Help!...I need a juicer and I'm so confused...

[Jenny Kube]

Raw food friends, I need your help.

I have been surviving wonderfully on Raw Food with my blender, food processor and a nice sharp knife. But I found out today that my mom has cancer again. She has been a bit better about her diet since the last run in with cancer but this time I just have to teach her everything I have learned. I feel like I have the answer to save her life but I don't have a juicer. I'm going to fill her full of carrot juice weather she like it or not!!! Okay I can't force her to do anything but I think she would be open to the juice idea.
So here is where I need you help. I don't have a lot of money and I want the most bang for my buck. What is the best juicer out there? Do you have one? What do you like about it? What don't you like about it? I would greatly appreciate any and all advice on the subject. As well as any advice from cancer survivors. Help me help my mom please. Thank you, Jenny

[Bunny Berry]

Your juicer definitely doesn't have to be expensive, and honestly, if you have a blender, you can start making juice NOW using the blender, plenty of water, and something to strain the juice with, such as a paint strainer bag or a nut milk bag.

I use my nut milk bag to make juice more than my juicer because it's easier to clean!

I have friends who have done the entire 92 day juice feast using the Juice Fountain. http://www.amazon.com/Breville-JE900-Fountain-Professional-Extracto...

I personally have a Juiceman, and it does the job just fine! http://www.amazon.com/Juiceman-JM503-3-Speed-Juice-Extractor/dp/B00...

The important thing is to just start juicing! GOOD LUCK!

[zUzU]

=^..^= Jenny,
Juicing is a great idea for your mom ... and you too! Anyone! Yummy good-for-you stuff.
I went through the same confusion with what to buy. Took forever to decide!

I bought a Breville in February & I adore it and I use it a LOT. It's not too expensive comparatively to many out there either. I made the decision to buy a juicer first based on nutrients are absorbed the fastest with juicing. I make 2-quarts of green juice a day. Sometimes more. And when I feast for a day I juice two or three times. I'd prefer to someday add a green smoothie every day as well. I'm keeping my diet alkaline (something highly recommended for cancer patients is keeping sweet fruits and veggies to a minimum) ... so maybe go green for your mom?

There are several Brevilles ... The juice fountain is least expensive of what might work best for you, but I love my Ikon & in my opinion totally the better of this brands choices. I couldn't touch the high-end juicers price wise, and wanted one I would actually use (not hate to clean).

I bought the Breville Ikon 5-speed so I could do leafy greens as well as other goodies (it does carrots like a dream) But for leafy greens ... I simply turn it as slow as the motor goes and run the greens thru. I am a BIG fan of green juices and use a lot of spinach, wild arugula, kale, romaine, chard, pea shoots ect. as well as hard things like celery, apples and ginger ... so I learned to do the hardest veggies first on higher speeds and work my way down the speeds until I hit low and toss in the leafy stuff. Then I unplug the juicer, retrieve the pulp and run it all through the juicer again. I do this twice (I often take the filter basket out and rinse/brush it too really quick at least once). Sounds like a pain, but I have gotten it down to a science. It's no big deal takes a couple of extra minutes. And I get a lot of juice from my leafy greens this way! I imagine soft fruits would require the same. Centrifugal juicers aren't the best choice for leafy greens, but this really works well!

The Breville Ikon is a dream (check Amazon for a good deal ($179.99 + free ship) ... but go to Breville's website to watch a video demo) I love the easy cleanup and the shoot to feed fruits and veggies is large ... it will handle a whole small apple. Less cutting up things into small pieces, less time it takes to make the juice. It is a big plus. It's downfall is that it will not do wheatgrass. But there is a great little hand crank wheatgrass juicer on the market (called the Healthy Juicer by Lexen) that works like a charm. It is under $50 including shipping. There is a great shoppe on eBay that sells it and ships fast. Makes perfect wheatgrass shots in a flash!

Obviously, I'm a believer in the juicing thing ... I think you are onto a good idea.
Best wishes to you and you mom. xx love, zUzU

[Jenny Kube]

Thank you so much everybody!!!
I feel confident I can start right now with my blender and just strain it. I will check into all the suggested blenders, and craigslist is a great idea!!! Thank you for all your encouragement. I'm still a bit overwhelmed with the whole idea of facing cancer again and feel my brain is running in panic. All the lights and sirens are on simultaneously. I need to take a deep breath and come up with a positive plan of action.

I will not make my mom do anything, trust me I know where I got my stubborn, feisty attitude from. God bless it, it is what saved her the last time. I always say, where there is a will there is a way, and when it's God's will, game on!! But I know if it's not her will to try my ideas, then I need to lovingly support her decision.

I will defiantly be thinking GREEN. I have been researching recipes and carrots where very popular; I will continue to do more research. I have to say I think greens are best from personal experience. They make me feel good; hopefully they will work for her too.

Thanks again for all the love and fantastic ideas. I am so grateful. If you think of anything else please feel free to share with me. HUGS!!!!!!!!! Jenny

[Jennifer H]

where do I get a nut milk bag?

[Jenny Kube]

Thank you Bette!!!
Yes I too am a big believer in the power of your own mind to heal yourself. My mom is new to the idea but I think she is seeing how important it is. I feel like I need to help her get good nutrition and that will lead to the strength, energy, and focus she needs to be healthy in mind, spirit, and body. That is where the chemo drugs don't help; they cloud your mind and often cause depression. It's so hard to stay positive and focused on being healthy when you are so drugged up. I'm not saying there isn't a place for doctors, or modern meds. I'm just saying each person has to find the balance that works for them.
In my moms case the doctors where uncertain what to do if the last round of chemo didn't work. She had an inoperable tumor. She made up her mind before the last scan that she was not going to do any more chemo treatments or anything to do with the doctors. She wanted to get back to her life and stop waiting to die. She had grandbabies to live for and wanted to enjoy them with out feeling all crumby on the drugs. Her scan showed that the tumor had completely disappeared. The doctors even said it was a miracle. I believe it's was her decision to live that made the tumor disappear. I'm not sure what she believes; I guess that it was a combination of things. And maybe that’s true but there was power behind her decision to live. I saw it. The scan proves it. That was two years ago and now cancer has returned.
Now I'm just trying to encourage her to eat healthy so she has the ability to focus her mind on the positive things and heal herself again. I know I need to take care of me too; I can't help anyone if I get run down. I will be taking extra meditation and/or yoga time for me. And when all else fails I just get out my hula hoop, put on some good music, and hoop dance. Time for some new hoop tricks to celebrate how much I LOVE life, how good it is to have friends like you for such wonderful advise, and how much I LOVE my Mama. God is so good to me.
Thanks again, With much gratitude, Jenny.

Bette said:

LOVE IS VERY POWERFUL. Also the MIND can reinforce wellness. If the mind says sick and focus on sick, body follows. Wellness mentality leads the body toward wellness. There are so many things people can do to heal....limitless.

Juicing and especially greens, is one thing most healing cneters focus on.

If I had cancer, I think that is all I would have is green juice. No food to give my body and organs work to do. Only juice to feed and nourish. And never food after 6 p.m. as my body could truly heal while asleep nstead of working on digesting food.

Those are my thoughts Jenny. Remember to take care of you too. This is alot for you to handle.Bless you for mother love.

[Michelle Stacy Rademacher]

Hey there, I thought I would throw in my two cents, as I have a Jack Lalanne juicer and LOVE it! In know I know, but I got it at a garage sale for 5bucks! Some of my friends also wanted one and I have found 3 for people at garage sales all for under 15 bucks or less each! They do sell them brand new (obviously) at Costco for $90 - it's a stainless one so it looks good, and target sells them for $100 I think. For the money I think it's a great juicer - especially if you are on a "budget"! Good luck and I'll be praying for your mom and you for restored health! Michelle

[Bunny Berry]

You can get one at www.NaturalZing.com

Jennifer H said:

where do I get a nut milk bag?