Fresh Cold Pressed Juice

HOW IS COLD-PRESSED JUICE MADE?

How is that different from freshly-squeezed? Cold-pressed juice is made very different. Their methods of extraction are what make them distinct from each other. Cold-pressed juice is made with a special juicer that uses a hydraulic press and slow pulverizer to juice the fruits and veggies. This kind of juicer isn’t the one you’d find at your local bodega or in your kitchen. That juicer, the kind you’re more familiar with, is called a centrifugal juicer.

Freshly squeezed juice is made with a centrifugal juicer that uses an ultra-fast-spinning blade to extract the juice from fruits and veggies. Because the metal blades of the centrifugal juicer spin so quickly, they generate heat. This heat ends up breaking down the important enzymes in the fruits and vegetables. The rapid spinning also lets air into the mix, oxidizing the juice, which only further breaks down its nutrients. This results in a freshly squeezed, pulpy juice that is refreshing and tasty, but not nearly as nutritionally potent as cold-pressed juice.

Cold-pressed juice protects and preserves the nutrients of fruits and vegetables. Since the cold press juicer presses the produce to extract the juice, no heat is involved. That means you still get all the healthy benefits of fruits and veggies. You get 100% of the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and nutrients when you drink cold-pressed juice. At Pure Green, we are total cold-pressed juice groupies. Our juice actually contains three to five pounds of non-GMO fruits and veggies in every bottle!

WHY SHOULD YOU DRINK COLD-PRESSED JUICE?

The benefits of cold-pressed juice are boundless. Whether you are a hardcore fitness junkie, diehard vegan, proud carnivore, or chill couch potato, you can use cold-pressed juice to improve your overall health. Who’d say no to promoting full-body health, right? Drinking cold-pressed juices assists your body in detoxification. 

Every day your body is put through the wringer. You subject it to environmental toxins like smog and second-hand smoke and even welcome toxins like junk food and alcohol. Your body’s organs are exhaustedfrom trying to keep up and stay on top of the detoxification process. The three main organs that are responsible for detoxing are the liver, kidneys, and skin. When these organs work in overdrive, like the morning after a late-night throwing back beers with friends, they become stressed and overwhelmed. 

Benefits of Cold Pressed Juice

Cold-pressed juice can help ease the strain of detoxification on your body. They’re chock full of nutrients that are geared towards fighting toxins and boosting immunity and health. Cold-pressed juice is so potent and instantaneous because it lacks the fibrous pulp of whole fruits and vegetables. Since the body doesn’t have to break the fiber down in the digestive system before being used, cold-pressed juice is like a lightning bolt to the system. The nutrients immediately enter the body and start getting to work. That’s why when you take a sip of cold-pressed juice, you immediately feel a kick of energy.

Juicing allows you to cleanse your body from the inside! Juicing also removes the soluble fiber for increased absorption of specific phytonutrients and enzymes that are typically inaccessible – not to get too technical - in the fiber matrix. This allows for optimal nutrient delivery, whereas consuming whole fruits and vegetables can prevent nutrient absorption for some people. 

Allows for individuals to meet their daily recommended intake in a single, small, bottle. Think of it as all your essential nutrients in a few gulps. What can be more convenient?

WEIGHT LOSS

Losing weight is certainly a boon that can come with juicing, even if it is a natural side-effect. It is a win-win situation when you reduce your calory intake without depriving yourself of essential nutrients. (Just keep an eye on your sugary fruit juice intake)

BOOST YOUR OVERALL MOOD

Of course, mental and mood disorders are complex, but raw fruits and vegetable extracts can help moderate symptoms of mental distress and depression. From a psychological standpoint, even taking the first step to a healthy lifestyle can get you out of the slump of mental agitation. Healthy habits aside, simply introducing more raw, organic foods to your diet through cold-pressed juice may safeguard you against the onset of circumstantial depression and stress. 

DELAY ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

On the topic of mental health, juicing vegetables and fruits can help delay the onset of this dreaded disease! Polyphenols in raw vegetables are much hardier against oxidative damage that’s involved with the development of Alzheimer’s. 

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

If it is not clear yet, juicing may be good for your heart too! Taking a break from solid foods gives your ticker a much-needed break. There is a significant reduction in triacylglycerols and insulin levels and an increase in LDL (good cholesterol) when you substitute a hearty meal with a cold one (juice, in this case).

COMBAT TYPE 2 DIABETES

Simple carbs are the death-knell for diabetics. Replacing refined grains and starch with cold-pressed juice can have substantial benefits in lowering your risks for type 2 diabetes and stabilize your insulin levels. Juicing leafy greens, in particular, may help because they have a low glycaemic load, low energy density, and high micro-nutrient and fiber.

Typical Fresh Pressed Juice Ingredients and their benefits

• Kale– It packs a punch when it comes to all the good stuff, and the flavor is mild enough to be masked by fruit for extra taste. This versatile leafy green pairs well with almost anything, and is a great source of vitamins A, C, and K. Raw kale is especially high in antioxidants to combat the dreaded signs of aging and neutralizes pesky free radicals. Kale has also been linked to lowering LDL cholesterol (that is the bad one).

• Beets– They add vibrant color to your juice, and a subtle, earthy flavor. From a nutritional standpoint, they are a potent source of manganese, potassium, folate, and nitrates. This rich plant compound has been proved to improve blood pressure and enhance mental performance. Their leafy beet greens are also packed with nutrients, and can be juiced as well – nothing goes to waste with this super-veg. 

• Cucumber– Low in calories because of their high water content, cucumbers make for a great base juice. It helps you stay hydrated, which is of course the key to healthy kidneys and weight management. They are also high in potassium, manganese, and vitamin K, and can help reduce skin inflammation. Grab a bottle, and be cool as a cucumber after a day of sunbathing. 

• Celery– Despite its high water content (making it low in calories), celery has a rather tangy taste. Many people, therefore, choose to combine celery with lemon, apple, ginger, or leafy greens. It contains decent amounts of vitamins A and C and powerful antioxidants like caffeic and ferulic acid. Like so many of the veggies on our list, it is also beneficial to lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health overall. 

• Wheatgrass– The discovery of this edible grass caused waves in the juicing world, thanks to its incredible nutrient density. It offers a significant amount of iron, magnesium, copper, and a whopping 17 amino acids. What’s more, it also contains chlorophyll that is high in anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It can be enjoyed on its own as a shot, or added to the juice for a powerful boost. 

• Parsley– It is often overlooked as merely a spice or to garnish your food, but this little herb is also a great addition to cold-pressed juice. It is high in vitamins A, K, and C that contribute to its numerous health benefits. For one, it is linked to lower blood sugar levels, while being a powerful antioxidant. Parsley is also known to improve liver function.

• Broccoli– this cruciferous veggie boasts impressive health benefits, as our parents knew when they forced us to eat it. Particularly, it is a great source of micronutrients and vitamins A, C, and B6. Kaempferol is also a powerful ingredient that has been proved to combat free radicals and decrease overall inflammation. A serving of broccoli a day can even slow down age-related mental decline.

• Ginger– Ginger has been known for centuries as one of the most powerful spices in the world and is highly acclaimed for its medicinal properties. While ginger contains micro traces of vitamins and minerals, it contains oils that will kickstart your digestion and get the juices in your taste buds flowing. Ginger is also a common active ingredient in natural cold and flu medicine thanks to its amazing antibacterial properties. The benefits of ginger cold-pressed juice are almost endless, and the list is far too extensive to cover in a single point. Ginger has a very distinct and overpowering taste, so many prefer a splash of ginger combined with carrot and orange juice to bolster the immune system. 

• Cabbage– Another cruciferous vegetable on the list, and it may not seem like an obvious choice for juicing. However, it is packed with vitamins like C and K and contains traces of manganese, folate, and vitamin B6. Veggies from the cruciferous family, like broccoli (in this list) and Brussels sprouts helps fight against heart disease and inflammation. 

• Carrots– Even the hue of carrot juice is energizing, and provides a colorful and nutritious start to your day. One shot offers valuable nutrition, combined with an earthy yet sweet taste. Orange carrots as we know them today remain the most popular choice for cold-pressed juice. It is rich in beta-carotene (do you see the link to the name?) and one 8-ounce shot will fulfill more than 800% of your daily recommended dose of vitamin A. Vitamin A is typically our antioxidants, and by now we know it is the key to longevity. It is also packed with vitamins C, K, and B6, and minerals copper and manganese. 

  Moving on to fruits – there really isn’t such a thing as “bad” fruit when it comes to cold-pressed juice. Fruits are loaded with vitamins, essential minerals, and fiber. However, if you are new to juicing, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the basics first, and learn which fruits are the most nutrient-dense. Some fruits do contain more fructose than others, so it is worth keeping an eye on the sugar content if you are juicing for weight loss. 

• Tomatoes– Yes, tomatoes are fruit and a kitchen staple in most households. Crammed with vitamin C, folate, and potassium, they are also low in calories. They are also rich in lycopene, an element that has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. It is also said that regular sips of cold-pressed tomato juice boost male virility, and reduces lactic acid in athletes. Overall, tomato juice or a combination thereof is one powerhouse package in a small bottle. 

• Cranberries– Raw cranberries are extremely tart – and extremely good for you. Because of the overpowering taste, cranberry cold-pressed juice of often mixed with other fruits to be palatable. However, these little bursts of flavor are as powerful as they are sour. Like most of the berries on our list, they are rich in antioxidants, lowers LDL cholesterol, and as many UTI-sufferers may only be too well aware, helps fight off urinary tract infections. 

• Blueberries– Considered a superfruit by experts, blueberries are chock-full of powerful antioxidants and B vitamins. While antioxidants protect against aging, blueberries also have anti-cancer properties and can help to elevate the mood. These tiny berries have everything you need in one small package, but a great quantity of berries is required to produce one bottle of juice, so they are often combined with other fruits like grapes and apples. Speaking of which;

• Apples– An apple a day keeps the doctor away. We have all heard this saying, but for good reason. They are one of the favorite and most consumed fruits due to their ready availability. Apple juice has a pleasant, sweet, crisp, and refreshing taste, and is known for its anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties. Just be cautious to not drink too much apple juice – their sugar and simple carbohydrate content are quite high.

• Oranges– Another popular cold-pressed juice choice, known for its high content of vitamin C – the immune booster. Orange juice is best consumed as fresh as possible, as the limonin content tends to turn the juice bitter after a while. 

• Grapes- The fruit of the gods, some say. It may be too sweet for some, but it has the power to lower bad cholesterol, reduce the development of blood clots, and stabilize blood sugar levels. The best cold-pressed grape juice used the seedless variety. Blended grape seeds can ruin the juice by releasing a spicy, almost bitter flavor that many find unpleasant

• Pomegranates– Pomegranates also broke into the market as a superfood, loaded with antioxidants to help combat cancer, heart disease, and even Alzheimer's and arthritis. They are not overpoweringly sweet with a mild flavor, and the color of the juice is vibrant and uplifting.

• Pineapple– This tropical fruit is high on the sweetness scale, so it pairs nicely with other mild flavors. While pineapples are high in vitamin C, what makes them stand out from the fruit crowd is that they are the only dietary source of bromelain – an enzyme that has been proven to heal muscle injuries.

• Watermelon- Nothing herald summer like the first, sweet taste of a juicy watermelon. With cold-pressed, refreshing watermelon juice, there is no need to get messy either. It is so tasty that is difficult to believe that it is actually good for you! This watery, sweet fruit will keep you hydrated during heatwaves and is loaded with minerals and vitamins like C, A, and B’s. As far as fruits go, this tasty treat is also exceptionally low in calories.

• Lemons– The benefits of fresh lemon juice (not the cordial!) are universally known. It is low in calories, but very high in vitamin C, the natural immune booster. It also contains bioactive compounds like citric and ascorbic acid, and polyphenols – acclaimed for their anti-aging properties. Naturally, it has a very low pH value, so it is extremely acidic. This may sound counterintuitive, but this acidity actually has an alkalizing effect on your body. Still, lemon juice is often mixed with complimentary juices to combat the tart taste.