Juicing 101: What You Need to Know
By Emily Lindholm
Fresh juices are loaded with benefits. Starting your day with a glass of fresh juice instead of coffee can jump-start your energy more efficiently and sustain it throughout the day. Juice fasting has become more popular in recent years, and many are taking on this trend of drinking only juice for 1-3 days at a time. Whether or not you are taking on an entire juice fast or just drinking juice intermittently, here is a little beginner's guide to juicing.
Always Drink Fresh Juice!
The juice from the store, especially from concentrate, is loaded with sugar. Any juice that has been sitting for longer than three days, no matter how it has been prepared, has lost most of its benefits. Always drink fresh juice.
Make your juice at home yourself if you have a juicer, or buy it from a place that makes their juice fresh, such as a juice bar. Be sure to ask about bottled juice before purchase, even if it was made on-site. If it has been there longer than three days, it has already lost most of its nutrient-dense benefits.
Benefits of Juicing
Here are some of the benefits of juicing.
Increased energy - Juicing is a fast way to get the vitamins in your system. It takes a lot of plant material to make juice. Sometimes it takes seven or eight carrots to make one glass of carrot juice. When you have a glass of carrot juice, you are getting the benefits of seven or eight carrots directly into your system. I usually combine a smaller amount of carrot juice with celery and lemon to cut down on the sugar content.
A decrease in inflammation - Fresh juice, especially from leafy greens and other vegetables, contains anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation can cause pain, bloating, gas, and other discomforts. It can even cause weight gain. Drink fresh juice, especially in the morning, can reduce these issues caused by inflammation and have us feeling refreshed and fully alive.
Protect against disease - Drinking juice alone on an empty stomach can increase our nutrient intake and help us replenish our body with extra vitamins and minerals. When our bodies are supported with a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, we can fight off disease more efficiently. Green juices can help us to eliminate free radicals in the system as well.
Juice Fasting
It is not necessary to do a juice fast to receive the benefits of juicing. The purpose of a juice fast is to give the body a break from working so hard to break down food. Instead, you're pouring nutrients into the body while giving the digestive system a rest. Juice fasting has its added benefits, but drinking juice intermittently is still a great way to receive a boost of nutrients.
An important note, Juice fasting is not for everybody. Anyone with blood sugar issues should consult a healthcare professional before trying a juice fast. Until then, enjoy juices in the morning or in between meals.
I recommend juicing at home if you plan to drink a lot of juice. In the long-run, it will save you money. Juicers can easily be found used because a lot of people never get around to using them! However, I love my juicer, and I use it every day.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Melbourne, Fla.