Juicing is a great way to create natural beverages from fruits and vegetables so you can get their flavors and nutrients in liquid form. But knowing how to do it is essential, lest you drink the wrong things or make a mess in your kitchen. Follow the advice in the next few paragraphs for success in juicing.

Crumple up leafy greens, such as spinach, into tight balls before putting them in your juicer. Your juicer is primarily designed to deal with solid fruits and vegetables, not thin leaves. You will get better results from your juicer if you simulate this effect by squashing your leafy greens before juicing.

Lacking space on your cutting board for all of the ingredients you need for juicing? Try to cut everything in a manner which keeps the actual food “whole”. For example, slice a carrot but don't pull the pieces apart. You can slice an apple around it's core and then stand the pieces up so it looks like it wasn't cut. This will save you space to slice the other items you need without dirtying more dishes.

If you're serious about juicing, you should dedicate a cool, dark area of your house to storing produce which can be kept long-term. For example, apples can be kept in the garage over the winter as long as they're not allowed to freeze. Just wash them, get rid of any bad ones, and store them in a covered but breathable container.

Freshly made juice should be drunk before meals. Drink your juice an hour before a meal for best results. By drinking the juice on an empty stomach, your body will absorb more of the nutrients from the mix. The added benefit is that you will reduce your hunger and, therefore, eat a lighter meal.

You don't have to buy a fancy juicer to start juicing, you can use a blender or food processor just to get the hang of it. In fact, a food processor can do just as good a job as a juicer! I also picked up an inexpensive citrus juicer, though, as I found doing it manually hurt my hands.

When juicing and learning how to do it, do not start with dark green vegetables from the get go. Gradually introduce vegetables such as kale, mustard greens, swiss chard, wheat grass and dandelion greens. Only use 1/4 cup of any of these dark green vegetables at one time, as they are extremely powerful and have a cleansing effect on the body.

Don't just make fresh juice, keep the choices fresh as well. When you go to the farmer's market, produce stand or grocery store, look for new fruits or vegetables you haven't tried before. Not only will you bring much needed variety to your juicing, but also discover new and exciting produce to add to your meals.

Now that you know how to juice it will open up a new world to keeping your self healthy. Keep these tips in mind and start juicing right away. The health benefits and it makes you feel will be a change you will never regret.