![\"Beautiful](\"https:\/\/cdn.foodrevolution.org\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=75,format=auto\/foodrevolution.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/iStock-2010217072.jpg\")
If you\u2019re looking to enhance your daily water intake by adding a hydrating and nutrient-dense twist, then freshly squeezed juices can be a tasty way to do that. Recommendations<\/a> for fluid consumption are approximately 9 cups a day for women and 13 cups a day for men.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a more individualized approach<\/a> to staying hydrated, divide your weight (in pounds) in half and aim to consume that amount of water daily in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you would want to drink about 75 ounces (9\u201310 cups) of water or other hydrating liquids a day.<\/p>\n To keep your blood sugar balanced and under control, consider juicing all vegetables or a combination of mostly vegetables with a small amount of fruit to add just a touch of sweetness.<\/strong><\/p>\n We typically recommend whole fruit over fruit juice, since whole fruit can offset the natural sugar in fruit due to its fiber content. Fruit juice tends to be a more concentrated source of sugar, even though it\u2019s natural. Some experts<\/a> recommend no more than \u00be\u20131 cup of fruit juice a day for that reason.<\/p>\n That said, research<\/a> suggests that polyphenols could become more bioavailable when fruits are juiced rather than consumed whole because fiber inhibits some of those compounds.<\/p>\n Juicing can be healthy for many people due to the concentration of nutrients. Some of the benefits of juicing include:<\/p>\n To streamline your juicing process, it may be helpful to wash and chop your fruits and veggies the moment you get home from the grocery store, farmers market, or garden. Use this practice only if you plan to juice within two days, as moisture from washing can cause rapid spoiling.<\/p>\n Washing fresh produce will prevent you from sipping on gritty juice by removing dirt, sand, and other residue. It will also help remove pesticides if you\u2019re using conventional produce.<\/p>\n For the most effective methods to remove pesticide chemicals from produce, read our article How to Wash Vegetables and Fruits to Remove Pesticides<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s best to cut your produce into chunks or pieces before feeding them into your juicer.<\/strong> Doing so makes the process more manageable and reduces the possibility of clogging your juicer.<\/p>\n To avoid bitter juice, you can remove the tough rinds of oranges, lemons, and limes. If you don\u2019t have time, it\u2019s also fine to keep the skin and rind on while funneling them through the juicer. Just know that it may result in more bitter flavors.<\/p>\n To keep your juicer running smoothly, definitely remove very hard skins from produce, like melons. To avoid jamming \u2014 or worse, breaking \u2014 your juicer or blender, you\u2019ll also want to remove hard pits from fruits like peaches or apricots.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve fed your juicer or blender and have crafted beautiful freshly squeezed juice, it\u2019s time to strain it using a fine mesh strainer<\/a> or a nut milk bag<\/a>. Straining will leave the fiber behind. So if you\u2019re looking to optimize nutrition and don\u2019t mind textured juice with pulp, simply start sipping instead of straining!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a lover of pulp-free juice but hate the thought of wasting good nutrition (we\u2019re with you!), read our article on What to Do With Juicer Pulp<\/i><\/a>. Using the pulp in other culinary applications allows you to still benefit from the fiber<\/a> in the fruits and vegetables \u2014 something that is severely lacking in many people\u2019s diets.<\/p>\n For the best flavor and to optimize nutrition, consume your juice immediately or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2\u20133 days.<\/strong> Note that it may lose some of its fresh flavor. And the nutritional value will decrease with each day it\u2019s stored. P.S. We\u2019ve also had success freezing juice in an airtight freezer-safe container<\/a> for up to one month! Defrost the juice by bringing it to the refrigerator until it\u2019s thawed and ready to drink.<\/p>\n Since juice residue can easily build up on juicing parts and blenders, it\u2019s best to clean your juicer or blender immediately after juicing. Start by dismantling the parts for individual cleaning, then soak and scrub with soapy water. Check with your individual manufacturer, as some parts may be dishwasher-safe. Follow the cleaning instructions from your juicer\u2019s user manual.<\/p>\n In the video below, you\u2019ll learn about:<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also see a demonstration of how to use a masticating juicer<\/a> and how to juice using a blender<\/a> and nut milk bag<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Juicing Benefits<\/h2>\n
\n
Juicing Tips and Instructions<\/h2>\n
Wash Fruits and Veggies<\/h3>\n
![\"Many](\"https:\/\/cdn.foodrevolution.org\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=75,format=auto\/foodrevolution.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/iStock-1131592177.jpg\")
Cut Up Fruit and Remove Rinds<\/h3>\n
Straining and Storing Your Juice<\/h3>\n
![\"Preparing](\"https:\/\/cdn.foodrevolution.org\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=75,format=auto\/foodrevolution.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/iStock-1324675907.jpg\")
Cleaning a Juicer<\/h3>\n
How to Use a Juicer<\/h2>\n
![\"focused](\"https:\/\/cdn.foodrevolution.org\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=75,format=auto\/foodrevolution.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/iStock-1001401422.jpg\")
\n