By Eloisa Lopez
With juice bars popping up in almost every corner of the city, it’s no secret that juicing is one of the latest trends in health and weight loss these days. Whether you’re in a gym or a supermarket, there is some form of juice everywhere. Local celebrities like Anne Curtis, Isabelle Daza, and Georgina Wilson all swear by the benefits.
With juice bars popping up in almost every corner of the city, it’s no secret that juicing is one of the latest trends in health and weight loss these days. Whether you’re in a gym or a supermarket, there is some form of juice everywhere. Local celebrities like Anne Curtis, Isabelle Daza, and Georgina Wilson all swear by the benefits.
Do you need juicing? Will blending heaps of carrots and cucumber improve your health? The answer is… maybe.
Whether you choose to blend up your own creations or purchase juice from the store, it’s important to understand the purpose of juicing, its benefits, and the best way for you to incorporate juice into your diet.
What is Juicing?
Juicing typically requires using a machine or equipment in order to turn raw fruits and vegetables into a liquid. There are plenty of juicing equipments available in the market for home use. By using special blades, most juicers chop up your fruits or vegetables into tiny pieces and spin them in a way to separate the juice from the pulp, which eliminates the majority of the fiber.
It’s a great way for people who are not big fans of fruits and veggies to get their recommended six to eight servings a day.
Benefits of Juicing
Juicing can aid in the digestive process and give it a little break, because it takes less energy to digest the produce as a liquid than as solid foods, which take many hours after consumption to deliver optimal nourishment to the body.
There are no preservatives or refined sugars in juice, and it tastes great because the fruit creates a natural sweetness. Juices contain a significant amount of anti-oxidants and vitamins that many of us lack in the standard diet.
The Not-So-Juicy Side
Diabetics are more sensitive to changes in blood sugar levels. Without an adequate amount of fiber and protein, the sugars from fruits and the potential for hypo and hyperglycemia can both be concerning and dangerous.
Also, a juicing machine extracts the juice from whole fruits or vegetables. The processing results in fewer vitamins and minerals, because the nutrient-rich skin is left behind. Juicing also removes the pulp, which contains fiber.
Freshly-prepared juice can certainly be incorporated into a healthy diet, but it's not a miracle food that's going to make you instantly skinny or cure whatever ails you.
If you’re planning on doing a juice “cleanse” with nothing but juice you may want to rethink your decision. Adding a juice to your daily diet is a great way to help you get nutrients and minerals that you may be lacking, and it can also improve your skin and bowel health. What it won’t do is magically help you lose and keep off the 10 pounds you have been trying to lose.
Additionally, be sure to talk to your doctor before starting juicing in order to prevent potential drug and nutrient interactions. This is because a lot of people use dark, leafy greens such as kale and spinach in their juices, and these greens are high in vitamin K, which could interfere with how certain blood thinners work.
Whether you choose to blend up your own creations or purchase juice from the store, it’s important to understand the purpose of juicing, its benefits, and the best way for you to incorporate juice into your diet.
What is Juicing?
Juicing typically requires using a machine or equipment in order to turn raw fruits and vegetables into a liquid. There are plenty of juicing equipments available in the market for home use. By using special blades, most juicers chop up your fruits or vegetables into tiny pieces and spin them in a way to separate the juice from the pulp, which eliminates the majority of the fiber.
It’s a great way for people who are not big fans of fruits and veggies to get their recommended six to eight servings a day.
Benefits of Juicing
Juicing can aid in the digestive process and give it a little break, because it takes less energy to digest the produce as a liquid than as solid foods, which take many hours after consumption to deliver optimal nourishment to the body.
There are no preservatives or refined sugars in juice, and it tastes great because the fruit creates a natural sweetness. Juices contain a significant amount of anti-oxidants and vitamins that many of us lack in the standard diet.
The Not-So-Juicy Side
Diabetics are more sensitive to changes in blood sugar levels. Without an adequate amount of fiber and protein, the sugars from fruits and the potential for hypo and hyperglycemia can both be concerning and dangerous.
Also, a juicing machine extracts the juice from whole fruits or vegetables. The processing results in fewer vitamins and minerals, because the nutrient-rich skin is left behind. Juicing also removes the pulp, which contains fiber.
Freshly-prepared juice can certainly be incorporated into a healthy diet, but it's not a miracle food that's going to make you instantly skinny or cure whatever ails you.
If you’re planning on doing a juice “cleanse” with nothing but juice you may want to rethink your decision. Adding a juice to your daily diet is a great way to help you get nutrients and minerals that you may be lacking, and it can also improve your skin and bowel health. What it won’t do is magically help you lose and keep off the 10 pounds you have been trying to lose.
Additionally, be sure to talk to your doctor before starting juicing in order to prevent potential drug and nutrient interactions. This is because a lot of people use dark, leafy greens such as kale and spinach in their juices, and these greens are high in vitamin K, which could interfere with how certain blood thinners work.
