The Facts About Juicing
By Paul Rothbart
Juicing has become a popular diet fad over the last several years. Many different types and brands of juicers have appeared on the market claiming that making juice from fruits and vegetables is a healthy effective way to lose weight and get vital nutrition. Some people have embraced juicing wholeheartedly, mixing all kinds of combinations and taking a bottle with them for lunch and snacks throughout their day. There are even those who drink juice for breakfast. Is juicing really all that many claim it to be? It has its positives and negatives. Here are the facts.
Juice Does Supply Nutrients
Making juice from combinations of healthy fruits and vegetables will certainly provide the nutrition these foods contain. This encompasses a large range of vitamins and minerals. Many people don't get enough fruits and vegetables in their daily meals and drinking juice is a good way to solve that problem. Fresh produce also contains antioxidants that can help prevent disease. These plant compounds fight free radicals in the body that can cause oxidative stress that damages cells and can cause chronic diseases such as cancer. By making your own juice, you can be sure there is no added sugar or other ingredients that are not healthy.
The Downside of Juicing
Substituting juice for a meal of solid food is not the best thing for your health. Extracting the juice from fruits and vegetables leaves the fiber content behind. Many antioxidants bind to fiber and by removing it, you lose a lot of the compounds. Fiber itself is also important to good health. It fills you up, helping to prevent obesity. Soluble fiber is also good for heart health and lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The greatest health benefits from fruits and vegetables come from eating them solid.
Using Juicing Effectively
Juicing, if used intelligently can be an aid to good health. Rather than replacing meals with juice, it is best used as a supplement. A healthy fruit and vegetable concoction makes a great snack to help tide you over to the next meal. It is also helpful for those hectic days when you may not have time for a full breakfast or lunch. As the body still needs protein, fiber, and some fat, regular balanced meals should still be the core of your diet.
Dieting fads come and go and many have no real basis in science. Fruit and vegetable juices are healthy but they should not be used to replace meals. If you want to try juice, use the drinks as a supplement, much like a multivitamin, and continue to eat healthy meals.
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