Is Juicing Right for You?
The Pros and Cons of Juicing
Juicing is a trend that’s hard to avoid. But it’s not for everyone. Some people find juicing boring and some don’t have the time or money to buy fresh fruit every day, so they give up on the idea altogether. Others get overwhelmed by all of the choices and end up buying juices with extra sugar in them because they are easier to drink than plain juice. And finally, there are those who can’t afford to go out and eat at restaurants every day but still want something healthy when they do dine out. We’ll explore both sides of this debate so you can make an informed decision about whether or not you should try juicing yourself!
Juicing is trending in the world. But it’s not for everyone. Let us explore both the benefits and drawbacks of juicing so that you can make a choice on whether or not to give it a try.
Juicing can be an easy way to get the nutrients your body needs. Fruit and vegs contain vitamins and minerals but also phytonutrients that help keep us well. Cooking often kills these nutrients off, and as juice is made from raw fruit, you know you are getting the full quota of goodness.
• Drink your entire meal in one glass
• Lose weight faster from getting more nutrients than just liquids
• Avoid feeling deprived
What to Consider Before Starting Juicing
A juice diet will make it easier for the body to remove those pesky toxins that have been stored in our bodies over time. A healthy amount of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients are necessary so that our liver can carry out all stages of detoxification. With super-dense nutrient foods like juices, this makes the liver’s job much easier. Happy you! Happy liver.
Juice to start the day is different. You are getting lots of nutrients into you immediately, along with plenty of fluid. The body needs water and drinking liquids; as soon as you get up, it fires everything up. So you are all ready for the day ahead.
Juicing Can Be a Great Way to Get More Vegetables into the Diet
Juices are quick and easy to digest as well. They give you lots of those all-important electrolytes, so they are great to have before or after exercise. Another benefit that the athletes amongst us will appreciate is the boost of energy that juice gives. This is because the body has immediate access to the nutrients that support our vitality-giving systems. In other words, juice gives you oomph!!
Juicing is great for everyone, from your child to your grandparents. Children are often fussy eaters – especially when it comes to vegetables. Juicing is a good way to get vegetables into their stomachs without the drama. The elderly may struggle to chew and digest vegetables due to having dentures and their aging gut. But they still need the best that vegetables provide, so a lovely glass of green juice goes a long way to keeping them well. A juice diet also has amazing benefits for the gut. A juice can change your intestinal microbiota and increase your sense of well-being. (1)
This is because the bacteria in your gut feed on the soluble fiber in the juice and multiply.
Juicing isn’t for Everyone or Every Meal
Drinking your meal also gives your digestive system a rest. To keep your gut healthy, it needs to recover, just like you do. Digesting heavy meals found in meat and fish can be tough on your stomach. So do it a favor and have healthy green juice now and again. It will almost feel like your body thanking you for it. Top tip: A daft as it sounds great advice is chewing the juice when it’s in your mouth. Your saliva will break down some of them and turn them into an easier-to-digest meal.
Government recommendations are that we should be eating at least five portions of vegetables every day. But it’s not always easy. So juicing can be a convenient and fast way to overcome this problem. (2)
Juices are a great way to start the day. You are getting lots of nutrients into you immediately along with plenty of fluid. The body needs water and drinking liquids as soon as you get up, fires everything up. So you are all ready for the day ahead.
Juicing is a Great Idea. It’s Not for Everybody
Many people have pain in their stomach and gut caused by allergies. Getting rid of foods that contain wheat and gluten, such as bread, dairy foods such as cow’s milk and cheese, and fermented soy foods is a great reason to drink juices. The bloating and pain will disappear, and then you can add them back into your foods a bit at a time to find out which ones are causing the problems. While you are at it, why not stop caffeine and alcohol too. Give your body a spa treatment from the inside.
One of the reasons that people drink juices is as a way of shedding pounds. There are a few things to think about before beginning what is known as a juice cleanse or detox diet.
These diets can help to reduce your appetite. Going on a juice diet can help you to be satisfied with less food than usual. It does not reduce the size of the stomach, although it may psychologically feel like it does! This gives you a great boost so that you can change habits for the better.
Learn the Difference between Juicing and Blending
One of the main drawbacks of juicing for weight loss is the increase in the high concentration of sugar, especially when juicing fruit. (3) Too much fruit sugar or fructose can lead to diabetes and can even increase blood pressure (4) and cholesterol (5) if taken in high amounts over a prolonged period.
However, it is not all doom and gloom as focussing on vegetable juices for weight loss can be extremely effective.
When you don’t eat fruits and veggies in their whole form, you lose all of the weight loss benefits of fiber. In a nutshell, fiber helps to move food through the gut more smoothly and regulates bowel movements. It also slows down digestion and delays stomach emptying. This means we feel fuller for longer, so we are not tempted to snack on unhealthy foods.
And because whole fruits and vegetables take longer to eat, you eat fewer calories in a sitting.
Another downside to juicing too much fruit or too many acidic fruits such as pineapple is that it can cause tooth decay due to an increased level of acidity in your mouth which eats away at teeth enamel over time (6)
Are You Trying to Eat Healthier?
Drinking juice may leave you feeling deprived because you are only drinking fluids instead of eating solid food. But if you only have juice for one meal a day, that disadvantage could be overcome. I’m sure anyone can manage to drink their meal just once, especially when they see the benefits.
Finally, you may think that you are consuming fewer calories in a glass than on a plate, but calories from juice can easily take you over your recommended daily intake.
This was just a short trip around the pros and cons of drinking juice, I hope it has given you some ideas into what to consider before juicing.
If you’re new to juicing or still learning more about how it all works with juicing for beginners, you’ve found the right place! It’s never too late to get started with your health, and juicing is one of many ways to do so. Whether you have a specific goal in mind or just want to clean up your diet with the best juicers for juicing.
FAQs on Juicing
Are smoothies better than juicing?
Smoothies are more beneficial than juicing because they contain antioxidants and fiber. Smoothies also have a lot of health benefits with less sugar, which can cause highs when drinking juice.
Is Blending better than juicing?
Blending and juicing are two very different methods for extracting the juice from fruits or vegetables. Blended drinks have a higher liquid-to-fiber ratio, which makes them more filling than drinking just fruit juices. Juices may be too concentrated to consume in large quantities without chewing some of it first (and even then you’re risking tooth decay). It’s important not only to consider what your personal preferences are but also how much time you want to spend preparing food when deciding on one method over another!
Does blending destroy nutrients?
No, contrary to popular belief it is oxidation that destroys the delicate plant matter and vitamins inside our produce! In order for this not to happen in your blended drinks, you must make fresh batches and drink them within 20 minutes.
Why is juicing better than eating?
Juicing is a great alternative to eating whole fruits and vegetables. It extracts the juice from fresh produce, which contains most of what you need in terms of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients (plant chemical), etc., found in fruit.
What vegetables are good for juicing?
It’s hard to go wrong when it comes to juicing, but these 4 vegetables are surefire winners. From kale and carrots with their mild flavors that pair well with other fruits and veggies in juices, all the way down to parsley which tastes great blended up into a green juice or tisane tea (try adding some ginger for an extra kick!), there is something here for everyone!
Sources
There are a lot of different ways to improve gut health, but one way is with probiotics and prebiotics.
Fruit juice allows people to get their recommended servings of fruits and vegetables without having to eat them.
A government adviser has said that fruit juice should not count towards your five a day.
Scientists have found that taking dietary lipoic acid supplements can prevent fructose-induced hypertension in rats.
In a study in rats, the effect of α-Lipoic Acid on Lipid Profile in Rats Fed a High-Fructose Diet was observed.
Is it appropriate for infants, children, and adolescents to drink fruit juice?