Getting to know your vegetables is very important when juicing. You need to understand why you are juicing and drinking juice that you’ve made. So, we’ve compiled a short list of the best veggies for juicing to get you started.
And if you are in the market for a new juicer, check out our juicer reviews to help you find the best vegetable juicer. Now let’s take a look at the best vegetables to juice.
1. Broccoli
Broccoli is perhaps one of the most nutritious vegetables in the world. It is also one of those vegetables which makes a good base ingredient for many juices.
First of all, they are very “efficient” vegetables for juicing. There is absolutely no waste at all as you can juice both the florets and the stalk.
The florets of broccoli are rich in vitamin C and bioflavonoids, and you will get more vitamin C from two broccoli florets than you would from many fruits.
2. Cabbage
Cabbage is another vegetable which can be used in its entirety, and is easy to find in the supermarket.
Cabbage is rich in fiber and can help to stimulate the bowels. The only problem is that when it is boiled or steamed, it can cause flatulence which is better avoided when you suffer from a bowel condition.
However, cabbage juice will not cause flatulence as you have removed a lot of the fiber content. What you have kept in the juice is the magic ingredient contained in cabbage, and it is called S-Methylmethionine.
This compound is known to deal with inflammatory conditions which can affect the entire digestive tract.
3. Courgettes or Zucchini
Zucchini is a surprisingly easy vegetable to grow yourself even if you don’t have a lot of space. It grows happily in a pot, and you can even add the flowers to your salads.
Zucchini is a rich source of vitamin C, and it is also very rich in antioxidants. So, if you are concerned about your immune system, you should add zucchini to your vegetable juices.
The juice from zucchini can also help to moisturize your skin, and many keen juicers claim that it can help to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
It is best to remove the skin as it can make the juice taste a bit bitter. Otherwise, this is a juice which can be drunk on its own, and will taste really nice with a dash of lemon juice added to it.
4. Chili Peppers
Few people think of chilies as a juicing vegetable, but if you suffer from circulatory problems, you could try adding chilies to your juices.
At all times it is important to avoid juicing the seeds as they can be very irritating to the stomach. Also, be very careful how you handle chilies. It is best to use gloves when cutting up your chilies as they can irritate the skin and burn the eyes when you are not careful.
Tomatoes make an excellent juicing companion for chilies. Four tomatoes and one chili make a nice juice to drink, and you get the added benefit of lycopene with the tomatoes.
5. Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is one of the most unappreciated members of the cruciferous vegetable family. Up until recently this vegetable was not easy to find in most supermarkets, but it is now more common.
If you are lucky enough to find Kohlrabi with its leaves still attached, you should add them to your juice as well. They are incredibly rich in chlorophyll.
You can actually use the entire vegetable if your like, but the peel can be a bit too rich in fiber for some people. Kohlrabi is full of soluble fiber which helps to lower cholesterol levels and other blood fats.
6. Celery
It is best to buy organic celery if you can as it is less rich in nitrates.
Once again, this is a vegetable which is just as happy to grow in a pot in the ground:
- Cut off all the stems, and place the bottom of the celery in a shallow container of water.
- Change the water every other day until you notice root growth.
- When the roots are about 2 inches, plant the celery in a pot and you will have fresh celery in your home.
7. Celeriac
Celeriac is also a member of the cruciferous vegetable family. It is an “old” vegetable which is now finally making a comeback on supermarket shelves. In order to make the most of this vegetable you need to peel it, and juice it when it is fresh.
It is very rich in vitamin C and an excellent source of potassium. Potassium is needed by every cell in the body, and helps the body to regulate water and mineral absorption. When we have too little potassium we may start to retain fluids, and at the same time we will feel very tired.
Potassium is controlled by the kidney and you may have heard that doctors talk about low or too high levels of potassium when discussing kidney disease. Celeriac is one of nature’s richest sources of potassium.
8. Mangetout (Snow Pea, Sugar Pea)
I often call mangetout the sunshine pea, but most people refer to it as the snow pea or sugar peas. Once you have cut off the ends, and rinsed this vegetable well, it makes quite a sweet juice which is full of chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is one of the most recent buzzwords in health, and a lot of people now take chlorophyll supplements. There is absolutely no need to buy expensive supplements.
A handful of sugar snap peas will give you all the chlorophyll you need and then some. The good news is that you can’t overdose on chlorophyll, so what your body doesn’t need, it removes very quickly.
9. Parsnips
Parsnips are both cheap and can be found in most supermarkets, but did you know that this is a super vegetable? One parsnip contains more vitamin C than an orange, and it is one of our richest sources of vitamin E.
We need vitamin E to maintain a healthy nervous system. It has been discovered that many people who suffer from dementia illnesses such as Parkinson’s Disease are low in vitamin E.
This vitamin is also essential when it comes to good heart health as it supports the electrical system, the nodes, of the heart. It can help to maintain a regular heartbeat, and makes sure our cells get plenty of vital oxygen.
The juice of parsnips is quite sweet, and a sour apple makes a good juicing companion. Unless you have been able to find a good source of organic parsnips, it is always best to peel them.
10. Swedes (Turnip)
Poor swedes, they are such neglected vegetables when it comes to juicing. This vegetable is one of nature’s sources of indoles and isothiocyanates, but we still often walk past swedes in the supermarket.
Swedes are members of the Cruciferous vegetable family, and have all the same benefits as many of the other vegetables belonging to this family.
They are cheap to buy, and once you have peeled them, they make a great slightly tart juice which has many benefits. What could be better than getting it from a source which is low in sugar and calories?
These were only a few of the best vegetables to juice and we enjoy using them because all parts can be used. They are relatively cheap to buy, and ounce per ounce they give us a lot of nutrition for our money.
