Juicing: Organic + Local = Best

When I teach workshops on juicing, I always recommend that people choose organic and local fruits and vegetables to juice as much as possible.

Why organic?

Organic ensures the highest quality drink. Organic fruits and vegetables have been shown to be more nutritious and have greater enzyme activity, compared to conventional produce.

When a plant is grown organically, it must defend itself from bugs and other harsh conditions (e.g. dryness, too much rain, etc.). These defense mechanisms the plant uses to survive are the very same mechanisms that fight cancer and other diseases in our bodies. We call these compounds antioxidants.

Organic produce is also non-GMO and free from insecticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, and other chemicals. The herbicide Roundup is one of the most toxic substances you can put in your body. Concentrating a chemical like Roundup with a press type juicer and drinking it is extremely harmful.

Environmentally, organic farming is more natural and more sustainable for planetary harmony and cooperation.

It is unfortunate that organic farmers have to go to great lengths to obtain certification and are in no way assisted by subsidies and government bodies to provide their produce at a competitive cost.

As you all probably know, organic costs more at the store, but put into a long-term perspective spending extra money to buy organic is worth it now when you consider the likelihood of spending thousands of dollars on health expenses later.

Why local?

If you live in a town or city with a local farmers market, GO CHECK IT OUT! Even in my small hometown in Louisiana, there are a couple markets, and a handful of farmers who sell fresh organic produce.

It is extremely important to support local farmers. They are working their tails off to provide an amazing service to the community. They are kind people who are doing things the natural way, largely unsupported by corporate interests and government subsidies. We have the chance every time we buy food to vote with our dollars for what we would like to be available and affordable.

The price is a lot better too when you buy seasonal and local. I can get bags and bags of food from the farmers market and a car full of melons. Spending the same amount of money at the supermarket on organic I can maybe get a couple bags of food.

When we buy local produce, we are also consuming local microorganisms that will help us thrive in our environment. For example, eating food from Louisiana while living in Louisiana will help protect me from pathogens and allergens and other influences specific to this area. On the other hand, eating food from California while in Louisiana might help me out if I were to take a trip to California.

Eating local aligns one’s body with the natural rhythms of the environment and help shapes one’s gut flora and microorganisms. We have more of them (microorganisms) in us than our own cells!

Environmentally, local food conserves more energy than food shipped halfway across the country or the world. By buying local, you are reducing your impact on the environment. Woohoo!

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.