While I’m fond of all fruits, vegetables, and herbs in nature, there are some that stand out head and shoulders above the rest for juicing. We’ve found the 30 best juicing ingredients that will surely help you to become healthier and active.
Here’s a list of my favorites to juice and why.
Put them at the top of your list when shopping for your juice kitchen or experimenting
with your own recipes.
Apples
Apples are an essential fruit for juicing. They add a light sweetness that can soften stronger vegetable blends, and they combine beautifully with most fruits and vegetables.
Apples contain pectin, which can help the body sweep away toxins and aid in the digestion of fats. They cleanse the digestive system, boost immunity, and can help reduce cholesterol. Sometimes I specify red or green; if not, any apple will do.
Apples add a light sweetness that can soften stronger vegetable blends, but they combine beautifully well with most fruits and vegetables.
Beets
Beets have a unique, but pleasant, taste in juices. They are strong liver cleansers and a good source of iron. Beets are beneficial for building red blood cells.
I occasionally specify either red or golden beets because the strong color and flavor of beets can affect how the juice tastes and how attractive the juice looks.
Bell peppers
Bell peppers are high in silicon, which is needed for strong hair, skin, and nails. Bell peppers add a pleasantly sweet flavor to juices.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable. The flavor is strong, but the benefits are too important to be missed. Broccoli is high in calcium and vitamin C and helps to prevent cancer and regulate blood sugar.
Cabbage
Cabbage juice is not the most appetizing, but it has many health benefits. It’s great for helping to heal ulcers or relieve constipation, and it has wonderful cleansing properties.
It can be made palatable by combining it with other juices, like carrot, that will overpower its flavor.
Carrots
Carrots are very high in betacarotene. They are consumed by many to help prevent cancer, boost immunity, battle infections, give you glowing skin, and ward off macular degeneration. They assist in eliminating bacteria in the colon and parasites.
Carrot juice has been used for centuries to help heal many health ailments naturally, as it has a combination of elements that nourish the entire system.
Some have claimed that the carrot juice molecule is like the blood molecule and that this explains why so many people have found the juice beneficial.
Celery
Celery makes a great base in most juices and has a light salty flavor. It is high in potassium, helps to eliminate excess sodium in the body, and is detoxifying. Celery may help to normalize body temperature and calm nerves.
Cranberries
Tart cranberries are best combined with sweeter fruits. They prevent bacteria from building up in the bladder, prostate, and kidneys. They contain mannose, which keeps the urinary tract free from infection.
They also can help prevent kidney stones.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers yield a lot of juice and provide a neutral base for any blend. They are cleansing, hydrating, and detoxifying and are a natural diuretic. They are often consumed as an aid in regulating blood pressure.
Fennel
Fennel is aromatic and adds a unique licorice-like flavor to juices. It is a beneficial blood builder and good for women with menstrual disorders.
Ginger
Gingerroot adds a spicy flavor and heat to any juice blend. It helps to hide strong flavors of other juices and is fantastic for preventing nausea and aiding digestion.
Grapes
Grapes are high in antioxidants, including resveratrol, which helps fight against free radicals, and they are anti-inflammatory. They yield a lot of juice and make a great sweet base for many juices.
Sometimes I specify red or green grapes, but if not, use whatever grapes you like or have on hand.
Grapefruits
Grapefruits offer a pleasantly sour juice that can easily be sweetened up with the addition of other produce. They are a juicy fruit, so they give a good bang for your buck. They are high in enzymes that help to burn fat and speed up metabolism.
Grapefruits contain salicylic acid, which may help break down the inorganic calcium that can
build up in joints and cause arthritis.
Grapefruits contain salicylic acid, which may help break down the inorganic calcium that can build up in joints and cause arthritis.
Green beans
Green beans don’t yield a lot of juice, but they help to regulate the pancreas and benefit those with blood sugar issues, including diabetics. They pair well with carrots.
Kale
Kale is a hearty green that juices well. It is a powerhouse of nutrition, high in protein, iron, and vitamins K, A, and C, as well as in antioxidants. Kale is highly anti-inflammatory and provides excellent cardiovascular support.
Lemons
Lemons are powerful cleansers and detoxifiers. They are high in vitamin C and highly alkalizing to the body. Lemons have powerful antibacterial properties, stimulate the liver, and increase stimulation of the bowels. They easily hide strong flavors in juices and help to curb appetites.
Oranges
Oranges are a juicy fruit that lends a wonderful flavor to any juice. They are a good source of vitamins C and A and potassium. Oranges are alkalizing to the body and help protect against viral infections.
Parsley
Parsley is high in chlorophyll and when added to juices will help spike natural energy and cleanse heavy metals from the body. Mixed with carrot juice, it’s beneficial for problems related to the eyes. Use either
flat-leaf or curly parsley, as you prefer.
Pears
Pears add a great flavor base to any juice. They help sweep away toxins in the body and are often consumed to reduce cholesterol. Pears are a diuretic and also can have a mild laxative effect.
Pineapples
Pineapples yield a lot of sweet, flavorful juice that combines well with a variety of produce. They are high
in bromelain, which supports the entire digestive system. They help fight inflammation in the body and are often beneficial to those who have chronic pain.
Romaine lettuce
Romaine is a great leafy green for juicing because of its delicate flavor profile. It combines well in almost any fruit or vegetable juice. Romaine is high in potassium and natural sodium. It’s beneficial for those with adrenal problems.
Spinach
Spinach is a favorite leafy green for juices because of its light green taste that doesn’t overpower a juice blend. It’s a great choice for green juice beginners. Spinach juice is an excellent cleanser for the entire digestive tract.
Strawberries
Although strawberries don’t yield a lot of juice, they have an irresistible sweet flavor and are packed with antioxidants to fight free radicals. They are full of lycopene, which may help prevent cancer, and are good for the cardiovascular system.
Sweet potatoes
These root vegetables are underrated. They have double the nutrition of white potatoes and are power-packed with nutrients like beta-carotene. They also have vitamin D, iron, potassium, and magnesium.
The flavor of sweet potatoes is fabulous when juiced, but pure sweet potato juice can be thick, and it is rarely drunk alone. The juice is easily made palatable by pairing it with higher-water-content produce.
Swiss chard
Swiss chard has a strong flavor and therefore needs to be mixed with other produce when juicing. It’s abundant in nutrients that make it beneficial for blood sugar issues, bone health, and eye health.
Swiss chard is abundant in nutrients that make it beneficial for blood sugar issues, bone health, and eye health.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes yield a good amount of juice and contribute toward many tasty vegetable-juice combinations. Tomato juice is rich in calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. It’s also rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which is said to protect the body against various cancers.
Turmeric
Turmeric root is a great addition to any juice. It has long been known to have several useful medicinal properties, including aiding digestive health. It contains volatile oils with anti-inflammatory properties.
Watermelon
Watermelon is highly hydrating and cleansing. It is a natural diuretic and has anticoagulant properties. Watermelon’s sweet juice is addictive.
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is an edible grass grown from wheat berry seeds. It can be juiced with your juices or in a shot by itself.
While you don’t need to consume much wheatgrass to gain its benefits, it doesn’t yield much juice, and you need a special juicer to extract it.
Wheatgrass is used to heal a wide range of ailments. Studies have shown that its nutrient profile builds red blood cell count, detoxifies, extends energy, and repairs DNA.
Zucchini
Zucchini is fabulous for juicing. It provides a wonderful light base for any juice and is a great substitute for cucumbers.
Nutritionally, zucchini supports cardiovascular health by helping to lower cholesterol.