Integrative Health Blog

Vincent Renner, Guest blogger, Founder of Tasty6

Sensory Delights of Juicing

To an avid juicer like myself the benefits of juicing fresh fruits and vegetables seem endless – it is convenient, nutritious, great for the immune system, helps to detox, and on it goes… All of the above are true. For me, however, first and foremost the intense smells, flavors, and colors of the vegetables and fruits we juice connect me with all Nature’s goodness has to offer, and with memories of wholeness.  I love the taste and smell of fresh cut ginger and its vibrant yellow color. I love the unique aroma of freshly cut flat parsley. And the intense flavor of freshly pressed kale. I love the bright orange of our freshly pressed turmeric. Or the sound of a stem of celery snapping, as it announces it’s freshness and vigor. And the sweet-sour note and promise of health a fresh cut ruby red grapefruit carries.

Nature's Colors for Health

Yet it is specifically the unique and intense colors of many fruits and vegetables that announce their healing and nutritional properties. Watermelon and red grapefruit get their red pinkish color from a uniquely high concentration of the phytochemical lycopene, known for its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. Red beets’ betalain antioxidant pigments give them their red color and are a powerful and relatively unique antioxidant that helps to improve cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure. Red apples have a high concentration of anthocyanins key to lowering blood sugar.  

Kale, spinach, and parsley are some of the healthiest vegetables around. Their high levels of chlorophyll are responsible for their bright, full green color. They are powerhouses of concentrated vitamins, minerals, and a whole spectrum of phytonutrients – all essential to a healthy body.  Unbeknownst to many, one cup of raw kale contains more and often multiples of 100% of the daily recommended value of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin K.

As these fruits and vegetables are allowed to ripen to maturity, their nutritional content increases and their flavors intensify. Government health bodies now recommend to eat at least 5 or more cups of fruits and vegetables every day to increase health, improve longevity and prevent disease. By eating fruits and vegetables from a variety of color groups, we benefit from the unique array of phytochemicals, essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that each color group has to offer.

My Juicing Recommendations

While it may be difficult to eat 5 to 10 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables everyday, juicing can help significantly. When juicing, I recommend the following:

• Use organic vegetables and fruit when possible (meta studies have shown that their antioxidant and nutritional content is 2 to 3 times higher then in their conventional counterparts).
• Use a slow juicer to press most nutrients from the fruits and vegetables as well as some amount of fiber. Alternatively use a blender if you wish all the fiber to be in your juice smoothie.
• Add some lemon to delay oxidation (fiber will help as well).
• Be adventurous, creative, have fun, and go with colors that speak to you. Somehow, I have found that my body knows what (color) it needs. Remember that in the end, you have to like your juice to drink it.
• Be mindful when you drink your juice – take a moment to taste its bounty!
• When buying juices, try to buy local and organic if you can, as it will always be fresher and healthier. Juices made from concentrate and that are heat pasteurized will have most of their naturally occurring nutrients destroyed in the process.

Vincent Renner is founder & chief juicista at Tasty6. Tasty6 cold-presses only organic fruits and vegetables in wide meshed filters allowing for plenty of fiber in its juices. Tasty6 offers rebalancing juice packages, as well as a variety of fresh, raw, organic and locally produced juices combining the most color intense fruits and vegetables! He is a Perfect Health Practitioner and Certified Meditation Teacher from the Chopra Institute, as well as an entrepreneur and reformed investment banker. 

(Note- Tasty6 Juices are carried at NIHA and enjoyed immensely by staff and patients!)