I was super excited to receive my new cold-press juicer in the mail a few weeks ago. Sick and tired of all the sugary juices on the store shelves, with their ingredients of dubious origins, I was ready to make my own. And what fun it has been, especially from an experimental perspective because I really didn’t know what and how I should be juicing the different fruits and vegetables. I just popped whatever I thought would taste good together into the chute and tasted the results.
The truth is, juicing isn’t necessarily healthier for you than eating the fruits and vegetables whole. In fact, you miss out on a lot of the fiber when you juice them. I found that using the strainer that allows for more pulp didn’t result in an unpalatable juice at all. I’ve always liked pulp in juice so this is a great way to keep some of that fiber in there. You can always add some filtered water to thin it out.
The key to preserving the nutrients in the juice is the type of machine you use. Slow, masticating juicers keep an overall lower temperature than regular juicers so you don’t risk depleting the nutrients of the produce with heat. You also enjoy less foam and noise. They are, of course, much more expensive, but if you’re going to be juicing a lot then it’s worth the investment. I picked mine up for less than $400.
So what can you juice? Anything, as I learned on a weekend where we tried a juice fast. My husband loved it but I got too hungry by the end of the day. I find juice fasts to be fads that really aren’t necessary to enjoy the benefits of juicing so I’m not recommending those here. But we certainly enjoyed testing out the different fruits and vegetables. It’s going to take some practice to figure out which vegetables and herbs need to be used more sparingly so that the flavors don’t become overpowering. Ginger, for example, is wonderful in juice but too much can ruin a batch. Beets are also delicious but can overpower other flavors. Juicing leafy greens is very healthful but these really do need some fruit to even out the taste. Apples and cucumbers are wonderful, affordable additions to any juice.
Careful with the ginger!
Juicing can get expensive but I think it’s a nice way to include more fruits and vegetables in your diet. For a list of beneficial produce for those with MTHFR, see my linked post on the subject.
Do you juice? What’s your favorite concoction?
Kurt
Last year, I found out I am homozygous for the C677T MTHFR mutation, but my folate level was fine, as was my homocysteine. I suspect it could have to do with the fact that I juice vegetables like spinach and broccoli every day and so get a lot of folate in my diet.
One way I keep the cost down is by juicing a lot of veggies scraps — broccoli stems, cauliflower leaves, asparagus ends — things I would have composted in the past. If you eat a lot of veggies, you’ll have a lot of scraps for juicing. I also toss in a slice of lime. It goes a long way toward making it more palatable.
cindy
Is it okay to juice if you are high in oxalates and also have MTHFR???
Andrea Post author
If you are sensitive to oxalates you likely still need to refrain from overdoing it on high oxalate fruits and veggies…
Kristyn Holding
I also use a juicer to add more nutrients into my diet. My juice is also very similar to Michelle’s.
1 apple
1 carrot
1 beet (or 2-3 baby beets-so much sweeter and not as earthy tasting)
slice of ginger
This is one I take in the morning. When I bought my juicer I was at a trade show and the guy doing the demo also had us trying a few of the juices he made.
1 x pear
about 1/4 of a lemon with rind
slice of ginger
This one was AWESOME! I also like this one because it seems like pears have a 15 second window where they are actually perfectly ripe and then BOOM-they’re all too soft after that allotted 15 seconds, so juicing is a great way to use them up and not waste them. I’m going to try making little gelatine snacks with fresh juice as well. I also find adding strawberries and kiwi to kale and/or spinach juice really makes it taste fantastic. I’m always looking for new recipes. BTW I love your blog. Not many people in the country I live in have heard of this and it is VERY difficult to find a doctor who has. I have the same mutation as you. It is nice to actually feel like there is some support out there, even if it is thousands of miles away!
Andrea Post author
Thanks so much for sharing this, Kristyn – glad you’ve found the blog helpful!
Michelle McCarty
I have been juicing for at least 6 months. I was recently diagnosed with MTHFR and have the same mutation as you have. I cannot do kale or spinach, does not agree with me at all. Cooked is good, raw no good!
My favorite recipe is as follows:
1 Lemon with rind.
1 Beet.
3 sticks of celery.
3 carrots.
1 inch ginger.
1 red apple.
I try to have this every morning. I also juice 1 lemon with rind and add water and drink.
Thank you for all your info.
Andrea Post author
This sounds yummy! I’m going to have to try it – thanks so much for sharing, Michelle =)