Fruits, Vegetables, and Vision

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables also keeps your eyes in good shape.

You may have learned that the vitamin A in carrots aids night vision. Other fruits and vegetables help prevent two common aging-related eye diseases - cataract and macular degeneration - which afflict millions of Americans over age sixty-five. Cataract is the gradual clouding of the eye's lens, a disk of protein that focuses light on the light-sensitive retina. Macular degeneration is caused by cumulative damage to the macula, the center of the retina. It starts as a blurred spot in the center of what you see. As the degeneration spreads, vision shrinks.
Free radicals generated by sunlight, cigarette smoke, air pollution, infection, and metabolism cause much of this damage. Dark green leafy vegetables contain two pigments, lutein and zeaxanthin, that accumulate in the eye. These two appear to be able to snuff out free radicals before they can harm the eye's sensitive tissues.(12)
In general, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains appears to reduce the chances of developing cataract or macular degeneration

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Fruits, Vegetables, and Cancer

Numerous early studies revealed what appeared to be a strong link between eating fruits and vegetables and protection against cancer.

. But because many of these were case-control studies, it is possible that the results may have been skewed by problems inherent in these types of studies, such as recall bias and selection bias. Data from cohort studies that follow large groups of initially healthy individuals for years have not consistently shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables prevents cancer in general. Data from the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study support this finding. Over a 14-year period, men and women with the highest intake of fruits and vegetables (8+ servings a day) were just as likely to have developed cancer as those who ate the fewest daily servings (under 1.5).(2)
A more likely possibility is that fruits and vegetables may protect against certain cancers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, recently completed a monumental review of the best research on fruits, vegetables, and cancer. Here's what this 387-page tome concludes about studies in humans: "There is limited evidence for a cancer-preventive effect of consumption of fruit and of vegetables for cancers of the mouth and pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon-rectum, larynx, lung, ovary (vegetables only), bladder (fruit only), and kidney. There is inadequate evidence for a cancer-preventive effect of consumption of fruit and of vegetables for all other sites." (5) However, considering all evidence from human epidemiological, animal, and other types of studies, it appears that eating more fruit "probably lowers the risk of cancers of the esophagus, stomach and lung" and "possibly reduces the risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, colon-rectum, larynx, kidney, and urinary bladder." Eating more vegetables "probably lowers the risk of cancers of the esophagus and colon-rectum" and "possibly reduces the risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, stomach, larynx, lung, ovary and kidney."
Keep in mind that this is for total fruit and total vegetable consumption and that, as pointed out by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, specific fruits and vegetables may protect against specific types of cancer. For example, a line of research stemming from a finding from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study suggest that tomatoes may help protect men against prostate cancer, especially aggressive forms of it. (6-8) One of the pigments that give tomatoes their red hue - lycopene - could be involved in this protective effect. Although several studies other than the Health Professionals' study have also demonstrated a link between tomatoes or lycopene and prostate cancer, others have not or have found only a weak connection. Taken as a whole, however, these studies suggest that increased consumption of tomato-based products (especially cooked tomato products) and other lycopene-containing foods may reduce the occurrence or progression of prostate cancer. But more research is needed before we know the exact relationship between fruits and vegetables, carotenoids, and prostate cancer.(9)
Fruits, Vegetables, and Gastrointestinal Health
One of the wonderful components of fruits and vegetables is their indigestible fiber. As fiber passes through the digestive system, it sops up water like a sponge and expands. This can calm the irritable bowel and, by triggering regular bowel movements, can relieve or prevent constipation.(10) The bulking and softening action of insoluble fiber also decrease pressure inside the intestinal tract and so may help prevent diverticulosis (the development of tiny, easily irritated pouches inside the colon) and diverticulitis (the often painful inflammation of these pouches).(11)

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Eat your fruits and vegetables" is one of the tried and true recommendations for a healthy diet.

Eat your fruits and vegetables" is one of the tried and true recommendations for a healthy diet. And for good reason. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can help you ward off heart disease and stroke,

, control blood pressure and cholesterol, prevent some types of cancer, avoid a painful intestinal ailment called diverticulitis, and guard against cataract and macular degeneration, two common causes of vision loss.
What does "plenty" mean? More than most Americans consume. If you don't count potatoes - which should be considered a starch rather than a vegetable - the average American gets a total of just three servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The latest dietary guidelines call for five to thirteen servings of fruits and vegetables a day, depending on one's caloric intake.(1) For a person who needs 2,000 calories a day to maintain weight and health, this translates into nine servings, or 4½ cups per day.
Over the past 30 years or so, researchers have developed a solid base of science to back up what generations of mothers preached (but didn't always practice themselves). Early on, fruits and vegetables were acclaimed as cancer-fighting foods. In fact, the ubiquitous 5-A-Day message (now quietly changing to Eat 5 to 9 A Day) seen in produce aisles, magazine ads, and schools is supported in part by the National Cancer Institute. The latest research, though, suggests that the biggest payoff from eating fruits and vegetables is for the heart.
Fruits, Vegetables, and Cardiovascular Disease
There is compelling evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The largest and longest study to date, done as part of the Harvard-based Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, included almost 110,000 men and women whose health and dietary habits were followed for 14 years. The higher the average daily intake of fruits and vegetables, the lower the chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Compared with those in the lowest category of fruit and vegetable intake (less than 1.5 servings a day), those who averaged 8 or more servings a day were 30% less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke.(2)
Although all fruits and vegetables likely contribute to this benefit, green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and mustard greens; cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and kale; and citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit (and their juices) make important contributions.
Increasing fruit and vegetable intake by as little as one serving per day can have a real impact on heart disease risk. In the two Harvard studies, for every extra serving of fruits and vegetables that participants added to their diets, their risk of heart disease dropped by 4 percent.
Fruits and Vegetables, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol
High blood pressure is a primary risk factor for heart disease and stroke. As such, it's a condition that is very important to control. Diet can be a very effective tool for lowering blood pressure. One of the most convincing associations between diet and blood pressure was found in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study. (3) This trial examined the effect on blood pressure of a diet that was rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and that restricted the amount of saturated and total fat. The researchers found that people with high blood pressure who followed this diet reduced their systolic blood pressure (the upper number of a blood pressure reading) by about 11 mm Hg and their diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) by almost 6 mm Hg - as much as medications can achieve.
Eating more fruits and vegetables can also help lower cholesterol. In the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Family Heart Study, the 4466 subjects consumed on average a shade over 3 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Men and women with the highest daily consumption (more than 4 servings a day) had significantly lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol than those with lower consumption.(4) How fruits and vegetables lower cholesterol is still something of a mystery. It is possible that eating more fruits and vegetables means eating less meat and dairy products, and thus less cholesterol-boosting saturated fat. Soluble fiber in fruits and vegetables may also block the absorption of cholesterol from food.

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HEPA Air Cleaners and Air Purifiers

This information will clarify the differences between HEPA Air Cleaners and Air Purifiers.

HEPA is the abbreviation for "High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor (Air filter)." HEPA is not a brand of air cleaner. It is a type of air filter that is used in air cleaning equipment including vacuum cleaners. Most HEPA air cleaners will filter particles in the airborne environment down to 0.3 microns in size, at an efficency rating of 99.97%. They will filter and remove some of the smallest microns of allergens such as dust, smoke, pollen, animal dander, etc.
When companies remove asbestos in buildings, and clean up pharmaceutical and other potentially toxic spills, the HEPA filtered air cleaners and vacuum cleaning equipment are the required tools for the job.These air cleaners work by filtering the particulate (allergens) in the air through a HEPA filter which traps the particles, allowing only the clean air to return into the environment. The more times the air is exchanged through the HEPA air cleaner in the room , the better the air quality. The higher the air exchange rate per hour, the cleaner the air will be in that room.
HEPA air cleaners will most efficiently service one room at a time. If you operate the HEPA air cleaner in your bedroom, it will not be able to clean the air in your living room or in other areas of your home. The better brands of HEPA air cleaners such as Austin Air and Care 2000 will provide approximately 15 air exchanges per hour in an average size bedroom and approximately 5 to 7 air exchanges per hour in a 1500 square foot open room. The average department store quality HEPA air cleaners will only provide approximately 2 to 4 air exchanges per hour in a average size bedroom. In a larger size room, these lower quality brands of air cleaners will not often provide a high enough air exchange rate to make a noticeable difference in your indoor air quality.
The higher quality HEPA air cleaners also contain an average of 15 lbs. of activated coconut cabon / zeolite blends to absorb offgasing chemicals and odors.Some high quality HEPA air cleaners, also have the added feature of a medical grade ultra-violet light system. The ultra-violet lights will quickly kill viruses, bacteria and fungi when the contaminated air enters into the HEPA air cleaner. The ultraviolet-light will also protect the HEPA filter itself from biological and virus contamination. The lower quality brands HEPA air cleaners on the market,contain pre-filters that have been sprayed with carbon dust which is extremely short lived and more of a sales gimmick than a viable way of removing odors and offgasing chemicals.
Air Purifiers are often confused with HEPA air cleaners. The fact of the matter is that the two operate quite differently. Air purifiers do not clean the air by filtration as HEPA air cleaners.
There are two types of air purifiers. First, the zone/ionizer air purifier which uses two steps to clean the air. The ozone purifies the air by oxydation. Ozone is naturally occuring gas. It is created by nature when lightning cuts through the oxygen molecule in the air. It splits the O2 molecule into O3 which is zone. The fresh clean smell after a thunderstorm is the ozone that has just been created. Ozone penetrates into the cellular structure of odor, bacteria and fungus molecules, rupturing the cell wall of the contaminant. After this process is complete, the contaminants and dust are greatly reduced.
The second step in this system is the ionization. There are two types of ionization. The first is eedlepoint ionization where the particulate in the air directly in front of the unit is charged with negative ions. These ionic charges attach to airborne particles such as smoke, dust, pollen, animal ander, etc, forcing the particles to quickly drop out of the air in the breathing environment, down to the ground. These needlepoint onizers usually cover a five to seven foot area in front area of the ionizer.
The second type of ionizer is called radio ionization. Radio ionization is a newer technology that uses similar priciples as needlepoint ionization except that the radio ionizer uses a specialized and safe radio wave that ionizes the air for aprox 50 feet right through the walls in all directions. With radio ionization, you can actually drop particles (allergens) out of the air in surrounding rooms. One unit can often cover an entire home. These air purifiers work especially well on removing cigar and cigarette smoke and their odors.
Both HEPA air cleaners and air purifiers are beneficial for removing allergens and odors from your indoor air environment. Individual problems and living conditions will determine which type of system will work best for you. Often times, the most effective solution will require the use of an air purifier in a central area in your home and a HEPA air cleaner in your bedroom for added protection. It is very important to capture the allergens and particulate in your sleeping area. Our customers report that they sleep more soundly and wake up feeling more refreshed with less allergy and asthma symptoms with a high quality HEPA air cleaner operating in their bedrooms

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The Hallelujah Diet By Rev. George Malkums

Breakfast: Upon rising, take one serving of Barley Max,(take the powder dry, dissolving it in the mouth, or mix it in a few ounces of distilled wate.

No cooked food, or foods containing fiber at this meals as these hinder the cleansing process while the body eliminates accumulated toxins.

Mid -Morning: Drink 8 ounces glass of carrots/vegetable juice.


Lunch: Before lunch take another serving of BarleyMax .. Thirty minutes later, eat either a raw vegetable salad or raw fruit.

Mid-Afternoon: Drink an eight ounces glass of carrot/vegetable juice.

Supper: Before dinner, have another serving of BarleyMax, taken as at breakfast. Thirthy minutes later eat a large green salad compromise of leaf lettuce along with a variety of vegetables. After the salad comes the only cooked food of the day-the 15% cooked food portion allowed by the Hallelujah Diet. This could be baked potato, brown rice, steamed veggies, whole grain pasta, or a veggie sandwich on whole grain bread, baked sweet potato, or squash.

Evening: If desired a piece of juicy, fresh fruit or a glass of freshly extracted apple or pear juice may be consumed.

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The Omega 8005 and The Solo Star II -Comparison

With the introduction of the two new dual-stage single auger juicers, one of the questions that we have been getting very frequently is, which is the better dual-stage single auger juicer?

Omega is not a new name in the juicing business. It has its roots in juicing for over 30 years with its original model that hasn't changed much over the years, the Omega 1000 juicer. Unlike the other juicers in the Omega product line which are centrifugal juicers, (1000, 4000, 9000), the 8003 and 8005 (and now discontinued 8002) are single auger juicers made in Korea. Tribest has been in the juicer business since the early 1990s, originally introducing the Green Power twin gear juicer, which has now been upgraded to the Green Star Juicer. It's no surprise that the Solo Star 2 is also made in Korea.There are a few visual differences when looking at the two juicers side by side. The Solo Star has more of a square look that takes up a larger footprint while the Omega 8005 is more compact with rounded corners. The Omega 8003 is the same as the Omega 8005. The only difference is the color, the 8003 is white in color, while the Omega 8005 has a Chrome/Black appearance. The Solo Star II is an off-white color, designated as almond. The Solo Star II has a built in handle, while the 8005/8003 has a pop up handle, which is not as durable as the Solo Star II handle. The new Solo Star II Juicer and the Omega 8003/8005 juicer have longer augers than the single stage auger juicers. The extra length in the auger is used for the extra juicing stage. As you can see by the photo to the right, the Solo Star II auger is about .75" longer than the Omega 8003/8005 Juicers auger.Will the longer auger translate into more juice?? In a few moments, you will read about the head-to-head tests we did with the two juicers.The juicing screens are shown in the picture to the right. You can see that the Solo Star II has more screen area on its screen than the Omega 8003/8005 screen. What this means is that there is more surface area to clean, and, more importantly, there are more places where juice can be extracted. The holes in the screen on the Solo Star II Juicer start out larger and gradually get smaller. On the Omega 8003/8005 there are two screen areas, one is on the top of the picture, just out of view, it has really large holes, while the screen near the bottom of the picture has much smaller holes.The Solo Star II and Omega 8003/8005 both encorporate the dual stage juicing design. The produce is first crushed. The juice that is released at this stage is directed to the collection tray through a filter. On the 8005, this first stage screen is the screen with larger holes that is being hidden. On the Solo Star, it is the top section of the cone as shown in the picture above. The 2nd stage on the Omega 8005 is the screen you can see near the bottom of the picture. The 2nd stage on the Solo Star 2 is the lower section of the screen in the picture above. The Omega 8005/8003 has a much smaller screen area. (which due to surface area, is easier to clean in my opinion).The Carrot TestWe did a direct comparison with the juicing of baby cut orgainc carrots. We juiced two poundsof baby Cal-Organic carrots in each juicer. You can see the results of the test in the table below. Both these juicers took about 3 minutes to juice 2 pounds of baby carrots. Why Baby Carrots? We used baby carrots since they are prewashed, we just opened the bag and fed them into the juicer. They also come in convienient 1 pound bags. Solo Star 2 8003/8005 Difference
Baby Carrots(2 lbs.) 20.8 oz 16.35 + 21.39%
As you can see from the table above, the Solo Star 2 produced an impressive 21.39% more juice when juicing baby carrots than the Omega 8003/8005. Why the extreme difference? I believe this difference is due to the longer auger and larger screen area and the juicing nozzle on the SoloStar 2. The juicing nozzle helps to keep the pulp inside the machine so juice can be further extracted. Of course, results will vary depending on the produce being juiced. Remember that loss of yield means that you are throwing extra "juice" away in the fiber! The Apple TestSince the single auger juicers seem to juice vegetables fairly well, but usually have problems with juicing fruit, we decided to juice apples next. We juiced 2 pounds of organic gala apples, that included a slice of lemon (This recipe is known as lemonade, since the apples give a sweet flavor, and the lemon gives it a "zing") in both juicers. See the table below for the results. Solo Star 2 8003/8005 Difference
Apples + Slice Lemon(3 lbs.) 32.00 oz 31.00 oz + 3.13%
Again you can see that the difference was much less than in the carrot test. The Solo Star 2 still produced a higher yield, but only by a margin of 1 oz, or 3.13%. These results would lead us to believe that the Solo Star Juicer is more efficient, since it extracted more juice out of both of the produce items we juiced. Clean Up Test Solo Star 2 8003/8005 Difference
Time To Clean 3 minutes 1 min 15 seconds + 58% more
Cleaning the juicer is one part of the juicing that many people dread. In this test, the Solo Star 2 has 6 pieces to clean + a screen with massive surface area. The Omega 8005 has 5 parts to clean with a screen that has much less surface area.Here is how we cleaned the juicer: 1. We took the juicer apart, and turned the hot water on full in the sink. 2. In one hand, we took a nylon dish brush that had dish soap applied, the other hand each juicer part. 3. We put the part under the water while scrubbing it to get all the pulp dislodged. The hardest part of the cleaning was removing the pulp from the juicing screen. This is why the Solo Star 2 took 58% more time than the 8005. I can assure you that these juicers are two of the quietest juicers we have tested. We used a digital decibel meter to check the decibels 12" away from the machine (to get the min reading), and right next to the spout of the machine, to get the max reading. No food was used in this test.The GaussTest Solo Star 2 8003/8005
Gauss at motor Shaft 59mGauss 30mGauss
Highest Reading 195mGauss 120mGauss
What is Gauss? Gauss is a unit of magnetic field strength. We had a request to Gauss test the juicers, so we invested in a Digital Gauss meter. The motors in the juicer creates the Gauss. I'm no expert in Gauss, but am reporting the readings. Do the stronger readings mean the juicer is more powerful? Do the lower reading mean there is better shielding on the motor? We will let you be the judge. If you want a low Gauss juicer, looks like the 8003/8005. Of course, if you want a high gauss juicer, the Solo Star 2 is the way to go. SummaryWe hope these two quick tests and article gave you some insight on the newest dual-stage single auger juicers. A few other factors to consider with these juicers: · Clean up- The Omega 8003/8005 has less parts to clean(five vs six for the Solo Star II), as well as less screen surface area to clean. · Warranty - The Omega 8003/8005 juicer warranty is 10 years, while the Solo Star II juicer is 5 years. Juicer Solo Star II Omega 8003 Omega 8005

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The Lequip Visor Juicer and The Solo Star Single Auger Juicers

One of the most frequent questions we have been asked lately is, "What's the best single auger juicer?

There are so many." When the single auger style juicer came out just a few years ago, there was only once choice; It was the Oscar Juicer (which is basically the same as the Omega 8001 that came out soon after). Then came the Samson, which was an improved design of the Oscar, and then the Lequip Visor with its off-set feed chute and smaller screen hole size than the Omega 8001 or Samson. All these units are about the same, aside from minor differences in design - they each have one juicing screen (all about the same size) and an auger that is about the same size.
Now, Tribest (the company that brought you the Green Power and Green Star Juicer) enters the single auger juicer market.
The new Solo Star Juicer has the standard juicing auger, but it is shaped a bit differently than the others. Please see photo (Visor Auger is on top, Solo Star auger is on bottom). The Solo Star auger is about two inches longer. Due to this design change, the juicer also has two juicing screens, which the manufacturer claims lead to a higher yield of juice. We will test this claim, so read on. . .
Before getting to the tests, lets take a look at the construction of the two machines. The Lequip Visor has a more sleek look with round corners. The "visor" flips over to the other side of the juicer when the juicing apparatus is not attached. It then is reminiscent of a Volkswagen "bug". The Solo Star is more boxy and square in design. It is also a fair bit longer, due to the long housing that contains the juicing auger.

The Lequip Visor has the "standard single auger set-up"- similar to the Omega 8001 and Samson Juicer. It has a single auger that crushes the produce and pushes it (crushed produce and juice) into the screen, at which point the juice is pushed through the screen and drips into the collection bowl.
The Solo Star design adds an extra step to the standard single auger set up. After the Solo Star initially crushes the produce, any "thrown" off juice immediately drips into the collection bowl, and then the produce is pushed into the screen for further juice extraction. Does this extra step really add to the quantity of the juice produced?
We did a direct comparison with the juicing of Cal-Organic Carrots. We carefully measured 2 pounds, 12.5 ounces of carrots for each juicer and fed them through. You can see the results of the test in the table below.
Solo Star Lequip Visor Difference
Carrots(2 lbs., 12.5 oz) 23 oz 17 oz + 26%
As you can see from the table above, the Solo Star produced 26% more juice when juicing carrots in our test. Of course, results will vary depending on the produce being juiced. Remember that loss of yield means that you are throwing extra "juice" away in the fiber!
I tasted the juice, and the juice was not as "fiber free" as a centrifugal ejection machine or twin gear machine. The juice did have less pulp than the other single auger juicers I have tested (Samson and Omega 8001). The Solo Star juice seemed to have less tiny bits of pulp than the Juice created by the Visor.
After Juicing, just to make sure the results were correct, we weighed the carrot pulp that came out of each machine:
Solo Star Lequip Visor Difference
Ejected Carrot Pulp 1 pound 3 ounces 1 pound 9 ounces + 24%
Again you can see that the difference is 24%, which would lead us to believe that the Solo Star Juicer is more efficient, since it does extract the juice out of the fiber of the carrot. We also might mention that after looking at the carrot pulp, it looked like the Solo Star did a better job of breaking down the carrot fibers, since I saw smaller pieces of pulp than was created by the Lequip Visor.
After weighing the pulp we wanted to see if we could extract more juice out of it, so we fed the pulp back through the juicers again to see how much more juice we could get.
Solo Star Lequip Visor Difference
Extra Juice from juicing pulp 1 ounce +mess + 4.5 ounces 3.5 ounces
This is where things got a bit complicated. It's always harder to juice pulp than juicing whole carrots in single auger juicers. We had to press the pulp into the machines with a fair bit of pressure to make the pulp feed through the machines. When we did it on the Lequip Visor everything went as planned, the pulp came out a bit dryer, and it produced an extra 4.5 ounces of juice. Even with the extra 4.5 ounces, the yield of the Lequip Visor was less than the Solo Star.
When we did the same thing on the Solo Star, we immediately had a problem. The pulp started shooting out of one of the juicing screens, since the design of the machine is to take whole carrots, not pulp. So we placed a "cap" over the juicing screen on the bottom of the machine that is provided by the manufacturer and continued to juice. I found it very hard to push the pulp through the machine, and finally the "cap" blew out and made a mess. So I would not recommend trying to get a "second pressing" with the Solo Star. With its first pressing, I believe the Solo Star did a good job of extracting the juice out of the carrots, so a second pressing would not be needed. (Did I mention second pressings are always messy, and add clean-up time?)
If you did want to get a second pressing, we would recommend the Ito hand press. You can read another article I wrote entitled, "Are you getting all the juice?"
A few other factors to consider:
· Juice Quality- The Solo Star runs at a lower 80 rpm, and seemed to produce a "finer" juice with less pulp in the juice.
· Clean up- The Solo Star has a smaller main juicing screen, which has less surface area to clean. The other juicing screen was built into the housing, and was easily washed with my kitchen sprayer.
· Pulp Collection - The Lequip Visor pulp collection bin is larger (40 ounces) and was much easier to line with a plastic bag, thus easing cleanup. The collector on the Solo Star is only 32 ounces.
· Juice Collection - The Lequip Visor juice collection bin is smaller (20 ounces) and does not hold as much juice as the Solo Star collection bin that holds 32 ounces.
· Ease of Use - Feeding the carrots into the Lequip Visor was a fair bit easier due to the off set feeding chute that helps to pull produce into the machine. When feeding carrots into the Solo Star, they had to be pushed with some constant downward pressure.
· Noise Level - Both juicers are both on the quiet end of the juice spectrum; the Solo Star was quieter in our decibel test.
· Warranty - The Lequip Visor juicer warranty is 6 years, while the Solo Star juicer is 5 years.
Juicer Solo Star Lequip Visor
Picture
Extraction Method Single Auger Single Auger
Watts 180 Watts 105 Watts
RPM 80 100
Ejects Pulp Yes Yes
Size of Feed Tube 1.50" x 1.50" 1.50" x 1.50"
Shape of Feed Tube
Constructionof Juicing Auger Melamine Plastic Melamine Plastic
Dual Stage Juicing YES NO
Juicing Screen Material #1 Plastic #2 Stainless Steel in Plastic Frame Stainless Steel in Plastic Frame
Continuous Juicing Yes Yes
Pulp collection bin capacity 32 ounces 40 ounces
Juice collection bin capacity 32 ounces 20 ounces
Decibels while running (not juicing) 70 dB mix / 79dB max 83 dB mix / 87 dB max
Juices Wheatgrass Yes Yes
Replacement Parts Available Available
Size of Juicer 10" H x 7.75" W x 17" L 8.75" H x 7" W x 16" L
Warranty 5 years 6 years
Your Price $239.99 $199.99
Retail Price $299.99 $249.99
You Save $60.00 $50.00
We hope you have learned more about the two juicers featured in this comparison.
Summary:
Both these juicers performed well. I'm sure you can see by our results, that our favorite was the Solo Star Juicer, due to the following points:
· Quieter (10+ dB in our tests)
· Produces a higher yield (approx. 25% in our tests)
· Easier to Clean
We also like the Lequip Visor for the following points:
· Price (This is the least expensive Single Auger Juicer)
· Easier to feed produce into the machine (due to off-set feed chute)
· We prefer the Lequip Visor over the Samson and Omega 8001 due to the offset feeding chute, and smaller screen hole size.
· It's the smallest and most compact single auger juicer.
· Better for juicing when you want a "Second Pressing"
· Longer Warranty
Please note: These are our tests and our opinions, your results may vary.

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Should I Use a Water Distiller or a Reverse Osmosis System?

Both water distillers and reverse osmosis systems produce very pure water. However, each has its own advantages and disadvantages

Both water distillers and reverse osmosis systems produce very pure water. However, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. This section is intended to help you decide whether you should go for a reverse osmosis system or a water distiller.ADVANTAGES of water distillers compared to reverse osmosis systems:- Less wastage of water because water distillers lose about 15% of the water through evaporation, whereas RO systems reject more than 75% of the water passing through the system- No need for filter cartridge changes except for a polishing carbon filter once every month or two months- Bacteria (including E.coli are effectively destroyed (RO systems need an additional UV sterilizer to ensure complete elimination of bacteria)- Portable models does not require installation (but automatic water feed models require installation)DISADVANTAGES of water distillers compared to reverse osmosis systems:- Much slower water production rate- Generates and releases moisture indoors (except for model WD-D3 which sends moisture down a drain pipe)- Consumption of electricity which may be expensive in some regions or countries(To calculate the cost of electricity per year: Price of electricity per kilowatt-hour x wattage of distiller /1000 x average no. of hours of use per day x 365)- May need occasional descaling in hard water areas- High production rate models are costlier than reverse osmosis systems

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Health Benefits of Sprouts By Steve Meyerowitz

Sprouts have long been famous as "health food" but recent research shows that in addition to being a superb source of nutrients

, they also have important curative ability. Sprouts like alfalfa, radish, broccoli, clover and soybean contain concentrated amounts of phytochemicals (plant compounds) that can protect us against disease. Studies on canavanine, an amino acid analog in alfalfa, has demonstrated benefit for pancreatic, colon and leukemia cancers. Plant estrogens are also abundant in sprouts. They increase bone formation and density and prevent bone breakdown or osteoporosis. They are also helpful in controlling hot flashes, menopause, PMS and fibrocystic breast tumors. Alfalfa sprouts are one of our finest food sources of another compound, saponins. Saponins lower the bad cholesterol and fat but not the good HDL fats. Animal studies prove their benefit in arteriosclerosis is and cardiovascular disease. Saponins also stimulate the immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer cells such as T- lymphocytes and interferon. The saponin content of alfalfa sprouts multiplies 450% over that of the unsprouted seed. Sprouts also contain an abundance of highly active antioxidants that prevent DNA destruction and protect us from the ongoing effects of aging. It wouldn't be inconceivable to find a fountain of youth here, after all, sprouts represent the miracle of birth.

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Three Ways to Restore Acid/Alkaline Balance in Your Body

If your saliva is too acid you may wish to increase the alkalinity of your
body. Ways to do this include:

1. Eat mostly alkaline foods. The general "rule of thumb" is to eat 20% acid
foods and 80% alkaline foods. Avoid the "strongly acid" foods.

2. Supplement your diet with alkaline minerals. Salts of the alkaline minerals rubidium and potassium have been found by Dr. Brewer to be
particularly effective in fighting cancer.

3. Supplement your diet with freshly made juices. As a
treatment for cancer, some doctors recommend one 8 oz glass per hour for
every waking hour of the day. We could never eat the amount of nutrition we
drink with these juices

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The Importance of Acid and Alkaline Balance for Health

Virtually all degenerative diseases including cancer, heart disease,
arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney and gall stones, and tooth decay are
associated with excess acidity in the body. While the body has a homeostatic
mechanism that maintains a constant pH 7.4 in the blood, this mechanism works
by depositing and withdrawing acid and alkaline minerals from other locations
including the bones, soft tissues, body fluids and saliva. Therefore, the pH
of these other tissues can fluctuate greatly. The pH of saliva offers a
window through which you can see the overall pH balance in your body.

Cancer cannot exist in an alkaline environment. All forms of arthritis are
associated with excess acidity. Acid in the body dissolves both teeth and
bones. Whatever health situation you are faced with, you can monitor your
progress toward a proper acid/alkaline balance by testing your saliva pH.

What are Acid and Alkaline?

Water (H2O) ionizes into hydrogen (H+) and hydroxyl (OH-) ions. When these
ions are in equal proportions, the pH is a neutral 7. When there are more H+
ions than OH- ions then the water is said to be acid. If OH- ions outnumber
the H+ ions then the water is alkaline. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14 and is
logarithmic, which means that each step is ten times the previous. In other
words, a pH of 4.5 is 10 times more acid than 5.5, 100 times more acid than
6.5 and 1,000 times more acid than 7.5.

Acid and Alkaline Minerals and Foods

Minerals with a negative electrical charge are attracted to the H+ ion. These
are called acid minerals. Acid minerals include: chlorine (Cl-), sulfur (S-),
phosphorus (P-), and they form hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid
(H2SO4), and phosphoric acid (H3PO4). Minerals with a positive electrical
charge are attracted to the negatively charged OH- ion. These are called
alkaline minerals. Nutritionally important alkaline minerals include calcium
(Ca+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg+), and sodium (Na+). (Cancer patients
tend to have an excess of sodium.Also important for
cancer treatment and prevention are the alkaline trace minerals rubidium and
cesium. To determine if a food is acid or alkaline, it is burned and the ash
is mixed with water. If the solution is acid or alkaline then the food is
called acid or alkaline. Ash is the mineral content of the food

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How to Do the Saliva pH Test

Wait at least 2 hours after eating. Fill your mouth with saliva and then
swallow it. Do this again to help ensure that the saliva is clean. Then the
third time, put some saliva onto pH paper.

The pH paper should turn blue. This indicates that your saliva is slightly
alkaline at a healthy pH of 7.4. If it is not blue, compare the color with
the chart that comes with the pH paper. If your saliva is acid (below pH of
7.0) wait two hours and repeat the test.

Where to Get pH Paper

It would be good if health food stores and pharmacies would stock pH paper.
Why not go to your local health food store or pharmacy and suggest this to
them? There are many suppliers of pH paper. Look for laboratory suppliers in
the phone book. You want narrow range pH paper measuring pH 4.5 to 7.5 or pH
4.5 to 8.5. One source is Micro Essential Laboratory Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.
11210 telephone 718-338-3618. They will send you a catalogue. When sending a
container of pH paper through the mail to a friend, a single roll dispenser
(catalog #334 that measures pH 4.5 - 7.5) is quite sturdy and should not
break. However, the Jumbo strips (catalog #3827) in the more fragile plastic
tube container are larger and easier to read. These pH strips to measure
acid/alkaline balance belong in every family medicine kit, right beside the
thermometer to measure body temperature.

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Saliva pH and Cancer

When healthy, the pH of blood is 7.4, the pH of spinal fluid is 7.4, and the
pH of saliva is 7.4. Thus the pH of saliva parallels the extra cellular
fluid...pH test of saliva represents the most consistent and most definitive
physical sign of the ionic calcium deficiency syndrome...The pH of the
non-deficient and healthy person is in the 7.5 (dark blue) to 7.1 (blue)
slightly alkaline range. The range from 6.5 (blue-green) which is weakly
acidic to 4.5 (light yellow) which is strongly acidic represents states from
mildly deficient to strongly deficient, respectively. Most children are dark
blue, a pH of 7.5. Over half of adults are green-yellow, a pH of 6.5 or
lower, reflecting the calcium deficiency of aging and lifestyle defects.
Cancer patients are usually a bright yellow, a pH of 4.5, especially when
terminal.

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