I'm a bit miffed with Dr. Oz

[Celebration]

I've been trying to buy beet juice for two weeks. I am practically addicted to the stuff. He mentioned it on his program about all the health benefits and there has been a nationwide shortage.

AAARGH!!

Just venting..............

[kentauros]

1. Can you buy beets and juice your own?

You could probably grow them, too, but to get enough juice for a year, you'd need a big plot

What about beet sugar?

[Celebration]

2. I don't have a juicer

or the inclination to buy one. It just sounds messy, and i already have messes everywhere. Hopefully they will ramp up production soon!

[kentauros]

3. An alternative is to just use a blender

and then strain it through some cheesecloth. I don't own a juicer, either, but I do have a VitaMix and it will pulverize whatever you put into it, so you still get the fiber, too

I'm sure there are businesses out there that are either jumping on the bandwagon or increasing production. In the meantime, maybe a juicebar would satisfy?

[Celebration]

4. I think I just need to quit griping, LOL

The alternatives that you suggest are not perfect (the only juice bar in town that I know of is at Whole Foods and they don't juice beets), but I could always try the cheesecloth bit if I get desperate enough. Hopefully there will be some bottled beet juice soon!

I think Dr. Oz needs to give manufacturers some notice when he does this type of thing though. Apparently this is pretty common--running out of things he mentions on his show.

[Why Syzygy]

5. It might be ..

available as a powder. I know I made sure it was in the green drink I buy. It's very good. Did Dr. Oz say specifically why he recommends it?

[Celebration]

6. that is actually a good idea

I will try to find some non China source. That sounds way more like me than trying to make beet juice from scratch. I am sure I would turn everything red in the kitchen.

I am not sure why he recommended it because I didn't see the show. It is a kind of cure all thing, though, cancer, blood pressure, etc. etc.

[happy ash wednesday]

8. Powder cannot touch fresh juice.

[happy ash wednesday]

7. Nationwide shortage of beets? Doubtful. This is peak time.

I suspect Dr. Oz was mentioning a brand of bottled beet juice (which he possibly is getting a little sumthin sumthin on the side to push)? I used to work at a health food store and we sold a brand (think it was Swiss) called Biotta. Very pricey.

But here's the real deal: anything pasteurized will render the juice not very helpful for the body. Besides killing the enzymes (which I predict will be acknowledged by scientists, nutritionists and the medical community as a whole as being very important in the assimilation of nutrients within the next ten years), heating and bottling juice creates an acidic connoction. It also deranges all the nutrients like minerals and destroys vitamins.

Get a good juicer. I have one which is a masticating juicer. It's called the Omega 8006. It slowly juices, which produces much less heat and therefore keeps the juice very nutritious and long-lasting in the fridge. It has a 15-year warranty. I paid $300 and free shipping but I think it's even cheaper now.

Juicing beets (or any veggie/fruit) is only slightly messy. In any case, it's easy to clean up and worth the effort for the health benefits. Health is worth the effort and there are no shortcuts. Powders, bottled juices and pills don't cut it! Good luck!

[happy ash wednesday]

9. A caution about beets:

It is not recommended that one juice more than one beet for consumption. Beets are super detoxifiers and you can get dizzy from it. Actually, I love this combo: Granny Smith apples (4), organic carrots (8), parsley, one beet, fresh knob of ginger, 8 stalks of organic celery and a wedge of lemon (juice the whole thing).