Fruit & Vegetable Juicing Ingredients

Juicing utilizes raw fruits and vegetables to provide many health benefits. Juicing is an excellent way to incorporate the required servings of fruit and vegetable into your daily diet. By juicing fruits and vegetables, the body is able to absorb important nutrients quickly and efficiently. Use different combinations to create a variety of juice flavors. Avoid using the same ingredients every day, to prevent developing allergies to a specific fruit or vegetable over time. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Fruit

Fruits contain antioxidants, antibacterial enzymes, acids and abundant vitamins and minerals that provide many health benefits. Fruit also adds sweetness. Apples are the basis of many fruit and vegetable juices and combine well with vegetables. Raspberries provide antioxidants. Oranges add a citrus flavor, and juicing accesses important bioflavonoids from the inedible pith. Strawberries add important calcium, vitamin C and minerals. Pineapples add a tropical flavor, and blueberries add color and texture to juice. Grapes mix well with both fruits and vegetables. Use lemons, limes and cranberries sparingly to increase flavor. Use ripe fruit in juicing for the best taste and highest nutritional value.

Vegetables

Vegetables, unlike fruit, are usable before they completely ripen. Most vegetables do not raise insulin levels as fruit juices do. Combining vegetables with fruit adds a level of protection from insulin spikes. Juicing vegetables facilitates the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Dark green, leafy vegetables including all lettuce varieties, spinach, kale and cabbage offer the highest amount of nutrients. Packed with vitamins and minerals, carrots mix well with other vegetables and fruits. Cucumber and celery, vegetables with high water contents, increase the volume of juice obtained.

Herbs

Add additional flavor and nutrients to fruit and vegetable juices with fresh herbs. Herbs are a good source of phytochemicals and vitamins, offering many health benefits, and contain anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-leveling and antioxidant properties. Cilantro contains anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cholesterol properties. Dill contains fiber and controls cholesterol levels. Rosemary contains acids that lower the risk of stroke. A small piece of fresh ginger assists with cardiovascular health. Tarragon helps muscles absorb important nutrients. Oregano, chives and basil contain a variety of needed vitamins and minerals. Mints add sweetness to juices.

Nutritional Supplements

To further increase the nutritional benefits of fruit and vegetable juices, other powdered ingredients can be included in the juicing process. Bee pollen provides protein along with several vitamins and magnesium. Flax seed is good for digestion, containing high levels of omega-3 acids. Wheat germ contains fiber and protein and adds considerable vitamin E, thiamine and copper to the juice. Tofu, a good source of protein, adds flavor and texture to juices. This soy product is high in isoflavones, which reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis.