Thank you, Hodge and Zen ( and forgive me for shortening everyone's names my short term memory is SO bad that I can't remember whole names). I will look into your link and as to fruits,

I am aware that you can get an awful lot of fructose, but others might not be. As a matter of fact I stopped buying juices at least 20 years ago and taught my children to "eat the fruit and drink a glass of water". They were not amused! But, I understood juices to be very poor nutrition because we need the fiber and the nutrients that don't make it into the juice. So, I was in for quite a surprise with the juicing craze.

I made a "blendy" this morning in my cuisinart with one apple, chunks t of papaya, two large handfuls of spinach, and a bit of soy milk. Gave my husband some. Ate it with a teaspoon. Still trying to decide if I want a blender.

Hey, Emily, that's why my mom never bought us juice from the store---it was juiced at home if it could be. They add too much water and/or crap of various kinds.(I swear all juice in teh store is just grape juice or apple juice with flavoring sometimes....) But home juicing is quite good. The sugar high-lows are an issue, but Hubby always sips his throughout the day instead of chugging a big glass as a "meal". Blendies are great, too, though:-)

The fibro doctor I see is one of those in the Good-fibro doctor list that gets posted. She has a monthly support group in which she covers a topic at each meeting. This last one was on nutrition.

She is a big proponent of juicing and blending, specifically blending and of Dr Weil's anti-inflammatory diet. He has a website.

Here is an interesting article about guidelines for these. As with anything else, more isn't necessarily better, and there are guidelines to observe such as be careful not to overdo the sugar. I think this is a nice balanced review and that the more our diet deviates from what is healthy, the more we need it. Probably don't need it as badly if you follow the antiinflammatory diet

http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/04/17/jane-says-juicing-may-be-great-blending-better

I have been using the cuisinart. Not as good for apple skin and chia seeds, but I make it thick and eat it with a spoon. I "chew" the tiny bits, like the texture and slows me down. Was told, don't chug.

Emily, I make my own nut butters so we use my nut grinder for the chia and flax seeds to "crack 'em up" for our oatmeal. (I can't do chia seeds, but Hubby does.) Cuisinart makes a little bitty one that's idea for small home use. :-)

Leo, if I get peanut butter without added sugar or oil, is there a reason to still make my own?

Nope. I make almond and walnut butters at home, tho', because I can't afford the prices at the store! I can freeze nuts for a few months when they're on sale, etc.... And I like to blend my nuts for my nut butters. I'm one of *those*, LOL! My hubby uses the PB he gets at Whole Foods, I'm not against it, I just like playing in my ktichen!