What vegetables should not be juiced?

Juicing has become an incredibly popular way to increase vegetable and fruit intake. By extracting the liquid from fresh produce, you can consume a concentrated dose of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. However, not all vegetables are well suited for juicing. Some contain compounds that may become concentrated to an undesirable level when juiced. Others simply do not produce an appetizing or drinkable juice. This article will explore which vegetables you should probably avoid putting through your juicer.

Vegetables to Avoid Juicing

Here is an overview of vegetables that are not recommended for juicing:

Vegetable	Why It’s Not Ideal for Juicing
Broccoli	May cause gas and bloating when juiced
Cauliflower	Unpleasant taste and texture when juiced
Eggplant	Contains solanine, which may have toxic effects in large amounts
Potatoes	High in starch, which causes an undesirable thick texture
Legumes	Poor juice texture and yield

Below, we will explore each of these vegetables in more detail.

Broccoli

Broccoli is loaded with beneficial nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, and sulforaphane. However, this cruciferous vegetable contains indigestible sugars like raffinose that can cause gas and bloating for some people when consumed in large amounts (1).

Juicing broccoli concentrates these sugars into a small volume of liquid, increasing the likelihood of digestive issues. For people with irritable bowels or sensitive digestion, juicing large amounts of broccoli may be uncomfortable.

Additionally, broccoli has a strong, bitter flavor that is quite overpowering. It does not make a very palatable juice.

Cauliflower

Like broccoli, cauliflower provides an array of nutrients and health-promoting compounds. However, it has a very bland taste and gritty texture that is largely unappealing as a juice.

When put through a juicer, cauliflower yields a watery, grainy juice that is difficult to drink, even when blended with other fruits and veggies. The unwelcome texture remains.

Cauliflower also contains compounds called glucosinolates, which have a bitter flavor. Juicing cauliflower concentrates these unpalatable compounds in the juice.

Eggplant

With its spongy texture and mild flavor, eggplant also does not make an appetizing juice. But more importantly, eggplant contains a type of glycoalkaloid called solanine that can be unhealthy in large concentrations.

Solanine functions as a natural pesticide that protects the eggplant from insects and other threats. Although present in very small amounts in whole eggplants, juicing concentrates it into an unrecommended level.

When consumed in excess, solanine can cause symptoms like nausea, cramps, and headache (2). It’s best to avoid juicing eggplant.

Potatoes

Potatoes are an amazing source of nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and iron. However, their high starch content makes them a poor choice for juicing.

The starch in potatoes has a gluey texture when extracted into a liquid. Juice made with a large percentage of potatoes will be unpleasantly thick and slimy.

Potatoes also lack the bright, refreshing flavors needed to make a tasty juice. They are better consumed whole or in small amounts as part of a juice blend containing fruits and other veggies.

Legumes

Legumes like beans, peas, and lentils are very healthy additions to your diet. However, they lack the juice yield and texture to produce appetizing juice.

Legumes are lower in water content compared to fruits and vegetables. As a result, they do not produce an adequate amount of juice to be worthwhile.

The texture of legume juice is also gritty and unpalatable. They are better off consumed cooked or sprouted.

Vegetables That Are Great for Juicing

To make delicious and nutritious juice, stick to vegetables like:

Vegetable	Benefits
Carrots	Rich in beta-carotene to support eye and skin health
Celery	Hydrating with antioxidants; adds saltiness to juice
Beets	Anti-inflammatory and circulatory benefits
Cabbage	Packed with vitamin C and anthocyanins
Cucumber	Refreshing and hydrating with nutrients like vitamin K
Tomatoes	Rich source of lycopene, an antioxidant
Spinach	Provides iron, vitamin K, folate
Kale	High in vitamins A, C, and K

Choosing a combination of the vegetables above will result in a tasty juice packed with a variety of nutrients.

Tips for Making Delicious Vegetable Juice

Here are some tips to help you make healthy, great tasting vegetable juice:

• Use mostly water-rich produce like cucumbers, celery, carrots, and tomatoes as the base.
• Add small amounts of potent, flavorful vegetables like kale, beets, or spinach.
• Include an apple, lemon, or ginger to add complementary flavors.
• Mix and match different vegetable combinations until you find flavors you enjoy.
• Drink juice immediately after making for maximum nutrition.
• Store juice in an airtight container and drink within 24 hours.
• Add ice to juice to give a refreshing, chilled texture.

Precautions for Juicing

While juice made from whole fruits and vegetables can be incredibly healthy, there are some precautions to keep in mind:

• Juice lacks the fiber content of whole produce, so juice should not completely replace whole fruits and veggies.
• Drink vegetable juice in moderation, up to 12 ounces per day.
• Introduce juice gradually if you have digestion issues.
• Use pasteurized juice if your immune system is compromised.
• Children under the age of 4 should not drink juice due to the risk of choking.

Conclusion

Juicing vegetables is a great way to increase your intake of nutrients and obtain health benefits. However, not all vegetables are well suited for juicing due to their taste profile or nutrition content. For the most nutritious and delicious results, juice veggies like carrots, celery, cucumber, tomatoes, leafy greens, and beets.

Avoid juicing vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, potatoes, and legumes. Combining the right juices not only optimizes nutrition but also provides amazing flavors you will enjoy drinking.

As long as you take some basic precautions, veggie juicing can be an easy way to get more produce into your diet and improve your overall health.