Juicers for fasting and cleansing
Most fasts include juices at some stage. And certainly while you are fasting you want to get the best juice possible, which generally comes from fresh organic wholefood fruits and vegetables. Most juicers do much more than just juicing. The often have attachements for grinding grains and seeds for example.
There are a whole range of juicers out there and it can get very confusing to choose the right juicer for your purposes.
Basically there are 2 major types of juicers. Centrifugal and non-centrifugal.
What is a Non-Centrifugal Juicer?
Masticating Juicers
Masticating Juicers run at a slower rate than most centrifugal juicers. Masticating juicers break down more fibre more thoroughly than centrifugal juicers to release more nutrients.
Cold-Press Juicers
Cold-press juicers use a slow turning auger to crush or squeeze the fruit or vegetables. The pulp is then pushed through a sieve and the juice is filtered into a bowl.The gentle, slow-turning action of a cold-press juicer produces a greater quantity of juice, which retains more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fibre.
Twin-Gear Juicers
Twin-Gear juicers have two gears/screws the rotate inwards towards each other, crushing and grinding fruit and vegetables to extract the juice. These juicers work extemely well and can extract 30% more juice from produce than other juicers.
Non-centrifugal juicers often have a smaller feeding chute than centrifugal juicers meaning you may have to cut that apple once or twice before feeding into the juicer. However, there are several advantages in buying a non-centrifugal juicer:
The juice will last longer and contain more nutrients than juice from a centrifugal juicer
They have fewr parts and are easier to clean
They are much quieter than centrifugal juicers
Most can juice wheatgrass and herbs
Some double as a food processor and you can make pasta, nut butter, sausages and even ice cream!
Often their warranties are longer than centrifugal juicers
What is a Centrifugal Juicer?
Centrifugal juicers are the most common juicers. They are usually cheaper than their non-centrifugal counterparts and are available in most department stores.
Centrifugal juicers use a rotating blade to cut fruit and vegatables which are then pushed against a strainer at very high speeds to extract the juice.
The high speed of centrifugal juicers heat up the juice, allow air to enter and damage some of the perishable nutrients.
What is the best Juicer?
Both will extract juice from most fruit and vegetable and the health benefits of juicing are obvious. So don't worry too much about the 'right' juicer. In the end the juicer that you have in the cupboard and actually use is the best one.