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What is a Cold Press Juicer?
You may have heard a bit about slow or cold press juicing but maybe your not quite sure what makes it so different to regular juice. In this article we will explain the difference between a cold press juicer and a regular or centrifugal juicer, explain the benefits of a cold press juicer and also provide links to help you choose the right juicer to suit you.
If you are already familiar with cold press juicers and are looking to compare different models, see our article 'Vitality 4 Life 2014 Cold Press Juicer Review' page (will be back soon!) which is a portal to our cold press juicer reviews, comparing the wide variety and types of cold press juicers on the market.
So how does a cold press juicer work?
In it's simplest form, a cold press juicer works to separate the juice from the fibre of fruits and vegetables without destroying their vital nutrients and enzymes. The result is a 'living juice'; basically with all the 'good stuff' still intact. Nutrients and enzymes are destroyed when they come into contact with both heat and air.
A regular style or centrifugal juicer uses high powered blades to pulverize the fruits and vegetables into juice. This process exposes the nutrients to air and friction causes heat, thus rapidly deteriorating the quality of the juice. Pre-packaged or store-bought juicer undergoes this same juicing process and is then pasteurized which entails heating the juice to high temperatures (up to 90?C) in a short amount of time to kill bacteria. This kills nutrients and enzymes very quickly. By the time a bottle of juice gets to you, it may be up to 2 years old and have been heated 2 or 3 times.
A cold press juicer works by gently pressing the fruits and vegetables into a pulp to extract juice. There is no friction heat created and the slow pressing minimizes the amount of oxygen the pulp is able to absorb. Think of it like a mortar and pestle, slowing grinding the vegetables rather than spinning and pulverizing them.
This concept of "living juice" was first introduced by Dr. Norman Walker (1886-1985). Dr Walker declared that the enzymes in fruit and vegetables die at temperatures which exceed 50 degrees Celsius. He explained that any juice extractor that used a high-speed blade or centrifuge created friction heat leading to the destruction of enzymes. Since then, this concept has been recognized and adopted by health experts globally. The Hippocrates Institute in Florida have been using cold press juice as part of their world-renowned Life Transformation Programs for over half a century.
Why you should include cold press juice into your diet...
We all know that consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables daily is one of the keys to health and vitality. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, only 7% of adults consume the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables per day. We know that sometimes it just isn't that easy! With our busy schedules and fast paced lifestyles, we tend to put our health and nutrition on the back burner. But did you know juicing can actually be a quick and easy way to get your daily dose? It is surprising to see how many more vegetables you are actually able to consume in one glass of juice as apposed to eating them. In one juice alone you can consume the equivalent of up to 5 carrots or half a bunch of spinach!
You can begin to incorporate a wider variety of fruits and vegetables into your diet. Most of us only generally consume the same fruits and vegetables on a day-to-day basis. It is important to consume a broad spectrum of fruits and vegetables so your body can benefit from a wider range of nutrients. Also it is important for reducing the risk of developing food allergies.
A glass of juice is said to be "the 15 minute nutrient express to health" as juice goes directly to your bloodstream where the nutrients can then be carried to all of the parts of the body where they are needed. Most of us have impaired digestion due to lifestyle choices such as bad diet, alcohol consumption or lack of exercise, so juicing is a great to get a direct hit of nutrients straight to where they are needed most!
Benefits of a cold press juicer vs centrifugal...
Apart from the seemingly endless list of nutritional benefits, a cold press juicer is far better in terms of usability and functionality...
- A cold press juicer will save you money - a cold press juicer will extract up to 35% more juice from fruits and vegetables compared to a centrifugal juicer. This is evident in the wet pulp extracted from a centrifugal juicer and the dry pulp from a cold press juicer. If you were spending just $50 on produce per week, this would be a saving of over $900 per year! The juicer would have paid for itself!
- Cold press juicers are versatile - most cold press juicers double as a food processor, some more than others. With the ability to not only juice but make nut milks, baby foods, frozen fruit sorbets, pasta, dips and more! Most cold press juicers are able to juice leafy green vegetable and wheat grass, unlike a centrifugal juicer.
- Cold press juicers are easy to clean - a cold press juicer has a smaller amount of parts compared to it's centrifugal counterpart. Most parts can generally be rinsed under water and the small juicing screen requires a quick scrub to prevent any build up of fibre. Most cold press juicer come with a cleaning brush included.
- Cold press juicers are quieter - a cold press juicer is significantly quieter than a centrifugal juicer running at around half the decibels.
Choosing a cold press juicer...
There is a wide variety of cold press juicers available on the market today. With such an array it can be a little confusing making the right choice when wanting to purchase a juicer. It is important to choose a juicer which will suit your needs so that you can be happy with your investment.
See our wide range of cold press juicers and find out which one is the best for you!
The best place to start is with our article 'What is the Best Cold Press Juicer for Me?' which will look specifically at your requirements in terms of price, usability or health needs.
Did you find our 'What is a Cold Press Juicer' article helpful? If you’re still not sure, or if you have any questions about our juicers we are happy to help! Don’t hesitate to give us a call, contact us or use our online-chat facilities.