Not all fruits and veggies can be juiced. Here are the ones to avoid to save your juicer—and your body—a lot of pain.
11 Things You Should Never Put in a Juicer
Broccoli
Believe it or not, some people may attempt to squeeze broccoli into their homemade “green juice” to reap its impressively high vitamin C content—but they shouldn’t! “Broccoli can be difficult to digest, resulting in bloating, gas, or cramping. I wouldn’t recommend juicing it, especially if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome,” says Neda Varbanova, certified culinary nutritionist and holistic health coach who runs Healthy with Nedi. Avoid similar cruciferous veggies like cauliflower and cabbage for the same reasons.
Avocado
Save this creamy green fruit for a smoothie, instead. “Avocados don’t really contain a lot of juice, so they’re better suited to the blender rather than a juicer,” says Chante Wiegand, ND, director of education at Pure Synergy. Find out what really happens to your body during a juice cleanse.
Whole apples
You can juice an apple, but be careful to remove the seeds first. “Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which can be poisonous when metabolized in the digestive system,” says Varbanova. In fact, the R&D team at popular juicer brand HUROM‘s nutrition center has conducted research that backs up that notion that apple seeds may, indeed, be toxic. Better safe than sorry!
Coconut
Coconut milk and coconut water can be fun additions to a juice or smoothie, but you can’t harvest extra from the meat itself—it’s just not juicy enough! You’re better off buying both products at the grocery store.
Kale
Dark leafy greens like kale and spinach provide a dose of calcium and vitamins A and C, but skip running them through a juicer if you’re prone to kidney stones. “Some people have issues with too many oxalates, which are found in dark leafy greens, because they may cause kidney stones,” Wiegand says. Find out which 15 foods you should never put down the garbage disposal.
Pears
Not everyone should avoid juicing pears, but if you’re sensitive to fructose, you should consider steering clear. “Pears contain sorbitol, a non-digestible form of sugar that can create a quick bowel movement. That’s why many people drink pear juice to treat constipation,” Varbanova says.
Pineapple
This tropical fruit is a hearty source of vitamins and fiber when eaten whole, but juicing it strips all those benefits away, leaving you with a whole lot of sugar, says Varbanova. “This can cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to spike,” she adds.
Whole citrus segments
Take the time to peel oranges, grapefruits, lemons, or limes. “Citrus rinds contain compounds that can irritate the digestive system,” says Wiegand. Plus, they don’t have any juice, anyhow. Check out these fruit juices that are healthier than you thought.
Rhubarb
Unfortunately, you can’t re-create the summery strawberry rhubarb pie as a juice. Rhubarb is too fibrous to yield much liquid. Plus, it’s hard on your juicer, Wiegand says.
Bananas
This smoothie staple doesn’t have enough juice to make it worth your time. If you really like its flavor, add your juice and banana to a blender and turn it into a smoothie. Just make sure you know the 16 foods you should never put in a blender.
Ice
Juicers aren’t interchangeable with blenders, no matter how similar they may seem. Running hard items like ice through your juicer could do some serious damage to your machine, says Erica Chang, brand marketing manager at HUROM.
Next, look out for these 13 ways you’re using the rest of your kitchen appliances wrong.
