You may have come across the term ‘cold pressed juice’ and wondered what it is. With so many different juices in the supermarket to choose from, it can be confusing to nail down what this actually means. We’ve got the answer for you!

What is cold pressed juice?

In simple terms, cold Pressed Juice refers to the process of juice being extracted directly from fruits and vegetables. This allows for the most nutrients and enzymes to remain intact.

In most cases, fruit juice is usually extracted from high-pressure processing. This has been proven to have far less nutritional value than cold pressed juicing, due to the heat and speed involved.

The History of Cold Pressed Juices

If you have never heard of cold Pressed Juice, it’s probably because it hasn’t been around that long. Although it has actually existed for over 30 years, it didn’t hit popularity until the early 2000s.

Celebrities including the likes of Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow have also publicized cold pressed juice benefits . Their efforts saw  the trend of cold pressed juicing skyrocket in the early 2010s and has since become a worldwide phenomenon.

What does the cold press process involve?

The process of cold pressed juicing is split into two parts.

First and foremost, the fruits and vegetables are shredded into a pulp by the rotating disk. The extracts from the fruit are then passed onto into a large tube and straight into a filter bag.

The fruit extracts are faced with pressure in between plates, which causes the juice to drip onto a tray underneath.

Check it out here:

As the term suggests, there is very minimal heat involved in the ‘cold pressed juicing’ process. Traditional centrifugal juicers typically use heat and steam to force the juice out of the fruit. However, cold press juicing only uses rotating blades to force the juice out of the fruit.

Why is heat so bad for fruit?

Unlike cold pressed juicers, the heat from centrifugal juicers destroys the nutrients contained within it, which makes the juice healthy and nutritional. Did you know that raw broccoli and carrots contain more nutritional value than boiled?

Of course, it’s not as appetizing to eat raw vegetables, which is why many of use to choose to cook them.

Fruit, on the other hand, is supposed to be eaten raw, so no heat should be needed to create the juice. This is why cold pressed juice has become much more popular than more traditional methods.

What do you need to know about cold pressed juice?

Now we have covered what cold pressed juice actually is, what are some of the important points you need to know about it?

Look at the label

When you pick up a bottle of juice from the supermarket, it can be hard to understand what a label is saying. In some cases, it completely misleads you to select a product that isn’t that healthy.

Although a label may state that it’s ‘all natural’ or ‘100% fruit’ – is this actually the case?

According to some experts, apparently not.

What you should be looking out for in cold pressed juice brands is the labels which read ‘100% organic’. Be sure to check out the list of ingredients on the packaging to find out what’s actually contained.

Also pay attention to the ‘best before date’. Some juices last no more than three days even when unopened. You therefore, have very little time to consume it before it needs to be discarded.

SEE ALSO: 7 THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING HEALTHY JUICE

Check the calories

While cold pressed juice is flavorsome, most people are completely unaware that it contains tonnes of calories. So, while you may be heading to the nearest shop to purchase this ‘natural’ juice, you may be asking yourself why you’re feeling full and unable to eat food afterwards.

Well there’s one reason for this, and that’s because more fruit and vegetables are used to create juices than what’s typically eaten in a salad! So, when you drink a few glasses, you instantly feel full.

It’s important you don’t drink too much juice throughout the day, or it may force you to skip meals. You shouldn’t be missing out miss out on important nutrients for a healthy diet.

Understand juice cleansing

One of the questions that may be on your lips: is it safe to drink cold pressed juice as an alternative to food?

This wouldn’t be advised. It cannot provide you with enough nutrition or vitamins that your body needs to function efficiently. However, it would make a fantastic alternative for snacking instead of stuffing yourself with junk.

Health professionals claim that juice cleanses are a good idea if you’re having trouble with your gut or are feeling unwell after a junk-food binge. Apart from that, you shouldn’t be drinking them as a meal replacement.

What are the benefits of juicing?

Now we have covered all of the basics of cold pressed juices, what are the main cold pressed juice benefits you should know about?

1. Anti-aging

As you’re probably aware, healthy food is important to keep our digestive system happy. It also has direct links to how we look and feel in ourselves.

As you’ll be drinking pure extract from fruit and vegetables, you’re essentially giving your body the healthy kickstart needed.

Toxins will be flushed out  flush out to keep you feeling younger for longer. Consuming plenty of fruit and veg keeps your heart happy, as well as improving your skin and hair health.

2. Reduced stress levels

Amino acid tryptophan contained within fruits has been proven by health professionals to sustain better mental health and a good night’s sleep. Spinach also contains this nutrient, so would be an ingredient to add to your cold pressed juice recipes.

3. Weight loss

Snacking throughout the day can have an impact on the amount of weight you carry.  The increased number of calories that are being consumed will take effect.

Cold pressed juice is an ideal snacking alternative, as it only contains calories within fruit and vegetables. This is unlike traditional juices that often contain extra ingredients you may be unaware of.

Best cold pressed juicers on the market

The good news is that you can purchase your very own cold pressed juicer in the store, so you can create your own juice blend.

These juicers are different from the standard centrifugal juicer which blends the fruit at high speeds and turns the fruit and vegetables into a foamy liquid. On the other hand, cold pressed juicers blend the fruit slowly to ensure those vital ingredients aren’t lost.

Check out these juicing tips for beginners before selecting the best juicer for you.

HUROM’S HU-100 MASTICATING SLOW JUICER

As promised on the packaging, this juicer extracts 35% more juice than other juicers on the market. This is why it was voted as one of the best for 2019.

It features ‘Slow Squeeze Technology’ so that the essential vitamins aren’t lost within the extraction process, as well as ensuring great taste. You’ll also be pleased to know that it’s almost silent when working its magic.

OMEGA’S J8006 NUTRITION CENTER JUICER

This juicer can handle almost anything thrown its way – whether it be nuts garlic coffee, wheatgrass and a vast selection of fruits and vegetables.

It features a GE Ultem juicing auger that 8 times faster than most others on the market. However, it’s almost silent during the juicing process.

TRIBEST’S GREENSTAR ELITE GSE-5050 JUMBO TWIN GEAR COLD PRESS JUICE EXTRACTOR

This juicer works on absolutely everything – from vegetables, fruit, nuts and herbs, so you’re guaranteed to get top nutrition.

It features a clever automatic pulp ejector, so you don’t have to get rid of the pulp yourself. It is easy to carry around with its grip handle. What’s more – it comes with a generous 12-year warranty; so, it’s guaranteed to last you into the long-term future.

Have you tried cold pressed juice?

Let us know your thoughts on the best brands from the store or any recipes you have tried!

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