Juice for you! Juice for me! Oh how healthy we will be!

 I started juicing 7 years ago and haven't quit!  I drastically changed my diet.  I went from eating unhealthy meat, dairy and  heavily processed, artificial, unnatural "food" to eating a vegetarian diet full of raw vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, sprouts, fresh juice, and LOTS of alkaline water. 
After my oldest son was born I developed issues with my thyroid that the doctors said was caused by the pregnancy.  I lived with symptoms for over a year and almost considered radiating my thyroid til I "discovered" juicing.  When I started to juice daily and cut out acidic drinks and food from my diet I felt like a completely different person.  I had energy again, weight gained during pregnancy seemed to melt off and I slept better than I had in years.  Changing my diet changed my life.  Being acidic is like laying out the welcome mat for disease, disease thrives in acidity. 

My children LOVE to help juice and of course drink it!  Watermelon juice (when they're in season) is a staple in our home, watermelon juice is very alkalizing!  It can be a challenge finding juices that some young kids will drink but experimenting with them is a fun, sure way to introduce healthy diet habits and in my experience getting them involved gets them excited!  You should concentrate on juicing veggies and only add enough juice-able fruits to taste.  Fresh juice is great but even fresh fruit contains a lot of sugar and when you juice the fruit the sugar is concentrated and most fiber is lost. You can get any nutrient found in a piece of fruit in a vegetable without the negative side effects.  Juicing can have an amazing effect on your life and the lives of your family!  Being healthy is a gift you can give yourself!  Start at home, start with your diet.. There will never be a magic pill.

Some informative books and websites to check out:
•The pH Miracle- Balance Your Diet and Reclaim Your Health
  by- Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young
•The Hippocrates Diet and Health Program
  by- Anne Wigmore
•Power of Juicing
  by- Jay Kordich
• http://www.juicing-for-health.com/

A juicer can be an incredible investment in your family's health!  Some juicers cost a lot and some not so much, there are manual, single gear, double gear, centrifugal.  I started with a single gear manual juicer that I used almost every day for two years til it just wore out.  Then I was blessed to be gifted with a Champion juicer that is my single favorite kitchen appliance!  Not only does it make juice I can make nut butters, flours and pasta, even hummus!  Research different juicers to find what will work best to suit your family's needs and dive in! 
Peace. Love. Health!