Juicing & Smoothies: Expert Guides and Resources

Green smoothies, which are packed with nutrient-dense fruits and veggies, are gaining popularity for one main reason: They actually work. Even better, they're made from whole foods and they're totally affordable, even for a large family. In just five minutes, you can start making your own green smoothies. Get ready to see and feel a real difference in your health.

Juices and juice smoothies can be nutritious and delicious additions to your diet, and you don't need to go to a smoothie shop to get them. With very little equipment and time, you can make your own juices and smoothies at home.First, you need to know the difference between juices and smoothies. Then you need to know the benefits of juices and smoothies.

Juicing has many, almost too many, benefits to list. And you may find that some benefits you just can’t know until you experience them. If you get into the habit of making and consuming fresh juices twice a day, you’ll sense the juice instantly release nourishment into your bloodstream. © Maridav / Shutterstock.

The trend we know as "juicing" didn't really become popular until around 2010. Today, you can find all types of juicers on the market to help you get more fruits and vegetables into your diet.While juicing daily can bring a lot of health benefits, there are also some risks with juicing, especially for people with certain health conditions or who take prescription medication.

Smoothies use the whole fruit, not just the juice, so you get all the benefits of the fiber and the vitamins. These berry smoothies use frozen fruit, which keep the smoothie thick and creamy.Preparation time: About 15 minutesYield: 4 servings 1 cup fresh or frozen berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries 1 frozen banana 1 cup vanilla yogurt 1/2 cup orange juice, lemonade, or milk (plus more for thinning, if necessary) Peel the banana.

Here is a list of the top ten juice and smoothie ingredients for boosting immunity that may be main ingredients or easily added to smoothies and juices.Antioxidant black fruits©iStockphoto.com/ra3rn All antioxidants, especially black fruits, such as black plums and blackberries, are powerful tools that work to protect your cells from damage so that viruses can’t find an easy way to infect cells.

Antioxidants found in plant foods stop free radicals from doing their damage, but you have to eat enough of them in order for them to work their magic. The best antioxidants are found in the pigments that give plants their color. Here is a list of the very best antioxidant fruit and vegetables. Choose one or two from this list to use as an ingredient in a smoothie or juice or eat them fresh in salads or as a snack — just be sure to get lots of them every single day!

If you're focused on your health, it stands to reason that you want to start with the finest produce so that you get the highest-quality vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Don't compromise. Get the freshest fruits and vegetables you can find. Here's how: Shop for organic produce. There's a reason why certified organic food production is growing all over the world.

Making smoothies and juices from enzyme- and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables means that you’re releasing these virtual sponges into your body. Antioxidants and enzymes work together on the inside of cells to protect against free radicals, and antioxidants also circulate through the blood to neutralize free radicals outside the cell structures.