Juicing

Juicing is the process of extracting juice from plant tissues such as fruit or vegetables.

Overview

There are many methods of juicing, from squeezing fruit by hand to widescale extraction with industrial equipment. Fruit juicing is generally the preferred method by individuals and is often completed with a household appliance called a juicer, which may be as simple as a cone upon which fruit is mashed or as sophisticated as a variable-speed, motor-driven device. It may also refer to the act of extracting and then drinking juice or those who extract the juice.

Commercial juicing focuses mostly on fruit juices, judging by the ratio of fruit to vegetable juices available in grocery markets. Residential juicing is often practiced for dietary reasons or as a form of alternative medicine. Interest has soared in the last decade due to a number of books, videos, and claims and quick dissemination due to the internet. Films such as Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead have increased the sales of juicers.^[1]

While juicers availability in discount stores has made them more common, it is not a staple kitchen appliance due to its expense, single-use nature, and relatively small presence in stores.

Juicing tools have been used throughout history. Manual devices include barrel-shaped presses, hand-operated grinders, and inverted cones upon which fruit is mashed and twisted.

Modern juicers are powered by electric motors generating from 200 to 1000 or more watts. There are several types of electric juicers: masticating, centrifugal, and triturating juicers. These variations are defined by the means of extracting the juice.

• Masticating - utilizes a single gear driven by a motor; slower operation; kneads and grinds items placed in a chute
• Centrifugal - utilizes a spinning blade that resembles a grated basket; faster operation; quickly grinds items and discards pulp in a receptacle
• Triturating - utilizes twin gears; slower operation; often has multiple uses

Reception

Juicing has become popular in niche markets, particularly those interested in alternative medicine, fad diets, or gourmet foods, due to word-of-mouth, mainstream celebrity marketing, a heavy internet presence, and a documentary film entitled Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.^[1] Juicing proponents say that juicing can maximize nutrient intake, fight disease, strengthen cellular defense against free radicals, alleviate pain, encourage weight-loss, and decrease the need for medication.^{[citation needed]}

According to the American Cancer Society, "there is no convincing scientific evidence that extracted juices are healthier than whole foods".^[2]

Juicing may not be the best way to extract all of the nutritional value from fruits and vegetables. According to Uckoo, et al. (2012), when juiced grapefruit was compared with blended, blending was superior.^[3]

See also

• Juicer
• Juice bar
• Juice fasting
• Norman Walker
• Max Gerson
• Jay Kordich
• Jack LaLanne
• Health food
• Healthy diet
• List of ineffective cancer treatments

References