Yes! Diabetics can Juice, Too!

I have several people ask me is it okay to juice as a diabetic. The short answer is YES!

Diabetics can drink juices packed with Carrots, Green Apple, Asparagus, Bittergourd, Cucumber, Fennel, Celery, Collards, Cilantro, Kale, Okra, Spinach, Radicchio, Watercress, Wheatgrass, Grapefruit, Guava, Sweet Potato, Ginger, Berries and more!

I mentioned releasing specialty fuels in a prior post. Juices for diabetics is on my list and will be added to the menu when the taste testing phase is complete.

All of these juices are 70%-80% vegetables and 20%-30% fruit.

Tag someone who can benefit from these naturally low sugar juices.

Juice Up!!!!

This Versus That Thursday: Centrifugal vs. Masticating

Vegan Juiceology prides itself on providing juice lovers with the maximum amount of nutrients in all juices. I’m not going to lie, when I first start juicing, I used a Cuisinart, centrifugal juicer, because that was the most popular kind of juicer. I always go to juice bars and only see a fast juicer.

However, after research, I purchased the Omega 8006, a masticating juice. I used the Omega 8006 to knock out 77 juice orders from January 1, 2018 to March 28, 2018, the time I wrote this post. My ole faithful got me through! Lol. Now, and I mean NOW, I’ve upgraded to commercial cold Pressed juicing equipment using the Good Nature X-1, which can press 25 pounds of produce per minute.

I still have my fast juicer that is collecting dust and will probably never use again, but hey, at least I educated myself on juicers. I still have my Omega 8006 as I still use it from time to time, and it serves as a reminder of my progress as a Juiceologist. I’m truly blessed!

All of my cold pressed juices are pressed using a masticating (slow) juicer, the X-1 with hydraulic force and no heat, to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from fruits, vegetables, roots, and herbs, as well as to extend self life (with lemon slices), which a centrifugal (fast) juicer does not provide. The fast juicer in all of the juice bars I’ve seen are used for convenience, but a lot of nutrients are lose with this method of juicing.

If you have any questions about juicing or living a healthy lifestyle, your Juiceologist is available to answer your questions and help you on your journey!

The Proper Way to Wash Fruits & Vegetables

We all know that fruits and vegetables about grown in various places and under different conditions depending on the geographical location. Some fruits and vegetables are grown on trees while other are grown in the ground. Despite it source, all fruits and vegetables need to be properly washed before juicing and consuming.

Proper to juicing, I used a four step wash process.

Step 1 - Vegetable Wash

Vegetable wash is used to remove pesticides, dirt, wax, and other unknown particles proper to consuming.

Step 2 - Baking Soda Bath

Baking soda is another way to remove pesticides and dirt. Dr. Lili He, lead author at the University of Massachusetts, said, “Pesticide residues may remain on agricultural produce, where they contribute to the total dietary intake of pesticides. Concerns about potential hazards of pesticides to food safety and human health have increased, and therefore, it is desirable to reduce these residues.” Thus, baking can remove up to 96% of pesticides according to research and experiments.

Step 3 - Vinegar Bath

The Vinegar Bath is used to kill additional bacteria on fruits and vegetables. Upon additional research, I found a study in the “Journal of Food Protection” published in 2013, which found that washing fruits and vegetables in vinegar reduce salmonella on the skin versus rinsing with only water. Furthermore, Jack Bishop, editor of “Cooks Illustrated,” conducted an experiment that revealed 98% of bacteria was killed on the skin of fruits and vegetables after washing it in a vinegar bath. Needless to say, vinegar is definitely an important part of having cleaned food.

Step 4 - Rinse

The Rinse step is to make sure any excess dirt or vegetable wash, baking soda, and vinegar is rinsed down the drain.

So, now that you know my process of washing fruits and vegetables, next time you go in a restaurant or food establishment and they crack open a bag of spinach or kale, or they don’t properly wash their produce, remember the amount of pesticides and bacteria you can potentially consume.

Rest assured, that Vegan Juiceology, using properly cleansed produce in all cold pressed juices.

From Full-Time Corporate to Full-Time Entrepreneur

I received a layoff notice from my corporate job one year ago today. I will never forget the vague calendar notice for a "meeting." I will never forget the feeling in my gut and seeing my manager's face before he opened his mouth. I knew what was coming. I knew I was about to hear, "due to budget cuts, government blah blah, we are getting rid of your position." After 6+ years and moving up the ladder and breaking glass ceilings, a chapter of my life was ending two weeks after my layoff notice. At the time, little did I know I was not the only person to receive the same news. My heart sunk. My eyes filled with tears. I was devastated. My soul filled with bittersweet emotion; my core was stabbed. However, it was a blessing in disguise.

As you know, I'm a photographer and I've always wanted to be a full-time photographer, entrepreneur, and business owner. Today, I am so happy to share for the past year, I've accomplished that dream and I am beyond happy! I do not have to get up and work an 8-4, 9-5, or 50+ hours per week looking at spreadsheets, analyzing financials, or sitting in meetings. I AM FREE! I wake up, make my own schedule, sleep until noon if I want, exercise when I want, eat lunch when I want, and grind to expand my photography business and other entrepreneurial ventures 24/7. My layoff was the best thing that happened to me!

So, if you have a passion and you feel stuck in your current work situation, I encourage you to keep faith. I have so my friends that are full-time entrepreneurs because they quit their job or was laid off their job, and never looked k back to Corporate America!  You can, too!!!

I am blessed. I am humbled. I am motivated. I am a full-time entrepreneur. I am CREATE IT.

Fast forward to November 21, 2017:

I never envisioned being a full-time entrepreneur. I’ve been doing photography since 2008 while working full-time in Corporate America in Finance, Supply Chain, and Operations roles. I was laid off from my Corporate job in April 2016, and since then, I’ve been a full-time photographer. Despite the past year and a half having many ups and downs, I’ve always remained positive. I’ve surrounded myself with uplifting individuals. I’ve changed my eating habits and became Vegan. I’ve been committed to exercising regularly. I’ve been an inspiration to others who see my journey. I’ve been working diligently on my photography business and have gained a lot of new clients.

And, now, after much encouragement from family and friends, I’ve started a new business. The new business started after years of posting food, smoothie, and juice photos, and everyone telling me, “Dom, you should open up a restaurant.” or “Dom, do you sell your smoothies and juices?” I’ve even had requests to prepare food for events. My love for food, juice, and healthy living and wellness, is the inspiration behind my new business, Vegan Juiceology. Stay Tuned!