Gerson Guide to Juicers

The Gerson Guide to Juicers will explain what juicers are appropriate for cancer, and which juicers are appropriate for non-malignant conditions utilizing the Gerson Therapy.

Gerson patients juice every day. An average Gerson cancer patient drinks up to 13 glasses of fresh, organic, raw juices daily-the equivalent of 15 pounds of produce in liquid form! Since one could not possibly digest that much produce in one day, it is necessary to remove all the bulk and fiber from the fruits and vegetables so that it is quickly and easily digested, while retaining the maximum amount of nutrients and enzymes. The Gerson juices are completely smooth and pulp-free, for optimal digestion and nutrient absorption. Not every juicer has the mechanical capability to accomplish this task, which is why the Gerson Therapy requires a very specific type of juicer.

Juicers for Cancer

The Gerson Therapy for cancer requires a two-step machine, which has two components: a grinder and a hydraulic press.

The first component is a grinder, which grinds the vegetables into a fine, moist pulp. The second is a hydraulic press, which extracts the juice of the vegetables from the pulp by pressing it under high pressure. Dr. Gerson found that grinding the produce before pressing was essential. The pulp of the different fruits and vegetables should be mixed and pressed together, because the malic acid contained in the apples allows the other vegetables to release more minerals.

A two-step juicer is necessary for cancer treatment because in a one-step masticating juicer, each item is ground and pressed separately. During the process of grinding and pressing in a two-step juicer, the produce is not subjected to heat or electricity, so the fresh, healing enzymes in the raw fruits and vegetables are preserved in the juices. In our decades of experience, we have found these are the most effective and efficient juicers, and best suited for providing optimal nutrition for the Gerson Therapy.

Research in this area, although limited, indicates that juice is produced by the grinder/press can be as much as 50 percent higher in certain essential nutrients, and will produce 25 to 50 percent more volume than other juicers for the same amount of raw produce.

Though it is a major investment, bear in mind that a powerful juicer with a hydraulic press produces more juice, while using less produce, than other types of juicers. After the produce has gone through the press, the leftover pulp is completely dry, as all the essential juices and nutrients have been thoroughly extracted. In the long run, given the large quantities of produce used by a Gerson patient, a two-step juicer can actually end up saving you money on grocery bills.

We have found three juicers that fit this criteria for cancer:

The PURE Juicer
The Norwalk Juicer
The Champion Juicer (with homogenizing nozzle) and hydraulic press

The PURE Juicer

The PURE Juicer’s state-of-the-art design allows two-stage juicing to be a faster and easier experience. PURE Juicer is a true cold-pressed, two-stage juicer that provides that highest enzyme count and the highest yield based on third-party research. The PURE Juicer is built from custom stainless steel parts and comes with a 12-year warranty (two-year warranty for business).

The Norwalk Juicer

The Norwalk Juicer was the main juicer used on the Gerson Therapy until they closed in October 2021, after 87 years of innovation, dedication to natural health, and showing the power of two-stage cold-press juicing. They are greatly missed by the entire Gerson community, for the Gerson Therapy would not have been possible without it.

Used Norwalk juicers are independently available for sale. Red Wing Organics and Several Gardens provide parts and servicing for Norwalk juicers.

Champion Juicer with Separate Hydraulic Press

The next-best alternative is the Champion juicer with homogenizing nozzle and a separate hydraulic press to extract the juice from the pulp.

The Champion alone is not suitable for the Gerson Therapy for cancer, because it is a standard masticating juicer which grinds and presses the produce in one step, and does not extract enough juice from the pulp. When using a Champion juicer for the Gerson Therapy, a special homogenizing nozzle is used to grind only. This way, the Champion simply grinds the produce into a fine pulp, which you can then place into the hydraulic press to extract the juice.

Although this is a cost-effective alternative, bear in mind that because the Champion/press combination is two machines, more work is required. For each juice that you prepare, you must use and clean two different machines. When preparing up to 13 juices every day, this is a major consideration.

Juicers for Non-Malignant Conditions

For those utilizing the Gerson Therapy for non-malignant conditions, or healthy people juicing to enhance overall health, it is not as strictly necessary to use a two-step machine, though it is still recommended.

Masticating juicers are acceptable alternatives for non-cancer patients using the Gerson Therapy, as they extract a sufficient amount of juice, and preserve enzyme activity. There are many brands of masticating and twin-gear juicers on the market.

A few brands that Gerson patients have used for non-malignant conditions on the Gerson Therapy include:

The Champion
Angel Juicer
Green Star
Green Power
Solo Star
Hurom Slow Juicer
Omega Juicers (masticating models only)

Unsuitable Juicers for the Gerson Therapy

Centrifugal Juicers

In our experience, centrifugal juicers are wholly incompatible with the Gerson Therapy. Though they are often the most popular and least expensive juicers on the market, we do not recommend using a centrifugal juicer for any condition. Dr. Gerson found that in his many years of clinical experience, patients who used centrifugal juicers did not have success with the Therapy. Centrifugal juicers are problematic for several reasons. The centrifugal force throws the pulp against a basket screen through which the juice is strained, while the pulp remains. Dr. Gerson said of centrifugal juicers:

“When the grinding wheel rotates against a resistance with insufficient access of air, positive electricity is produced and induces negative electricity on the surrounding wall. The exchange of positive and negative ions kills the oxidizing enzymes and renders the juice deficient.” – Dr. Max Gerson, MD

Centrifugal juicers expose the juice to heat and oxygen, killing off the essential healing enzymes in the juice. These juicers have difficulty in juicing leafy greens, as is required for the Gerson Therapy green juice. Without the pressing action to extract the juice, many minerals and phytochemicals remain in the pulp, so the juice rendered is less rich in healing nutrients than juice from grinder/press or masticating juicers.

Centrifugal force is less effective in extracting juice than the pressing action of other juicers, meaning that more produce is required to make less juice. When a patient is making 13 juices per day, this alone is a major consideration. An inefficient juicer may be cheaper in the short term, but will be more expensive in the long run, as it necessitates spending more money on produce.

The following centrifugal juicers are not recommended for the Gerson Therapy:

Jack LaLanne’s Power Juicer
Breville Juice Fountain
Omega (centrifugal models)
Hamilton Beach Juice Extractor
Black & Decker Juice Extractor

Blenders and Liquefiers

Blenders, such as the Vita-Mix and the Blendtec, are not really juicers at all. They make smoothies, rather than juices. They chop the produce into a fine pulp but have no mechanism by which to extract the juice. Since there is no reduction of bulk with a liquefier, to derive the nutrients equivalent to those in thirteen 8oz glasses of juice, a patient would have to ingest an alarming quantity of produce: six pounds of carrots, eight pounds of apples, and four heads of lettuce every day! And that’s in addition to three regular meals. It is simply not possible for a patient to prepare and consume all the necessary juices for the Gerson Therapy using a blender.

Wheatgrass Juicers

Wheatgrass juicers are small specialized machines designed specifically to extract the chlorophyll-rich juice of wheatgrass. We generally do not use wheatgrass on the Gerson Therapy, as most patients find it to be extremely harsh on the stomach and because the desirable components in wheatgrass are also found in the Gerson green juice.

Juicer FAQs

Where can I purchase a juicer?

PURE Juicer

https://purejuicer.com/

Enter the discount code “PUREGERSON” and receive $50 off the Gerson Special package.

PURE Juicer is honored to be approved by the Gerson Institute. Their state-of-the-art design allows two-stage juicing to be a faster and easier experience. PURE Juicer is a true cold-pressed, two-stage juicer that provides the highest enzyme count and the highest yield based on third-party research. The PURE Juicer is built from custom stainless steel parts and comes with a 12-year warranty (two-year warranty for businesses).

Contact PURE Juicer by email at [email protected] or by phone at (206) 488-1973

Norwalk Juicer

The Norwalk Juicer Company closed its doors in October 2021 after 87 years of innovation, dedication to natural health, and showing the power of two-stage cold-press juicing. They will be greatly missed by the entire Gerson community, for the Gerson Therapy would not have been possible without it. The Gerson Institute is grateful for our valued partners below, who continue to provide parts and servicing for Norwalk juicers.

Red Wing Organics, LLC – Norwalk Services & Repairs

www.redwingorganics.com

Red Wing Organics is a Gerson-approved vendor for parts and services of Norwalk juicers. With every component needed to maintain your Norwalk juicer and their comprehensive service department, Norwalk owners can be reassured of many years of reliable service for their Norwalk juicer.

Visit their website for more information on parts and services, or give them a call at (651-380-9919).

Several Gardens

www.severalgardens.com

David Feinburg of PURE Juicer maintains this website that supplies common parts for the Norwalk juicer.

The Champion Juicer (replacement parts only)

www.championjuicer.com

The Champion Juicer is a masticating juicer that uses a high speed cutter-auger with saw tooth stainless-steel blades to cut and grind produce. While the Champion alone is not recommended for cancer patients on the Gerson Therapy, a special Champion homogenizing nozzle is used to grind only, while a separate hydraulic press is used to extract the juice. The Champion Juicer alone can be used on the Gerson Therapy for non-malignant conditions.

Seagull Distribution Co.

Contact: Jeff Shipper

www.seagulldistribution.com

Seagull Distribution Co. sells the Champion juicers, Green Star juicers and K&K presses.

EU Juicers

www.eujuicers.com

EU Juicers sells masticating juicers such as the Champion, Green Star, Green Power as well as many other juicers in the European Union.

What about used juicers?

Used juicers can be found on resale sites such as ebay or Facebook Marketplace. Always request photo and video to determine the condition.

The Gerson Institute maintains a list of used juicers available for sale. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Why aren't other juicers recommended?

We can only recommend juicers that we personally have experience with, and that have been used to successfully treat illnesses with the Gerson Therapy. We do not have enough experience with other juicers to be able to recommend them. While it is certainly possible that there are other effective juicers on the market, we cannot recommend juicers that we have not tried ourselves. We do have anecdotal evidence that indicates that other juicers are not as effective. Some patients who have tried the therapy using other juicers did not have much success, but when they switched to a grind and press juicer they began to see rapid improvements in their condition. For optimal results on the Gerson Therapy, using a proper juicer is crucial.