, and if you live in an apartment, the vibrations through the wall can be awesome.
I'm also quite sure it causes hearing damage given the noise level but your ears are probably already broken.

The Waring MX series is a commercial product with no focus on consumers so you have access to all the real tools like sound enclosures - only the high-end commercial products from Ktec and Vitamix have that option unless you go third party and well designed ventilation in an enclosure is important for these big motors. The Waring enclosure goes for about $150 - SE1000

The Vitamix Advanced is a legal knock-off of the Ktec Wildside container (the Vitamix is not quite as good but still great). These are the best containers for making smoothies as you don't need some silly tamper and if you are getting cavitation you just add a bit of water/liquid once you break the air pocket when you turn it off.

For general cooking or making nut butters or other recipes where you don't want to add too much (or any) liquid, having a tamper is handy - buy regular vitamix container with wet blade and lid for about $100 plus the tamper for $10. The regular Vitamix containers work on the Waring without modification.

Here is a $100 budget model which still has decent performance (just takes longer and can't do some tasks quite as well) if you don't want to go overboard and you have less demanding needs like just making smoothies and shakes:

http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KSB560MC-5-Speed-Polycarbonate-Metallic/dp/B000CSRKI0/
 
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syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
Huh huh. You said nut butter.
On Vitamix units push and pull the tamper in and out and pivot its axis all around the sides to make a smooth and consistent nut butter. On Ktecs you'll need the twister jar - grab the lid shaft and rotate it counterclockwise like so:


Oh and they also make third party wooden tampers for non-vitamix blenders but you are more like to shred your stick during operation. Its not plug the hole and play like the Vitamix:

http://3blenders.com/PURCHASE.html

FYI the JTC omniblender on 3blenders.com is actually mid-grade 950 watt (that is about 1.25 HP, NOT 3HP) - its not in the same league as the Ktec, Vitamix, and Waring.

http://www.incrediblesmoothies.com/blender-guide/jtc-omni-v-3-horsepower-blender-review/
 
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$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
i think i found that sweet spot b/t amount, quality, time of day for consumption, energy level, and softness of stool

but i feel guilty skimming off the froth...
 
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