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Broccoli Beet Juice and Juicing FAQ

This broccoli beet juice recipe will nourish you, and our juicing FAQ answers all of the questions we get about juicing and juice cleanse. 

FAQ originally published August 10, 2011

 

Two glasses of deep red fresh juice on a white background. A large tree of broccoli, a half lemon, and a garlic bulb sit next to the juice, indicating some of the vegetables that were juiced.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS - Jump to any section:

    1. Why you'll love this juice
    2. Benefits of juicing
    3. FAQ: We answer reader questions
    4. Jump to recipe: Broccoli Beet Juice

 

A brushed stainless steel juicer pours bright orange juice out into a glass pitcher with a handle.

 

Simple and tasty juice recipe

I am not a medical professional dispensing advice; anyone contemplating a dietary change should first consult their doctor. I am simply sharing my own experiences and what worked for me. Every person is different, with a variety of dietary needs, and what works for one may not be best for another.

This broccoli beet juice is one of many nourishing recipes we created during our juice cleanse. Deep earthy flavors of beet pair with bright lemon and vitamin rich broccoli. We love these flavors as is, and will add an apple or carrots if we want our juice a little sweeter.

In the summer of 2011, we completed a juice fast and enjoyed a raw food diet. We have been juicing ever since - several times a week. We include raw foods in our meal plans, which has been beneficial. 

Our version of a juice fast is actually a feast. In addition to fresh juice, we eat nuts for protein and energy, and whole fruits and vegetables for fiber and satisfying our need to crunch and eat.

 

Two glasses of deep red fresh juice on a white background. A large tree of broccoli, a half lemon, and a garlic bulb sit next to the juice, indicating some of the vegetables that were juiced.

 

Benefits of a juice fast

In addition to the benefit of extra energy, detoxing and improved sleep, raw food recipes found us both headache free, with no allergy or congestion symptoms, and for me, less joint / muscle pain. I am more aware of how my body acts and reacts, and I feel clear, both internally and in my mind.

In addition to nutrient packed juice (still mostly vegetable, generally only one fruit for every 3-4 vegetables), I begin the day with lemon water and probiotics. Daily dry brushing before showering is another self care item I look forward to.

Juice fasting gives your digestive system a break. The body spends little to no energy on digestion, and can expend that in the cleansing and detoxing process. Drinking the juice immediately after juicing gives you the benefits of the enzymes, which improve digestion and increase nutrient absorption.

This process was made easier for me because I have not been drinking coffee or alcohol for quite some time, don't regularly eat sugar or many processed foods. When we have eaten, in most cases I have made very clean choices.

 

One glass of bright orange juice sits on a bright white surface. Two lemon halves, a large broccoli tree, and a garlic bulb sit next to the juice.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are you getting enough protein?

I have heard doctors, nutritionists, other qualified professionals say there is too much focus on protein. In the past, I have been one of these people, always making sure there is a good amount of protein included in each meal and snack. What I have realized is that for short periods of time, I get an adequate amount of protein and other nutrients with a juice fast – broccoli and spinach are both great sources.

Additionally, fresh juice is a highly digestible food that is packed with nutrients, raw enzymes, vitamins and antioxidants. In our method of "feasting" fast, I get healthy fats from avocado, nuts, and omegas (flax, chia). Fats are important for so many reasons, and without adequate amounts, our bodies are in starvation mode and store fat.

What is grocery shopping like?

When we started juicing regularly, I learned very quickly which markets have reasonably priced organics. Even more importantly, I learned which markets have the highest quality produce and which ones do not.

Normally the majority of my grocery shopping is from the produce section. Bulk items and staples like beans, grains and pasta make up the rest. My shopping now is even more efficient – I have a master list of all the vegetables and fruit we like, and I check what is needed before I leave the house.

Portland’s farmers markets have been a great source of many of our veggies, and we know they are fresh and local.

Do you use organic, and why?

I buy as much organic as possible, if it looks good. If the non organic looks fresher or what I want isn’t available, I’ll buy non organic. I then make sure to scrub clean (I do this with everything) and in some cases I will take the time to peel the skin.

Why do I use organic? Little to no chemicals, wax residue or preservatives is a good thing, and the absence of those things also means fresher produce with more nutrients. Also, organic pulp can be used things like dog treats – no waste!

Organic produce or not, juicing is highly beneficial.

How can I start juicing?

Prepare ahead of time. A week or so prior, cut back and stop coffee, alcohol, processed foods - eating as clean as possible.

If you can fast for at least 10 days you will see benefits. The first couple days of a juice fast, your body is processing the food remaining in your digestive system. The next couple of days, your body focuses on the reserves stored in your liver. After 3-5 days, your juice fast really begins!

Start with your favorite fruit and vegetables, so it will be something you want to consume. Gradually move to most if not all vegetables, with one fruit here and there. Plan to shop every few days if possible, or invest in green bags that prolong the life of produce.

Finally, know where you can find fresh juice away from home – juice bars, gyms, even Jamba Juice has fresh juice!

Did you have unpleasant reactions?

Since I juice regularly anyway, and eat fairly clean much of the time, I did not experience many of the common side effects of a juice fast. Some of the possible temporary effects resulting from detoxing include headaches, dizziness, breakouts, feeling tired or lethargic, weight loss.

The first couple of days I was a little tired, and in five weeks I have had ONE headache (a happy and positive side effect!). I lost 10 pounds in the first couple weeks, and another 5 since. I am not in the habit of a scale, and I think the weight loss has plateaued.

The positives include increased energy and we feel incredibly healthy!

How do you know what tastes good; do you have a favorite recipe?

I don’t always know what will taste good – trust me, not all of my juices turn out well!

I have had to go back and add some pineapple or apple to mask some interesting flavors. I happen to be one of those people who loves the taste of greens, so most things still taste good to me.

I am juicing for Jason, too, and while he likes a lot of flavor combinations too, I do try to make things taste good and have a vast collection of recipes for all of your juicing needs!

How long will you do this?

I am currently on a 2 week fast, the end of which is timed with an upcoming event. (We have had weddings, house guests, birthdays and other events where we happily broke fast).

We are loving this, and are talking about keeping it up long term in some form. I have some great new raw food recipe ideas that I cannot WAIT to incorporate, and will juice regularly, at least once a day.

Are you still exercising?

I am exercising regularly while juice fasting. For the first week, it was very little – walking only. Now I am running (or at least faced paced walking!), weight lifting, and all of my regular activities at regular intensity depending on the day.

Do you juice once a day to drink all day, or several times a day?

The enzymes and nutrients in fresh juice begin to break down immediately, so I drink it immediately and make fresh juice each time to get the most out of my juicing. Yes, I know for many, the biggest complaint is having to clean the juicer.

Do you clean your juicer each time?

Yes, I do clean my juicer each time I juice.

I make myself clean it before I drink my juice, and it really only takes a few more minutes, at most. I have it down to a pretty quick routine now:

  1. Turn on the hot water as soon as I am done juicing
  2. Grab my scrub brush and just clean each piece as I take it apart
  3. Stack all juicer components on drying mat

After much use and sitting on the drying rack by my kitchen window sometimes in the sun, the pieces have become slightly cloudy over time. This does not affect the juice or juicer at all.

Additionally, once or twice a week I’ll run the dishwasher safe pieces through the dishwasher (EXCEPT the plunger – that will melt / lose shape and not fit right after).

Yes, it can be a pain with what, six pieces plus wiping down the base, but when I think of cleaning dishes and cooking equipment, I think it more than balances out. If you think of how much time you are probably saving, the extra clean up each time might be more manageable?

What kind of juicer do you have?

When we started juicing, we used thisjuice fountain, which is the same juicer Joe Cross uses in the documentary Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. Jason and I saw this movie about a week after we began our fast, and it completely validated what we were doing, and gave us even more motivation. 

When we realized juicing was going to be a standard practice, we upgraded to a cold press, twin gear juice extractor. This juicer is extremely efficient, producing a large amount of juice and minimal pulp, which is very dry.

It juices leafy greens very well also - I never juiced greens in my centrifugal, instead I would juice and then blend the greens in after. I still do this for more protein (spinach), but if I want only juice, we now have the benefit of greens.

Another benefit of the Super Angel - the twin gear mechanism grinds the produce in such a way that the enzymes do not immediately begin to break down - I still drink most of the juice right away, but if we want to take juice with us to work during the day, it will still be nutrient rich hours later.

 

Two glasses of deep red fresh juice on a white background. A large tree of broccoli, a half lemon, and a garlic bulb sit next to the juice, indicating some of the vegetables that were juiced.

 

Did you make this broccoli beet juice? 

⭐️ Leaving a review helps us bring you more recipes. ⭐️ Follow spabettie on Instagram and tag us with #spabettie - We love seeing your recipe photos and remakes - thank you!

Yield: 2 servings

Broccoli Beet Juice

Two glasses of deep red fresh juice on a white background. A large tree of broccoli, a half lemon, and a garlic bulb sit next to the juice, indicating some of the vegetables that were juiced.

Easily increase your daily veggie intake with this bright and earthy juice. We answer all of our reader questions about juicing!

Prep Time 7 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Juice the garlic clove first, so the other veggies can push the garlic residue through the juicer.
  2. Continue juicing the lemons, beets, and broccoli.
  3. Pour juice into glasses and enjoy immediately.

Notes

Benefits of this juice blend

First, I am not a doctor, and I am not qualified to give medical advice. Juicing does not replace any medical plan or medications. Juicing can be part of a healthy diet and a way to ensure you are getting nutrients through recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.

If you do not have a juicer but you do have a powerful high speed blender, you can chop all of these veggies small enough to blend at high speed, making a delicious smoothie with all the fiber benefits.

You can also simply eat these veggies! Make a big salad brimming with the beneficial fiber in addition to the other benefits these vegetables bring.

I chose the first 5 ingredients of this recipe for their vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant properties, which is feel good energy for me! The other fruit ingredients were chosen for natural sweetness.

For potential benefits of these specific vegetables, let's go down the ingredient list:

How we recover from travel, exercise, and more

We travel pretty often, for both business and vacation.

Travel can be exhausting in many ways. Long travel days, recycled airplane air, late nights, dinners out, celebratory cocktails and fun, fun, fun. All of this can wear you down.

When I return home from travel, I crave fresh food like avocado shiitake spring rolls, juicy grapefruit kale salad, and flavorful and satisfying Mediterranean lentil salad.

I also use my juicer to make deliciously beneficial juice like this one, that I call my healthy defense juice.

We have been juicing regularly for at least a couple decades, and we love it so much! We used a few juicers until we got serious and invested in a cold press, horizontal twin gear slow juicer. 

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 188Total Fat: 1gSodium: 71mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 4gSugar: 5gProtein: 4g

nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.

© Kristina Sloggett
Cuisine: Gluten Free / Category: daily juice

about Kristina:

Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food!  Read more...

Kristina sits on a deck chair in the back yard with her dog, Dutch.

spabettie / Kristina Sloggett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. eva @5fruitsNveggies says

    great post!...just more confirmation why i do it!...
    ps i just learned i could juice watermelon rind---tastes like cucumber...bumps up my juice volume by a ton...
    ppss another day of a mix of veggie & fruit scraps...carrot peels & stumps, asparagus woody stems, kale ribs, pineapple core, 2 lemons, 8 stalks of celery, a small stub of ginger, a handful of parsley--and no, it does not taste great, but i feel amazing afterwards--always...

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      thank you, Eva! your positive support helps and always makes me smile!!

      and, wow! I didn't know about watermelon - thanks for the heads up! 🙂 I love to save pineapple for the times I'm juicing the beet greens, other things that may not be the best flavor! 🙂

      Reply

      • eva @5fruitsNveggies says

        i know, i am so excited about watermelon rind---i've learned it has tons of chorophyll

      • spabettie says

        so awesome - I better get some watermelon while I still can! 😀

  2. rivki says

    Great post. Thanks for sharing this experience with us.

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      you are so welcome, Rivki! thank you as always for reading!

      Reply

  3. Kris @krazy_kris says

    So interesting! I never thought you were a nut! I've given weak attempts at a juice fast a long time ago and couldn't pull it off. I'm a big believer that it is a great chance to give the body a rest tho. All that nutrient dense enzymatic goodness is so easy to absorb without having to break it down. I've been so impressed by the diversity of foods that you've been drinking! How else would you get all that good stuff without juicing it? I guess you could cook and chop it but I'm guessing you normally wouldn't eat 8 carrots, 4 apples, 1pineapple and a bag of spinach in a day And that's not all you're having I'm sure! thanks so much for the info and great tips. I'm still threatening to pull mine out 🙂

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      it IS a great "rest" for your body - I keep forgetting to include that important point! and yes, it would take me forever to eat the volume of fruit and veggies I juice every day! although I am known for annihilating one of those big boxes of spinach in a couple days time... 😉

      once you see your friend Fit Stanley juicing, perhaps you'll want to start! 😀

      Reply

      • Kris @Krazy_Kris says

        tick tock...
        he's leavin' on a jet plane....

        all together now!

      • spabettie says

        heee! 🙂

  4. Roz@weightingfor50 says

    Sounds like it has been excellent for you!!! Not sure if I could do a whole fast, but as I've mentioned before, your posts are inspiring me to look out for a juicer!!!! All the best!!!

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      thank you, Roz! it has been great in many ways! even before the fast, just having a juicer changed our life! 🙂

      Reply

  5. Heather (Where's the Beach) says

    Great, informational post. I really enjoyed reading this. I don't have a juicer, but sometimes I sure wish I did. You juice cocktails always look amazing. I'll admit, however, not sure I could just do juice. Anytime I have something like a protein shake, I never feel satisfied. I want to chew....

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      thank you Heather!! that means A LOT coming from you - I admire your kitchen creativity and your recipes, as well as your approach to fitness and health. and to each their own, I know this isn't for everyone! 😀 there have been a couple times we wanted to eat, and most of those times... we ate!! a small part of this is the willpower thing, it's a good feeling to know I can do this! mainly though we both wanted to go a certain number of days to get a "fasting" benefit, and we have.

      Reply

  6. sophia says

    To be honest I hate juices! But goodness, all your recent shots of juice just really brightens up my perspective towards them. Interesting Q&A to the juice fast. I always just thought it was a fad, but I'm glad it's working well for you. 🙂

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      thanks, Sophia! I know fresh juicing is an acquired taste for some, so it's nice to know my photos and recipes at least have you looking at juice more favorably! 🙂 it's been an interesting and invigorating experience, and one I would do again! the way we did it - with real vegetables and fruit and actually feeling full - is definitely not a fad... I could never do a fast without nutrients (master cleanse kind of thing!) or with a bunch of pills to take...

      Reply

  7. Amber Shea @Almost Vegan says

    Wow, good for you! Juice fasts are tough, especially ones that lengthy, so way to go 🙂

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      thank you Amber!! 😀

      Reply

  8. Dorry says

    Interesting to read more about your experience. I could never do this with my schedule right now because I spend very little time at home during the day! Haha. I do enjoy fresh juice from Whole Foods or Daily Juice in Austin every now and then, but they are so pricey so I don't make it a habit...

    I know I'd love many of your creations, however!

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      there have been days that are trickier than others, and we have found restaurants / juice bars along the way... and Jamba Juice makes green juices for us - apparently they used to make them all the time, and are just not on the menu anymore - actual juice from all kinds of veggies! 😀

      Reply

  9. Lauren @ Team Giles says

    This is a fantastic post, so much information. I've been talking with the Hubs about us doing more juicing and jumping on the green drink train... I think it'd be good for us.

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      I was so excited when I declared one Sunday that I was "starting a juice fast tomorrow" and Jason said OKAY! he was doing it too! 😀 it's been really great to do with him, where we can support each other, commiserate together and keep each other going.

      Reply

  10. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says

    This is so informative and helpful, Kris. Thanks for sharing what worked for you and your experience and being so open.

    The reason I dont juice more is that i HATE juicer cleanup, it takes me forever! I have a Breville Juice Fountain Elite in Stainless steel and it just takes...sooooo long for me to truly get ALL the pulp out of the filter and all the other parts, too. Ugh!

    Reply

    • spabettie says

      thank you, Averie! I am glad I shared, most have been very supportive and it only makes it clear to me that my approach has been one that is healthy, not dangerous or starvation in any way... and the fact that people have told me I've been a motivator to them? YEEE! I love that. 😀

      Reply

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