By Arndrea Scott

Juicing, which for a long time seemed like it was only for “health nuts,” is now becoming a fast-growing trend.

You can’t turn a corner without seeing a juice truck, fresh juice stand or even bottles of fresh pressed juice being sold in your favorite coffee shop.

How did something so healthy get so popular? With juicing icons like Joe Cross using juice to help transform his body and Kris Carr using juice in her battle with cancer, it’s easy to see why so many people have jumped aboard the juicing train.?

With the start of 2013 and all the resolutions that go with a new year, juicing may be just what you’re looking for if you want to get healthy, eat better, and even lose some weight.

It’s a quick and easy way to flush your body with essential vitamins and nutrients, not to mention it gives you incredible energy. Best of all, juicing is a fun way you can get the whole family involved and include more veggies into your kids’ diets.??

When you juice, you maximize the micro-nutrients extracted from each produce item, and give your body a natural source of fuel. Since a glass of juice requires hardly any digestion, your system can rapidly absorb all of its nutritional goodness without much effort, and your body gets a chance to clean house.

Fresh pressed juice also contains valuable live enzymes than you won’t find in any store-bought juice. These enzymes are a critical part of the metabolic activities taking place in your body throughout the day. ??Your juice doesn’t have to taste bad to be good for you. There are great health benefits with virtually any fresh pressed fruit or vegetable juice, even those that taste delicious! ?

The ABC (Apple, Beet and Carrot) is a tasty juice that will kick start any morning.

Here are the ingredients:

• 1 apple
• ?2 beets?
• 3 large carrots
• ?1 (1-inch) piece of ginger?
• Spinach (optional)
• Kale (optional)

The vibrant color of this Apple Beet Carrot juice indicates a wealth of nutrition inside every glass. Apple fuels your body with dietary fiber and essential vitamins and minerals. Carrots are high in beta-carotene which strengthen the immune system, and beets are a rich source of betaine which is vital to cardiovascular health. Adding in some alkaline rich leafy greens will help balance your body’s pH and reduce inflammation. ??

Juicing tips:

1. Always wash your fruit before juicing

2. Add softer items to your juicer before harder ones to get everything of your produce

3. Drink the juice right away to avoid oxidation and maximize the nutritional benefits

4. Juice the whole fruit and vegetable, the peels and seeds have vital antioxidants, nutrients and fiber that would otherwise be lost

Happy Juicing!?

Photo Credit: Stiftelsen Elektronikkbransjen