Juicers

Juicers are great if you like the idea of making your own juice from fresh fruits and vegetables. Use this juice maker guide to select one, whether for a glass of fresh-squeezed juice in the morning or a more robust mixture later in the day.

The nutritional benefits of eating fruits and vegetables are undeniable, but what about drinking them instead? Infomercials have made it easy to buy into myriad claims of easing muscle aches, alleviating high blood pressure, and even (in those pre-Viagra days) increasing sexual potency. The evidence says otherwise, because juice cannot be any better than the produce from which it's made. It can even be less nutritious because it lacks most of the fiber of fresh produce.

Still, you might like the taste of fresh juice or find juice more palatable than a plate of produce. Here's a primer on what to look for when choosing between the two types of juicer. Whichever you buy, be prepared to buy lots of fresh produce--depending on your fruit or vegetables of choice. Some extractors get more out of produce than others, and the proportion of pulp to juice varies from fruit to fruit. And with extractors in particular, be prepared to clean pulp out of every nook and cranny after each use.