The Wonderful Benefits of Cold Pressed Juice
You may have seen shiny new juice bars popping up in your neighbourhood. You may have seen the shelves in your local supermarket or juice bar franchise suddenly lined in clean little bottles containing a rainbow of liquids. Yes, juice fever seems to be sweeping the nation, and we couldn’t be happier! If you haven’t jumped onto the cold-pressed juice bandwagon, now’s the time!
Cold-pressed juice is refreshing and jam-packed with essential vitamins and minerals. For busy people everywhere, cold-pressed juice can be an answer to your health prayers. Drinking cold-pressed juice is an easy and fast way to make sure you are getting enough fruits and vegetables in your diet. It’s perfect for grabbing on the go and sipping. Adding cold-pressed juice to your diet is a sure-fire way to improve your health and ensure you’re getting loads of beneficial nutrients.
How is Cold-Pressed Juice made?
We all know the delicious taste of freshly-squeezed orange juice first thing in the morning. But what’s cold-pressed juice? How is that different from freshly-squeezed? Cold-pressed juice is made very different. Their methods of extraction are what make them distinct from each other. Cold-pressed juice is made with a special juicer that uses a hydraulic press and slow pulverizer to juice the fruits and veggies. This kind of juicer isn’t the one you’d find at your local bodega or in your kitchen. That juicer, the kind you’re more familiar with, is called a centrifugal juicer.
Freshly squeezed juice is made with a centrifugal juicer that uses an ultra-fast-spinning blade to extract the juice from fruits and veggies. Because the metal blades of the centrifugal juicer spin so quickly, they generate heat. This heat ends up breaking down the important enzymes in the fruits and vegetables. The rapid spinning also lets air into the mix, oxidizing the juice, which only further breaks down its nutrients. This results in a freshly squeezed, pulpy juice that is refreshing and tasty, but not nearly as nutritionally potent as cold-pressed juice.
Cold-pressed juice protects and preserves the nutrients of fruits and vegetables. Since the cold press juicer presses the produce to extract the juice, no heat is involved. That means you still get all the healthy benefits of fruits and veggies. You get 100% of the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and nutrients when you drink cold-pressed juice. At Pure Green, we are total cold-pressed juice groupies. Our juice actually contains three to five pounds of non-GMO fruits and veggies in every bottle!
Why should you drink Cold-Pressed Juice?
The benefits of cold-pressed juice are boundless. Whether you are a hardcore fitness junkie, diehard vegan, proud carnivore, or chill couch potato, you can use cold-pressed juice to improve your overall health. Who’d say no to promoting full-body health, right? Drinking cold-pressed juices assists your body in detoxification.
Every day your body is put through the wringer. You subject it to environmental toxins like smog and second-hand smoke and even welcome toxins like junk food and alcohol. Your body’s organs are exhausted from trying to keep up and stay on top of the detoxification process. The three main organs that are responsible for detoxing are the liver, kidneys, and skin. When these organs work in overdrive, like the morning after a late-night throwing back beers with friends, they become stressed and overwhelmed.
Cold-pressed juice can help ease the strain of detoxification on your body. They’re chock full of nutrients that are geared towards fighting toxins and boosting immunity and health. Cold-pressed juice is so potent and instantaneous because it lacks the fibrous pulp of whole fruits and vegetables. Since the body doesn’t have to break the fiber down in the digestive system before being used, cold-pressed juice is like a lightning bolt to the system. The nutrients immediately enter the body and start getting to work. That’s why when you take a sip of cold-pressed juice, you immediately feel a kick of energy.
What should you look for in a Cold-Pressed Juice?
Not all cold-pressed juices are created equally, so you want to make sure you are reading the labels of the bottle. You want to make sure you are getting a healthy and nutritious juice that doesn’t contain any sneaky ingredients like sugar. Just because they say they’re “all-natural” or “organic” does not mean they are actually good for your body! Read any labels that may be on the bottle and do your research so that you know you’re getting good-quality juice.
You’ll want to pay close attention to the ingredients list on the back of the bottle. Read each ingredient to make sure it’s made from only whole foods like fruit or vegetable. If it has any scientific-looking unpronounceable names, steer clear. Stay away from any juices with added sugars as well. Sugar can be disguised in the ingredients list as many different names, like glucose or fructose, so read carefully! If you don’t know the ingredient, it probably isn’t a good one, so don’t drink it.
Along with the ingredients list, you’ll want to read the nutritional facts on the back of the bottle. Notice the calorie count and serving size of the cold-pressed juice. That bottle you’re holding is likely two servings, not one, and has more calories than you were anticipating. Because cold-pressed juice is so nutritionally dense, it contains a higher caloric count. It takes a lot of produce just to make that eight ounces of juice, so it’s going to be more calories than just one single piece of fruit. That doesn’t mean you should abstain though. Just be aware of how much cold-pressed juice you’re consuming so you don’t overdo it.
Be sure to note the best-before date on your cold-pressed juices, too. Since they don’t contain preservatives, they don’t have a long shelf life. You want to drink them while they are still fresh. Most cold-pressed juices only have a shelf life of 72 hours. If you aren’t drinking your juice right away, ask someone who works at your juice bar how to best store it until you can consume it. If your juice isn’t stored properly, it can turn bad and the nutrients can erode.
Can I drink Cold-Pressed Juice as a method of cleansing?
If you’re interested in cleansing and setting the reset button on your body, drinking cold-pressed juice is a great way to do so. A cold-pressed juice cleanse is a great way to aid your body in detoxification. Sticking to juice gives your digestive system a much-needed rest. This makes it easier for your other organs to release the build-up of toxins in your system. Think of all the alcohol you drink, the processed food you eat, the refined sugars and carbs you consume, and the environmental pollutants you come in contact with every day. A juice cleanse allows you to heal your body and start over again. You’ll have more energy, fewer cravings, less bloating, and clearer skin thanks to your juice cleanse. Since your body doesn’t have to work as hard to detox itself, you’ll have leftover energy to devote to other things. Take a yoga class and see how much cleaner your body and even mind feel.
Where can I get Cold-Pressed Juice?
Okay, so we’ve sold you on the many wonderful benefits of cold-pressed juice. But where can you get your hands on your own cold-pressed juice? If you live near a Pure Green, pop in and try out our delicious blends. If you don’t have an outpost nearby, look for another local juice bar to try. You can even scope out the grocery store, as many markets are now carrying cold-pressed juices of their own. If getting to a juice bar or a store just isn’t feasible for you, head online and try cold-pressed juice delivery! Yes, you can get it delivered! You can get your juice fix with the click of a button and stock your fridge with ease. So, what are you waiting for? Start drinking cold-pressed juice today!
Can your freeze Cold-Pressed Juice?
Since our cold-pressed juice is not extracted through heating techniques and does not contain any preservatives, the average shelf life of a freshly squeezed bottle of your favorite health booster will last roughly three to five days in the refrigerator.
The only options aside from freezing to make cold-pressed juice last longer are counterintuitive to the process. These options include;
Pasteurization – As we know, pasteurization destroys harmful bacteria to keep the juice lasting longer. However, it also destroys most of the vitamins and enzymes and disrupts the natural flavor. To counteract this, producers add back flavors, colors, and artificial vitamins to what used to be pure, healthy, and natural juice.
High-Pressure Processing (HPP) – This method applies pressure to indirectly raise the temperate of the juice. While HPP is not as hardcore as pasteurization, it still has the same effect on your raw juice – it kills everything that makes cold-pressed juice so beneficial.
Hence, you are only left with one alternative if you wish to keep your cold-pressed juice from spoiling; freezing. Freezing is the only alternative for safe storage that won’t compromise the integrity of the vitamins or enzymes. As an extra boon, it won’t affect the flavor. Once frozen, the juice can be kept in the freezer for up to six months. Simply thaw your juice, and enjoy the same great taste – with all the healthy goodies intact.
Other benefits of Cold-Pressed Juice
Why is cold-pressed juice healthier than, say, smoothies? Juicing allows you to cleanse your body from the inside! Juicing also removes the soluble fiber for increased absorption of specific phytonutrients and enzymes that are typically inaccessible – not to get too technical - in the fiber matrix. This allows for optimal nutrient delivery, whereas consuming whole fruits and vegetables can prevent nutrient absorption for some people.
Meet Your Daily Recommended Needs
Our modern lifestyle has seen the biggest gap between recommended nutrient needs and actual intake in history! Few of us have the time to prepare nutritious meals that incorporates all the food groups, and most people don’t get their recommended intake of fruits and vegetables, as we have seen in the trend for the last few years.
RDI
Juicing allows for individuals to meet their daily recommended intake in a single, small, bottle. Think of it as all your essential nutrients in a few gulps. What can be more convenient?
Weight Loss
Losing weight is certainly a boon that comes with juicing, even if it is a natural side-effect. It is a win-win situation when you reduce your calory intake without depriving yourself of essential nutrients. (Just keep an eye on your sugary fruit juice intake)
Boost Your Overall Mood
Of course, mental and mood disorders are complex, but raw fruits and vegetable extracts can help moderate symptoms of mental distress and depression. From a psychological standpoint, even taking the first step to a healthy lifestyle can get you out of the slump of mental agitation. Healthy habits aside, simply introducing more raw, organic foods to your diet through cold-pressed juice can safeguard you against the onset of circumstantial depression and stress.
Delay Alzheimer’s Disease
On the topic of mental health, juicing vegetables and fruits can help delay the onset of this dreaded disease! Polyphenols in raw vegetables are much hardier against oxidative damage that’s involved with the development of Alzheimer’s.
Cardiovascular Health
If it is not clear yet, juicing is good for your heart too! Taking a break from solid foods gives your ticker a much-needed break. There is a significant reduction in triacylglycerols and insulin levels and an increase in LDL (good cholesterol) when you substitute a hearty meal with a cold one (juice, in this case).
Combat Type 2 Diabetes
Simple carbs are the death-knell for diabetics. Replacing refined grains and starch with cold-pressed juice can have substantial benefits in lowering your risks for type 2 diabetes and stabilize your insulin levels. Juicing leafy greens, in particular, can help because they have a low glycaemic load, low energy density, and high micro-nutrient and fiber.
Best fruits and veggies for Cold-Pressed Juice
Don’t just limit yourself to your favorite juice and chase the taste. Here, we will list only some of the fruits and veggies that are a powerhouse of health benefits.
Kale – It packs a punch when it comes to all the good stuff, and the flavor is mild enough to be masked by fruit for extra taste. This versatile leafy green pairs well with almost anything, and is a great source of vitamins A, C, and K. Raw kale is especially high in antioxidants to combat the dreaded signs of aging and neutralizes pesky free radicals. Kale has also been linked to lowering LDL cholesterol (that is the bad one).
Beets – They add vibrant color to your juice, and a subtle, earthy flavor. From a nutritional standpoint, they are a potent source of manganese, potassium, folate, and nitrates. This rich plant compound has been proved to improve blood pressure and enhance mental performance. Their leafy beet greens are also packed with nutrients, and can be juiced as well – nothing goes to waste with this super-veg.
Cucumber – Low in calories because of their high water content, cucumbers make for a great base juice. It helps you stay hydrated, which is of course the key to healthy kidneys and weight management. They are also high in potassium, manganese, and vitamin K, and can help reduce skin inflammation. Grab a bottle, and be cool as a cucumber after a day of sunbathing.
Celery – Despite its high water content (making it low in calories), celery has a rather tangy taste. Many people, therefore, choose to combine celery with lemon, apple, ginger, or leafy greens. It contains decent amounts of vitamins A and C and powerful antioxidants like caffeic and ferulic acid. Like so many of the veggies on our list, it is also beneficial to lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health overall.
Wheatgrass – The discovery of this edible grass caused waves in the juicing world, thanks to its incredible nutrient density. It offers a significant amount of iron, magnesium, copper, and a whopping 17 amino acids. What’s more, it also contains chlorophyll that is high in anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It can be enjoyed on its own as a shot, or added to the juice for a powerful boost.
Parsley – It is often overlooked as merely a spice or to garnish your food, but this little herb is also a great addition to cold-pressed juice. It is high in vitamins A, K, and C that contribute to its numerous health benefits. For one, it is linked to lower blood sugar levels, while being a powerful antioxidant. Parsley is also known to improve liver function.
Broccoli – this cruciferous veggie boasts impressive health benefits, as our parents knew when they forced us to eat it. Particularly, it is a great source of micronutrients and vitamins A, C, and B6. Kaempferol is also a powerful ingredient that has been proved to combat free radicals and decrease overall inflammation. A serving of broccoli a day can even slow down age-related mental decline.
Ginger – Ginger has been known for centuries as one of the most powerful spices in the world and is highly acclaimed for its medicinal properties. While ginger contains micro traces of vitamins and minerals, it contains oils that will kickstart your digestion and get the juices in your taste buds flowing. Ginger is also a common active ingredient in natural cold and flu medicine thanks to its amazing antibacterial properties. The benefits of ginger cold-pressed juice are almost endless, and the list is far too extensive to cover in a single point. Ginger has a very distinct and overpowering taste, so many prefer a splash of ginger combined with carrot and orange juice to bolster the immune system.
Cabbage – Another cruciferous vegetable on the list, and it may not seem like an obvious choice for juicing. However, it is packed with vitamins like C and K and contains traces of manganese, folate, and vitamin B6. Veggies from the cruciferous family, like broccoli (in this list) and Brussels sprouts helps fight against heart disease and inflammation.
Carrots – Even the hue of carrot juice is energizing, and provides a colorful and nutritious start to your day. One shot offers valuable nutrition, combined with an earthy yet sweet taste. Orange carrots as we know them today remain the most popular choice for cold-pressed juice. It is rich in beta-carotene (do you see the link to the name?) and one 8-ounce shot will fulfill more than 800% of your daily recommended dose of vitamin A. Vitamin A is typically our antioxidants, and by now we know it is the key to longevity. It is also packed with vitamins C, K, and B6, and minerals copper and manganese.
Moving on to fruits – there really isn’t such a thing as “bad” fruit when it comes to cold-pressed juice. Fruits are loaded with vitamins, essential minerals, and fiber. However, if you are new to juicing, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the basics first, and learn which fruits are the most nutrient-dense. Some fruits do contain more fructose than others, so it is worth keeping an eye on the sugar content if you are juicing for weight loss.
Tomatoes – Yes, tomatoes are fruit and a kitchen staple in most households. Crammed with vitamin C, folate, and potassium, they are also low in calories. They are also rich in lycopene, an element that has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. It is also said that regular sips of cold-pressed tomato juice boost male virility, and reduces lactic acid in athletes. Overall, tomato juice or a combination thereof is one powerhouse package in a small bottle.
Cranberries – Raw cranberries are extremely tart – and extremely good for you. Because of the overpowering taste, cranberry cold-pressed juice of often mixed with other fruits to be palatable. However, these little bursts of flavor are as powerful as they are sour. Like most of the berries on our list, they are rich in antioxidants, lowers LDL cholesterol, and as many UTI-sufferers may only be too well aware, helps fight off urinary tract infections.
Blueberries – Considered a superfruit by experts, blueberries are chock-full of powerful antioxidants and B vitamins. While antioxidants protect against aging, blueberries also have anti-cancer properties and can help to elevate the mood. These tiny berries have everything you need in one small package, but a great quantity of berries is required to produce one bottle of juice, so they are often combined with other fruits like grapes and apples. Speaking of which;
Apples – An apple a day keeps the doctor away. We have all heard this saying, but for good reason. They are one of the favorite and most consumed fruits due to their ready availability. Apple juice has a pleasant, sweet, crisp, and refreshing taste, and is known for its anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties. Just be cautious to not drink too much apple juice – their sugar and simple carbohydrate content are quite high.
Oranges – Another popular cold-pressed juice choice, known for its high content of vitamin C – the immune booster. Orange juice is best consumed as fresh as possible, as the limonin content tends to turn the juice bitter after a while.
Grapes - The fruit of the gods, some say. It may be too sweet for some, but it has the power to lower bad cholesterol, reduce the development of blood clots, and stabilize blood sugar levels. The best cold-pressed grape juice used the seedless variety. Blended grape seeds can ruin the juice by releasing a spicy, almost bitter flavor that many find unpleasant
Pomegranates – Pomegranates also broke into the market as a superfood, loaded with antioxidants to help combat cancer, heart disease, and even Alzheimer's and arthritis. They are not overpoweringly sweet with a mild flavor, and the color of the juice is vibrant and uplifting.
Pineapple – This tropical fruit is high on the sweetness scale, so it pairs nicely with other mild flavors. While pineapples are high in vitamin C, what makes them stand out from the fruit crowd is that they are the only dietary source of bromelain – an enzyme that has been proven to heal muscle injuries.
Watermelon - Nothing herald summer like the first, sweet taste of a juicy watermelon. With cold-pressed, refreshing watermelon juice, there is no need to get messy either. It is so tasty that is difficult to believe that it is actually good for you! This watery, sweet fruit will keep you hydrated during heatwaves and is loaded with minerals and vitamins like C, A, and B’s. As far as fruits go, this tasty treat is also exceptionally low in calories.
Lemons – The benefits of fresh lemon juice (not the cordial!) are universally known. It is low in calories, but very high in vitamin C, the natural immune booster. It also contains bioactive compounds like citric and ascorbic acid, and polyphenols – acclaimed for their anti-aging properties. Naturally, it has a very low pH value, so it is extremely acidic. This may sound counterintuitive, but this acidity actually has an alkalizing effect on your body. Still, lemon juice is often mixed with complimentary juices to combat the tart taste.
Why chose Pure Green as your go-to brand?
Pure Green is passionate about creating healthy communities, and we have faith in their products – so much so that we have donated thousands of bottles of our cold-pressed juice to front-line medical workers! That is but a drop in the bucket of what we contribute to staying true to staying true to our mission.
To inspire and reach out to communities, Pure Green has also partnered with Beam Impact. This nifty app lets their consumers donate a portion of their purchase toward a selection of charitable causes, preselect by us. These charities are location-specific, depending on the community where Pure Green is located.
The benefits that Pure Green brings to your diet far exceed the mere consumption – we also strive
to educate young children between the ages of 3 to 10 about healthy eating habits, instilling a passion for a proactive lifestyle from a young age.