Ok...so who's juicing?

[joboo]

I got home today to see that the juicer I ordered arrived at my doorstep. The Omega Vert 350 HD

http://www.discountjuicers.com/images/VRT350.jpg

The juicer I had before was a centrifugal entry level cheapie. It was ok with carrots, but that's about it. The problem with centrifugal juicers is they can't do leafy greens so well (or at all really).

I have to say this juicer is really good...it's a single auger masticating design. Nice and heavy...very solid unit. I researched the hell out of which one to get for several hours this past weekend, countless youtube demo videos and all. Save yourself the time...this is the one.

Problem solved with this thing. Cabbage, lettuce, celery, parsley, wheat grass, broccoli, kale, chard, tomatoes, apples...it does everything so much better than what I had before.

I didn't even stop to unpack it. I got back in the car, drove straight to the local organic produce store, and went all out. Huge order, got some of everything all down the produce aisle. Lots of stuff I would never eat, but when juiced up and sweetened with apples, carrots, strawberries, etc...it's good to go on a whole new level.

Stop, drop , and roll. If you aren't hooked up with something like this, get it going on. Wish I had something like this years ago. :)

[mick silver]

hey pam you want some spam

[joboo]

hey pam you want some spam

It isn't spam. Research whatever one you think is best, but I can tell you I've already done all the work, and you will come to the same decision.

Take your level of heath to a new level. Eat stuff you don't normally eat, and eat more of it, and eat it raw.

Even if it was spam, it's the best damn advice you're going to get today.

[joboo]

Someone post a better model, if it exists I would like to know about it.

btw, there are countless youtube videos comparing this thing to everything out there. The more expensive models make nut butter (i.e. use dual augers) but are harder to clean. The is no one best model per se.

Some recipes would be nice from other people that have figured out the juicing scenario already.

Never juiced leafy vegetables before, so I just tossed a bunch of everything in, it was dark green, a bit spicy, but very palatable, and I got a slight buzz from it.

[slvrbugjim]

I have juiced for the last 18 months, liver cancer in remission, so they say.

[skid]

I have a champion juicer from the 80's that is still going strong. It's a masticating type too and will also grind wheat with an optional attachment. It is strong and simple...

[osoab]

I have juiced for the last 18 months, liver cancer in remission, so they say.

Glad to hear Jim. You hadn't posted about your status.

Leatril is what I would look at also.

[Shami-Amourae]

Centrifuge juicers are all total shit. You might as well drink water with food coloring in it since that's mostly what it is. You're better off using a blender and a cotton cloth.

Like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lN50NhM4-g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kjpee5B9Y0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPdLW5vWYD4

The blender/cotton cloth method is the poor man's method of juicing that remotely works. Tons of work, time, and cleanup, but it works.

What you really want is a juicer that pulverizes the vegetable to mush, then you put this mush in a hydraulic press which pops the cell walls and releases the enzymes and stuff. Something like the Norwalk Juicer. It's expensive as hell, but they are the best.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjgTl92ovgk

[joboo]

Not sure what it was, but last weekend something just clicked.

Thinking about how your mouth just chews up vegetables to extract the juice anyways i.e. breaks open the cell walls. The plant fiber doesn't digest, as it just passes through (fruit fiber does digest however).

Then I'm thinking about how I would like to not kill (cook) my produce so much all the time, and I want to get more of what's good for me in the produce section, but how the hell do I work raw fennel, and parsley, leeks, chard, and a lot of shit I can't pronounce...(lol) etc...

without a lot of time and effort to cook them up in various recipes, but then I'm killing all the enzymes by going to all that length to cook/prepare, when all I want is the nutrients in the juice inside the cell walls of the plant anyways.

Then I find out about the masticating variety, and the rest is history. The vertical masticating design (hence "Vert") is nice, and it's the latest thing as gravity helps feed the device, instead of having to press the food in all the time.

There was an option to get the "juicing bible" when I ordered, I passed. So far I just toss a bunch of everything in, then sweeten it with pineapple, apples or carrots. Tastes fine.

I just did two heads of brocolli, a pile of baby spinach, a few carrots, and some pineapple, then tossed in some wild blueberries on their own. (I had spiced garlic and ginger chicken to go with it). Anyhow the result of this random juice session was very green, very pulpy (lots of fiber), and very good tasting.

The headache I've had for the past four days in the same place in my head is gone. I actually forgot about it till just now.

Faster, and tons healthier.

On a side note...I found out apparently you have to cook sweet potatoes, as there is a protein digestion inhibiting enzyme in raw sweet potatoes, trypsin or something like that.

Anyhow look into it, if you aren't already doing it.

[StreetsOfGold]

Been juicing for 22 years. Started with a champion (7 years) went to an omega 1000 (or was is a 3000?) don't remember and after about 3 years give it away because it was centrifical and the main problem I had with that was it made to juice too warm... even hot almost and that's not good (destroys the enzymes). Then got a green machine and after about 6 years the plastic parts wore so bad it cracked in places although the motor was still good. Now I have the stainless steel Angel 3500 and love it the best. It cost the most but was well worth it. Low speed (no warm juice) solid and well built, easy (quick) to clean. I highy recommend Normon Walkers books on juicing, his hydrolic press is nice but very expensive.

A side note on the champion, the motor finally bit the dust. It really had a hard time with some veggies and just didn't have the power like the green machine or the angel 3500

[milehi]

I juice nearly everyday. I'd been using a first gen Jack Lalanne until I found a Omega 1000 new in box on Craigs list for 40 bucks. I didn't like the filter and it was a real pain in the ass to clean. It also would jump all over the counter with only a few things tossed in. I'm back to the JL and will be selling the Omega. The JL is fine for what I juice; a tomato, radish, garlic clove, several Thai, Serrano or Fresno chiles, then mixed with juice from one lemon.

[keehah]

How well does it masticate? Since you asked, sort of, after the fact, let me say your juicer looks wimpy. :)

Along with a wheatgrass juicer, this is what I have: Commercial Champion White Juicer (http://www.discountjuicers.com/commercial.html)

Its basically a 1/3 horsepower GE motor and the cutting parts attach to the shaft and housing. Nothing to stop and empty, gets more nutrition and fibre and % recovery, makes great instant smoothies from frozen fruit, can make things like applesause and peanut butter, is very easy to clean and with attachments mill grains and is made in the USA!

Not good for making less than a cup of juice though, it takes a certain volume to prime the hog. But you can run some of the pulp through again at the end to run the last juice out of it.

[Shami-Amourae]

I recommend referring to this page:
http://www.gerson.org/GersonTherapy/gerson_resources-juicers.htm

The Champion is actually very good at grinding down the vegetables to be ready for a separately purchased hydraulic press. To get the best quality/quantity juice, you need a 2 step process of grinding and pressing This gets out the highest percentage of juice than any other method known. Doing a Champion + Hydraulic Press is also much cheaper than the Norwalk, so that's another good path to take.

http://www.juicerpress.com/yahoo_site_admin1/assets/images/blue_press.145103004_std.jpg
K&K Hydraulic Press

[Kali]

A vitamix blender is the way to go.

Forget juicing, drink the whole thing.

[Olmstein]

This guy is juicing.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1x4EHkNpp5U/TReGB-b6XDI/AAAAAAAAAD8/tW9TQJVttuc/s320/bodybuilding-8.jpg

[basplaer]

A vitamix blender is the way to go.

Forget juicing, drink the whole thing.
Yep, I inherited a vitamix total nutrition center. It's gotta be a good 16 years old and still going strong. It will pulverize the cell walls to access all the goodies. Be careful adding all the fruit in for sweetening- you'll end up insulin-resistant.

[joboo]

Big thing is the warranty. Don't settle for less than 10 years, or 15 years.

For a balance of price, ease of use, durability, I definitely got what I needed.

Vertical loading is the way to go hands down. It's like having a spare set of hands during the process.

Hitting up a glass of juice this morning did more for me than a cup of coffee.

[joboo]

Ok so I find out this thing has a 2 horsepower motor, and it weighs as though it is filled with PM's it's literally that heavy for it's size.

My frickn pool pump only had 1/2 horsepower.

Would I pay triple the price for the $1200+ plus model for a tiny bit more juice, and it's slower, and mode tedious to clean....hell no.

Would a want to eat a vitamix slurry porridge of mashed pulp...hell no.

Would I want a 6 ton bottle jack on my kitchen counter, and deal with messy mesh juice bags...sure as hell no.

Not practical, hard to use....it's not going to be used.

The omega vert still edges out the alternatives.

[bellevuebully]

I own one also. Use it daily. Love it.

[bellevuebully]

Be careful adding all the fruit in for sweetening- you'll end up insulin-resistant.


Can you elaborate on this?

I use mine primarily for fruit in the morning. Banana, apple, orange, little bit of frozen pineapple and a handfull of frozen berries. Everyday.

Also, do you have some veg mixes. I haven't really experimented with veggies, but would love to know how to make a good garden cocktail style drink if you know of any. The one's I have experimented with were not so appealing.

[bellevuebully]

I have juiced for the last 18 months, liver cancer in remission, so they say.

Glad to hear jim.

[Kali]

Be careful adding all the fruit in for sweetening- you'll end up insulin-resistant.

I don't believe this for a second.

Maybe if a person is already having insulin related issues but it will not be the cause of any.

[optionT]

Any updates on this juicer? I read some comments that the ejection spout is a poor design. Celery, and other stringy vegetables will clog the chute and needs to be unclogged.

Its between this one and the champion juicer.

[joboo]

Any updates on this juicer? I read some comments that the ejection spout is a poor design. Celery, and other stringy vegetables will clog the shoot and needs to be unclogged.

Its between this one and the champion juicer.

The ejection port will clog on the stringy stuff. So yes, I would consider it a poor design if other ones don't clog.

For items like that I cut into inch or so lengths which pretty much eliminates the problem, but not completely. Another way around it is to alternate between what goes in. Carrots are great at flushing everything out.

It's not a huge deal to unclog it, and I can still get though a juice session without having to take it apart. Use the plastic tool provided so as not to scratch or break anything i.e. don't jam a piece of cutlery in there.

Other than that, so far so good.

[optionT]

Thanks!

Also, what do you think about the omega vrt 330 compared to the 350? Do you think its worth going up to the next model?

[joboo]

Thanks!

Also, what do you think about the omega vrt 330 compared to the 350? Do you think its worth going up to the next model?

I can't remember specifically other than to get the "HD" version because the screens are stronger, and less prone to breaking if you use it a lot. Thought I would mention, I only do a stalk or two of celery per session due to how much it can dominate the juice flavor, so if you plan on doing a lot of celery at once you'll want to chop it up maybe into 1/2 inch lengths.

The ejection port thing can be a bit of a PITA, but the more the ejection port is restricted, the more juice (and pulp) you are forcing through screen to the juice port so to speak, so it's not a total catastrophe. There is a rubber flap on the ejection port that you can move completely out of the way, or close it off altogether. Just be aware it will require attention while using it on anything stringy that isn't cut into smaller lengths. Hope that helps.

[SLV^GLD]

Had a Champion Juicer. Awesome piece of machinery and I loved it. Then I grew up and started eating solid food. The SIL has the juicer in case I get sick enough to have to revert to a liquid diet again.

[sunshine05]

I have this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RLYOEE/ref=oh_details_o06_s01_i00 (Omega J8004)

I got it a few months ago. It juices wheat grass, no problem. Sometimes if it's clogging in the middle, I stop and rinse it and then continue juicing. I'm very happy with it.

[chad]

I have juiced for the last 18 months, liver cancer in remission, so they say.

good to hear jim. what exactly are you juicing with for the liver issues? i have a family member (aunt) with issues.

[mamboni]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ljto3Us644

[joboo]

OMG....that was hilarious.

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/lol/lol-sign.gif
(http://www.sherv.net/lol.sign-emoticon-1361.html)
(http://www.sherv.net/lol.flag.smiley-emoticon-1.html)

[chud]

My wife and I have a Jack Lalanne juicer, it's great.

I don't know if y'all have seen the documentary "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead" but I make the Mean Green juice about once a week: http://www.jointhereboot.com/

[SusanMcGee]

I am using a omega masticating juicer.It's is the best juicer.
For those of you that juice, try this out:
1 cucumber
1 beet
4-5 kale stalks
1 orange
1 lemon/lime
1-2 carrots

Tastes great and is full of healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

[mick silver]

good to see a new member welcome to the forum susan

[Glass]

just poking this thread.

slvrbugjim are you still juicing?

[Neuro]

I have juiced for the last 18 months, liver cancer in remission, so they say.

Statistically you should be dead now...

http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/liver-cancer/statistics


The 1-year survival rate tells you what percent of people live at least 1 year after the cancer is found. Percent means how many out of 100. The 1-year survival rate for people with liver cancer is 44%. The 5-year survival rate is 17%.



Good stuff!