Imagine eating a bundle of kale and spinach, a root of ginger, several celery stalks and beets, and a handful of carrots and fresh parsley … in one sitting … every day.  Sounds like something from a vegan-eating contest, doesn’t it? 

That’s the beauty of juicing. You can consume an extraordinary amount of fresh vegetables within minutes—maybe even seconds for some. It’s quick and simple to make, and surprisingly good. 

It's not like juicing is a new trend. (In fact, the history of juicing goes as far back as 1700 B.C., and the world's first juicer was invented in 1930 by Dr. Norman Walker who lived until he was 99 years old.) And anyone who has seen Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is well aware of the healthy benefits of juicing, particularly when it comes to weight loss.

Since juicing removes the insoluble fiber in fruits and vegetables, your body quickly absorbs a high concentration of their phytonutrients and enzymes (the catalysts responsible for most metabolic activities in your body, including energy production at a cellular level). 

Juicing as Vegans

My boyfriend and I decided to make 2016 the year of juicing. We realized that even as vegans, we still weren't maximizing the amount of nutrients we could get from eating fruits and vegetables.

While there are many schools of thought on the subject of juicing—from fast vs. slow, masticating juicers, to what time of day you should juice and how quickly you should drink it—one thing’s for sure: juicing really gives your skin a glow from within. No amount of makeup, beauty creams and serums, and facials can rival the skin health benefits of juicing.

I’ve only been juicing for a few weeks, but I am already feeling more confident about going barefaced in public. And for anyone who has problems “going,” forget all those fiber supplements; juicing will take care of your digestive problems really quickly.

Juice Recipes

Below are some of the juice recipes I've tried. Some may not look as good as they taste, some are surprisingly good flavor combinations, and others completely missed the mark on looks and taste. In the end, whichever fruit and vegetable combination you try, your body will thank you.

Apple, Celery and Carrot Juice Packed with Vitamins A and C

• 3 organic granny apples (rich in vitamin C, potassium and soluble fiber; helps boost friendly bacteria)

• 4 organic celery stalks (known for its cleansing and diuretic benefits; contains potassium and vitamins B1, B2 and B6)

• 4 organic carrots, medium size (rich in beta-carotene, vitamin A, biotin, vitamin K, fiber and potassium--among a wide range of other vitamins and minerals)

This was my first homemade juice, which immediately got me hooked after one sip. It's good on your tastebuds and good for your immune system. The sweetness of the carrots balanced the tartness of the granny apples. 

All-Around Good for You Greens and Fruit Juice

• 1 bag of organic spinach (good source of vitamins K, A, B2, B6, E, C as well as manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, copper and slew of other nutrients)

• 1 bag of organic swiss chard, spinach and kale (chard contains at least 13 polyphenol antioxidants best know for its blood-sugar regulating properties; kale is rich in vitamin K, A and C and is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits)

• 1 small container of organic blueberries (rich in vitamins C and K, manganese; best known for its high antioxidant capacity)

• 1 organic green apple

• 1 container of organic strawberries (loaded with vitamin C, antioxidants and manganese for bone health)

This turned out surprisingly good because of all the fruits I used. It's important to watch the amount of fruits you use if you juice regularly because of their high sugar content.

Thirst-Quenching Cleansing Juice

• 1 full pineapple (good source of vitamin C, fiber, vitamins B2 and B6, manganese and potassium; contains bromelain known for its ability to help reduce inflammation)

• 1 organic English cucumber (good source of anti-inflammatory compounds that help detoxify)

• 6 stalks of organic celery in varied sizes (known for its hydrating benefits and diuretic and cleansing functions)

This has just the right amount of tartness and is the perfect thirst-quencher. You could taste all the flavors--not one more overpowering than the others.

The Anti-Inflammatory and Detoxifying Juice

• 4 organic beets (contains phytonutrients called betalains shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification benefits)

• 2 Asian pears (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and potential anti-cancer benefits)

• 4-5 organic carrots, medium-small size

• 1/2 bushel of organic parsley (packed with vitamins K and C; powerful anti-inflammatory properties)

Delicious and sweet!

'The Murkier the Healthier' Juice

• 1/2 bundle of organic green chard

• 1 bag of organic kale

• 1 bag of organic carrots, small- to medium-size

• 1 ginger root (widely known for its medicinal and therapeutic properties including helping with digestion, nausea, inflammation and boosting immunity; also has anti-tumor and anti-diabetic properties)

• 1/2 bag of organic baby carrots

• 1/4 bundle of organic parsley

When I said some of these recipes missed the mark on looks and taste, I was referring to this particular juice recipe. Maybe it's because I tried to cram in too many vegetables, but this was a tough one to finish. It was like taking a glassful of medicine. I'm convinced that the murkier it looks, the healthier it is for you. It does have quite an impressive list of ingredients known for their range of powerful health benefits. You've been warned about the taste, though.

The Clean Green Juice

• 1 extra large cucumber

• 4 kiwis (packed with more vitamin C than an orange as well as vitamin K; powerful protective antioxidants)

• 6 stalks of celery

This is something I could drink all day, every day. It's refreshingly invigorating, and is packed with vitamin C to help strengthen the immune system. Cucumber and celery provide detoxifying properties to help cleanse your system and your palate.

*NOTE: I am not a medical professional. The nutrient information above was simply found on the good old internet.