11. When is the best time to drink a fresh juice or smoothie?
Actually anytime is great, but research indicates that the body absorbs more nutrients in the morning.
12. What does organic really mean?
This and #13 have been reviewed by our organic experts.
Organic is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as any meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Plant foods with the organic label are produced without using pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage, bioengineering or ionizing radiation. Organic also means that the food is generally GMO free, but there is no longer a 100% guarantee that anything is GMO-free. The term organic is strictly controlled, but the term ‘natural’ is not.
A government-approved certifier inspects a farm to ensure organic standards. There are 4 kinds of organic labels:
- ‘100-Percent Organic’ means that the product is made of only organic ingredients.
- ‘Organic’ means 95% of its ingredients are organic.
- ‘Made with Organic Ingredients’ means at least 70% of the ingredients are organic.
- There are some foods labeled “transitional,” which means the farmer produced it during a 3-year period of transition from conventional to organic. Organic foods grown and handled in accordance with federal standards are not required to display any USDA seal on their packing.
13. When should I use organic fruits and vegetables?
Not all the fruits and vegetables need to be organic. The rule of thumb is that if you discard the skin such as with avocados, bananas, oranges and pineapples, organic is not necessary. If you juice the peel and skin use organic. Refer to a very useful list known as the ‘Dirty Dozen’ of the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. The ‘Clean 15’ are the least contaminated. These lists are updated yearly by the non-profit Environmental Working Group. Despite these lists I try to go organic as much as possible, because pesticides and other chemicals are found in trace amounts even when you remove the skin, and washing your produce is great for removing bacteria but does not remove chemicals.
14. But I can't afford organic produce!
The demand for organic foods across the US and Europe is rapidly growing and causing prices to decrease. Did you know that most local supermarket now have their own organic brands at affordable prices? I’ve even seen sales where organic was cheaper than the non-organic variety! So check prices. And also my 10 tips for making juice and smoothies on a budget.
15. Do I need to wash pre-washed produce?
Yes! Washing or even just rinsing all your produce is a good idea, because tests show that even ‘pre-washed’ greens have harmful bacteria. Washing or rinsing is very effective against bacteria, but of no use against pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. This is why organic is important even if you wash produce thoroughly.
By the way, studies show that the produce most likely to sicken you is packaged salad greens. If your diet is solely raw food, parasites may be a concern. If so, read about solutions here.
16. Why are 'greens' so special?
Green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens, lettuce, spinach and beet greens are so packed with nutrients that they are referred to as ‘superfoods.’ But they are bitter tasting so few people drink just leafy green juice. I add a leaf or two to all my recipes – just enough to benefit from the nutrients without the bitter taste. Many consider the most nutritious green of all to be wheatgrass. And you can easily and cheaply grow it right in your own home with my easy instructions.
17. Can I juice or blend the skin or rind?
Yes! With a minor caution. The skin, rind or peel of most fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients, especially carrot, apple and tomato. I don’t mean dry or rough stuff found on pineapple, banana, avocado or pomegranate – compost that. But even citrus peel is healthy to eat though very bitter. My mother makes a Christmas candy out of every kind of citrus peel. That being said, orange and grapefruit have small amounts of toxic substances that are actually used as insecticides – ingesting a small amount is absolutely safe for you and your pets, but several orange peels will definitely upset your stomach.
18. Are all greens safe?
No! The greens of carrots, parsnips, Queen Anne's Lace (wild carrot) and rhubarb are common greens that will seriously upset your stomach. In fact about 20% of all plants will sicken you, so don’t just go out into your yard and pick some greens. On the other hand, don’t let this frighten you since many greens are edible and incredibly nutritious, all the more so if you can pick them in the wild. See my article about greens in your own back yard! There are some who express concern about compounds in certain sprouts, though this is similar to the apple seed issue: not enough to be any real concern - for more about this issue click here.
19. Is there anything I should not juice?
Aside from certain leaves, rinds and seeds mentioned above (questions 10, 17, and 18), no! However, avocado and banana can clog most juice machines. When I want to add these to my juice I simply cut them up, liquefy them in a blender and then add this to my already juiced fruits and veggies. This is not an issue with a smoothie machine.
20. Can I drink a fresh juice or smoothie if I am diabetic?
Yes! But be sure to talk to your physician. The old rule of thumb was that anyone who is diabetic should not eat anything sweet including fruit and sweet veggies. Recent research has totally overturned this with the discovery that many fruits and veggies have compounds that actually help regulate sugar levels better than cooked food. This is exciting news for diabetics so talk to your physician. And note that we are talking about fresh fruits and veggies, not anything canned or bottled - diabetics should still stay away from these due to added sweeteners. See my booklet about the latest diabetic research and the best juice and smoothie recipes.
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