Tool spotlight: Juicer

Waking up in the morning to a fresh cup of juice really starts the day off right, but store-bought versions are loaded with extra sugar and preservatives to keep them tasting the same day after day, week after week. You don’t have to live on a farm to have a pitcher of fresh-squeezed juice to share with the family each morning.

Juicing has become increasingly popular as people focus on better health and fresh juice offers many health benefits. Fresh juices deliver nutrients to your body without your body having to work to break down the food. This provides a straight source of nutrients and enzymes, while giving your digestive system a break. Having fresh juice is no longer a luxury. You can have the power to make each day a little bit better right on your counter top with a juicer.

Juicers can vary greatly in price and quality. You’ll find both the bare minimum and the state-of-the-art, Hollywood-worth maximum. If you don’t plan on making anything other than citrus juice – and don’t mind taking the time and elbow grease it takes to make a pitcher – you can get by with a hand-held citrus juicer or a motorized citrus juicer for less than $40. But if you want to venture beyond the basics, the options are far reaching. Centrifugal juicers are the most common type of juicer on the market today, costing around $300. They use extremely fast blades that lay above a mesh filter, which separates the juice from the pulp. The juice falls into one container while the pulp goesinto a separate container. Cold-press juicers are newer and extract juice by crushing and then pressing the fruit or vegetables to get the highest volume of the purest juice. Because these juicers don’t produce any heat, they don’t damage any of the nutrients, unlike centrifugal juicers that lose some of the enzymes during the process. The downside is on the price tag. These high-tech juicers can cost upwards of $400. Not exactly pocket change.

If you’re ready to invest in a juicer, carefully go over your options, compare brands and read reviews. Depending on how frequently you’ll be using it and what type of juices you’ll be making, you may want to purchase a different juicer. Although it’s a great addition to your diet, before you commit to buying a juicer, know that juicing can be an expensive habit. All those fresh fruits and veggies can add up, but the taste and health benefits are worth it.

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