Juices
Citrus Juice (Orange and Grapefruit)
Gerson felt that this was the least important juice and added it primarily for the convenience of the patient in that so many people are used to orange juice to start the day. Recent research indicates that there may be some undesirable aspects to orange juice, such as excess mucus formation when large quantities are consumed, although we have not experienced this with Gerson patients. Any patient experiencing adverse reactions or simply dislike for the orange juice may, unless otherwise indicated, replace it with apple juice or one of the other standard Gerson juices. Take no more than 1 citrus juice per day. The juice requires 3-4 oranges or 1-2 grapefruits. Use a reamer-type juicer, either manual or electric. Some models have aluminum screens or reservoirs for the juice. These should be avoided in favor of plastic or stainless steel.
We do not recommend the use of non-reamer type juicers into which a half orange or lemon is inserted whole. The citrus peels contain undesirable fatty and aromatic acids, as well as commonly being coated with beeswax or another protective sealant.
You can use any kind of orange or grapefruit, as long as it is organically grown. Oranges and grapefruit should be kept refrigerated. If you prefer juice to be closer to room temperature, remove three or four oranges from the refrigerator before going to bed.
Carrot/Apple Juice
This juice is one of the two "core" juices (excuse the pun!) used on the Gerson Therapy. It has a pleasant flavor, is easy on the digestive system, and is usually consumed in larger quantities than any other juice (five glasses per day in the normal regimen).
Exactly why Dr. Gerson chose this particular combination is not known. Research has revealed an apparently synergistic relationship between the carrots and apples that provides greater nutrient absorption when the apples and carrots are juiced together than when the juice of either is used alone. It is not known exactly what factors contribute to this. We do know that malic acid present in apples assists in absorption of beta-carotene in the carrots.
There are, of course, many other elements derived from the juices in addition to beta-carotene. This juice is high in calcium, provides protein trace minerals and numerous other minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals. This juice requires approximately 8-12 oz each of carrots and (preferably tart) apples such as Granny Smith, Macintosh, Ida Red, Pippin, and Gala.
The carrot/apple juice, like all of the other juices, should be consumed immediately after pressing, but may be kept for 2-3 hours in a glass lined thermos if the patient has returned to work or must go out of the house for any other reason. The preparation of juices in advance should be done only when there is no other alternative or, on consultation with an experienced Gerson physician.
Carrot Juice (Carrot/Apple is better)
Preparation and comments are the same as the carrot/apple except for exclusion of the apples. It will usually take 12 to 16 ounces of carrots to produce one 8 ounce glass of juice.
Green Leaf Juice
This is the other "core" juice of the Gerson protocol. The green leaf juice is extremely rich in iron and other minerals, and very high in chlorophyll. It is a substance similar to human hemoglobin, and is the richest source of oxidizing enzymes in the Gerson protocol. It is extremely live and active, often having a foam "head" at the top of the glass when fresh out of the press. This juice is a little more difficult to tolerate, and patients feeling nauseated will frequently have some difficulty drinking and keeping it down. However, it provides tremendous benefit to the patient, and it is often prescribed in higher quantity in anemic patients in order to raise hemoglobin levels. It also replaces some of the carrot/apple juices in diabetic, hypoglycemic and candida patients as it is lower in sugar.
The "recipe" for the green leaf juice is a bit more varied than the others. Of the following list, some items will be available, some may not be available in your area, and some are seasonal. Use whatever is available, but let your choices be dictated more by what is actually available than your like or dislike of a particular ingredient. It is noteworthy that the darker, stronger-flavored items such as chard and red cabbage are richer in chlorophyll and other nutrients than the lighter, less flavorful vegetables. Also, please do not use any greens or ingredients other than the ones listed. Do not substitute other items. Obtain as many of the following as possible. The suggested quantities assume about half of the listed items will be available at any given time. Adjust accordingly.
Escarole 1-2 leaves
Lettuce 3-4 leaves (use iceberg if no others are available)
Swiss (Green) Chard 1-3 leaves, depending on size
Red Chard same as above
Endive 1-2 leaves
Red Leaf Lettuce 3-4 leaves
Green Leaf Lettuce 3-4 leaves
Red Cabbage 2-3 leaves
Romaine 2-3 leaves
Beet Tops (young inner leaves) 2-3 leaves
Green Pepper 1/2 medium sized
Watercress 1-2 sprigs
One medium apple (see above for types of apples to use).
Greens should be washed, taking care to rinse off sand or soil that is often present at the base of the leaves. Shake of the water or put the greens in a salad spinner to remove excess moisture. Cut off the bottom portion of chard stems or any other fibrous leaves.
Using a two-step (grinder/press) juicer, grind and collect pulp in a bowl. When all produce has been ground, stir thoroughly, but not so much as to introduce unnecessary air into the pulp. Place a "microwave-safe," undyed, chemical free paper towel on top of the juice cloth, then put about a cup of pulp onto the towel and cloth. Fold tightly and press. If you're using an electric press, raise the juice part slowly to avoid having pulp squirt out of the cloth. Using multiple juicing cloths, you can prepare the second cloth while the first one is pressing. Also, some people will fold over the squashed cloth/pulp package and press it again to get a little more ice out of the pulp. After pressing, the remaining pulp, coveniently packaged in the paper towel, can be discarded. The green juice is much more active than the carrot or carrot/apple juices and should be consumed immediately. Dr. Gerson did not recommend storage of the green juice for any length of time before consumption.
Storage of Juices
Preparing juices in advance is never a desirable choice, but may be necessary for patients who must work or who wish to get out of the house for several hours. In these cases, a glass-lined or stainless steel vacuum bottle (Thermos) may be used, but should be completely filled to avoid excess exposure of the juice to air. Another useful method is to fill an 8 oz "jelly"/Ball canning jar to the rim, slide the lid over the top and then screw the cap on tightly. This will prohibit air from getting in and oxidizing the juice. Maintain a chilled or refrigerated environment. Store only carrot/apple juice. Do not store the green juice.
While we do not have any definitive research in this area, Dr. Gerson's experience strongly supported the value of making each juice fresh and consuming it immediately. Both Gerson's own experience and our twenty years of observation indicates that patients who make and consume juices throughout the day have a higher success rate than those who regularly prepare juices several hours in advance.
Dr. Maya Nicole Baylac
