Joe Cross’ story has inspired people to change their lives. Overweight and frustrated, Joe took control of his health by incorporating fresh fruit and vegetable juices into his diet, ultimately losing the weight and achieving a balanced lifestyle. Since then, he’s founded Reboot Your Life to help others do the same. Here, we ask Joe how juicing worked for him, his best tips, and how to get started.

How has juicing changed your life?

In 2011, I released Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, a film that documents my personal journey to regain my health. When I made the film, I literally was fat, sick and nearly dead. I was 100 pounds overweight. I had a debilitating autoimmune disease and was taking loads of prescription medications. When the world’s best doctors couldn’t find a magic “fix,” I knew I had to drastically change my lifestyle. By eating and drinking more fruits and vegetables, I successfully lost the weight and got myself off all prescription drugs. I also developed a passion and appreciation for how delicious fruits and vegetables are.

What’s so powerful about fruits and vegetables?

Well, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can decrease the risk for things like cancers, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and mental illness. Fruits and vegetables have also been credited with alleviating the day-to-day effects of painful, chronic conditions such as constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and migraines. Each color family is rich in unique and important micronutrients that help protect our immune systems and keep our bodies strong, so it’s key to vary your fruits and veggies. That’s why I say eat a rainbow every day.

How else has your health improved since you started juicing?

Number one: if you start juicing and eating more fruits and vegetables, you’re going to think more clearly. You’re going to have less headaches and more energy. Your joints will work better. The powers of these fruits and vegetables are so anti-inflammatory; I’m testament to that. I used to have trouble getting out of bed in the morning because I’d be aching and sore, but now I jump out and can’t wait to attack the day. In terms of sleep, I’ve never slept better. It worked for keeping the weight off as well.

At the moment, Americans are only receiving 5% of their caloric intake from fruits and vegetables. It’s not enough. Ask any doctor, and they’ll all tell you to eat more fruits and vegetables. That’s what my message is all about.

Juicing offers us many health benefits, including a faster, more efficient way to absorb immune-boosting nutrients naturally found in fruits and vegetables.  It also provides a way to access digestive enzymes typically locked away in the fiber matrix of whole fruits and vegetables. Most commercial juices are pasteurized and processed, and lacking in nutrition compared to freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. And here’s the (other) best part: Juicing is delicious and just as creative as baking or learning a new kind of cuisine.

Is there a benefit to juicing versus eating fruits and vegetables whole? 

Liquid form is easily absorbed through our digestion. When you eat fruits and vegetables, that’s good for you, but it takes a little bit of energy to digest them. When you put it down in a liquid form, it’s rapidly aborbed straight through your system to give you a powerful boost.

How should people incorporate juice into their regular routine?

Some people juice to supplement their diets and others choose to just juice for a period of time. Whichever one you pick, trust me that you will be able to delight your palate and develop a love of fruits and veggies that you didn’t think was possible. Here are some more practical tips for juicing:

• Select fruits or vegetables you’ll be using for your juice.
• Wash thoroughly.
• Cut or tear produce into pieces that will fit in juicer. It’s best to do all the preparation work of preparing your fruits and veggies before you start juicing.
• Turn juicer on and start juicing! Your juicer should be on as you feed the fruits and vegetables through the tube.
• Each juice should be at least 250mL – 500mL.
• If your juicer has more than one speed, don’t forget to shift down from high to low for softer fruits. Most juicers come with a chart in the instruction manual to help guide you on speeds.
• Hard produce like apples or beetroot are processed on high and soft ones like spinach or cabbage are processed on low.