There’s little doubt that 2013 saw the rise of juicing. Not the super-sugary kind you see in the supermarket, but the green, sludgy, healthy variety. Curious as to why it’s so popular, TOAD went to find out more.
Promises of nutrient-boosting, calorie-saving juices have taken the world by storm. There are many things to consider when adopting a juicer, and we have found out how you can juice yourself silly in the city.
First things first – buying a juicer. When you are shopping for one, there are several points to be mindful of. You need to decide how committed you are to this, just as when you’re buying gym shoes. Are you going to stick it out or is this a passing fad? If you are just beginning to juice, it’s wise to start small and simple. There are two kinds of juicers; the centrifugal juicer, where fruit and vegetables are pulverized using a metal blade; and the cold press juicer, which presses fruit and veg to extract the juice without using heat. On average, the cold press juicers are significantly more expensive but they yield around 35 per cent more juice than centrifugal ones. The standard cheaper ones are centrifugal, which are good enough for an amateur juicer.
Begin with mixed fruit and vegetables, but gradually move away from using too much fruit as it is high in sugar. In excessive consumption, this can lead to diabetes. Anita Apel, a nutritionist from Organic Foods & Café says, ‘I recommend a maximum of one to two juices per day. Juices are convenient to cover a high percentage of the daily recommended amounts of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fibre and water, but it’s important chew vegetables and fruit because the act of chewing sends signals to the stomach to produce liquid to clean your food. It also creates enzymes which help breakdown food, aiding digestion.’
Where to buy your produce
Many struggle to find decent produce in the UAE and organic is always better; it’s healthier, great for the environment as the produce is grown locally, and it doesn’t require as thorough of a wash as regular produce, either. The Organic Foods and Café offer weekly deliveries of fresh organic fruit and vegetables that are great for juicing. You can select a fruit box, a vegetable box, a combination box or one full of leafy greens. From Dhs130. www.organicfoodsandcafe.com.
Tips for juicing
• Root vegetables tend to have fewer nutrients than other vegetables, so opt for green or colourful veg instead
• Begin with vegetables you enjoy the flavours of, and build up to more unusual ingredients
• It’s best not to go overboard with fruit as it is quite high in sugar
• Use vegetables as a base for the juice and only add a piece of fruit for flavour; alternatively, mint and ginger can be used to spice up a vegetable juice
• It’s usually best to leave the skin on, as this is where most of the nutrients are – but remove it for bananas, kiwis and fruit with hard skin
• Line your juicer’s bin with a plastic bag or liner to ensure easy removal of the discarded pulp after you are finished
Buy your juicer
High-end: Omega Juicer Heavy Nutrition Center (J8226)
This mother of all juicers is a dual-cycle masticating juicer, which means the food is juiced twice and the pulp stays in. It’s also a food processor with various multi-functions including a grinder and pasta extruder, to make homemade pasta. It’s available from Organic Foods & Café. For an exclusive Time Out deal, quote the code TIMEOUT DETOX for a free fruit/vegetable box worth up to Dhs220 when you buy this.
Dhs2,164. www.organicfoodsandcafe.com.
Mid-range: Kenwood JE850 juicer
For those who want to up their juicing game but don’t fancy spending thousands, try the Kenwood juicer. Its 1,500 watts will turn your fruit to a pulp! It’s available now at Emax.
Dhs899. Dalma Mall, Mussafah www.emax.ae (02 800 3629).
For beginners: Bosch MES3000
For entry-level juicers, try the Bosch juicer. It’s effective but suitable for those on a budget and a great way to begin a life of juicing. It’s available now at Emax stores.
Dhs429. Hamdan Street, www.emax.ae (02 674 4937).
