Benefits of Juicing

Okay, everyone. We’d like you to spill the beans. No matter how healthy you are, do you really eat enough vegetables and fruits every day? Are you using your multivitamin as an excuse for not getting all your daily dose of fruits and vegetables? To make things clear (according to choosemyplate.gov) about half of the food on your plate during meals should be vegetables¹. But when was the last time vegetables even filled a quarter of your plate? Maybe last week during dinner, when you had that salad? And it was the sole meal like that of the week?

If only there was a way to get all the nutrients you’re missing!

Most people don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables because they don’t like the taste. Another reason is that it takes a lot of vegetables and fruit to hit your nutrition target. Experts recommend that you eat 3 cups of vegetables a day and if you exercise you need more. This may seem like no big deal, but just because a handful of spinach may look like a cup, it’s really not – there’s lots of empty space in that cup.

If you’re not getting enough, you’re in luck. There is a solution.

My friends, it’s called JUICING. Juicing is a great way to get your daily recommended dose of fruits and vegetables. Instead of having to physically eat all those vegetables, you can simply juice throughout the day. This way, you know you’re getting your full intake of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

Juicing benefits

Juicing is a great way to hit your daily recommendation of fruits and vegetables. Instead of having to physically eat all those vegetables, you can juice them throughout the day. This way you know you’re getting the full intake of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

Increased nutrient absorption³

Vegetables are naturally low in fat, salt, sugar, and calories, and none of them have cholesterol. Juicing allows you to consume a wider variety of vegetables that you might have otherwise avoided. Some key nutrients found in vegetables are calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and phytonutrients.

• Calcium: It is essential for normal functioning, nerves, glands, muscle. Most important nutrients for healthy bones and teeth.
• Folate: A crucial nutrient for preventing brain and spinal cord defects that can be present at birth.
• Iron: A key component in healthy blood and cellular life.
• Magnesium: Keeps your heart rhythm steady, and is an important player in skeletal and immune system health. Also involved in protein synthesis, maintaining stable blood pressure and blood sugar.
• Potassium: An electrolyte needed for proper heart, muscle, and nerve function. A vital electrolyte used by every cell in your body.
• Vitamin A: Keeps your skin and eyes healthy. Plays a role in preventing infections.
• Vitamin C: Helps with iron absorption; is a key player in immune function and healing.
• Phytonutrients: Since plants cannot run from danger, they create phytonutrients. These are chemicals that protect plants from germs, pests, and environmental threats. These have been associated to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibiotic, and immune properties.

Hydration and detoxification

Plants naturally have water, and that’s why they are so convenient to juice. Not only do you get all the nutrition you need; you also stay hydrated. Juicing also naturally detoxifies your body. It gives your gut a break from meats, grains, and fiber. Don’t get me wrong – fiber is important in gut health, and you need it every day. Raw vegetables like garlic, dark greens, ginger, and lemon assist with cleansing the liver and pulling out the toxins in your system. We all need to detox ourselves from all the built-up waste we absorb from processed foods and decrease the inflammation they cause. As one of the benefits of juicing, it allows for the establishment of healthy gut flora that can better perform jobs such as absorption and elimination. There are also correlations between a healthy gut and a healthy mind.

Stabilized blood sugars

We’ve all heard that diabetes is on the rise. About 29 million people in the US are living with diagnosed or undiagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is a trending health issue that we are failing to control. Some diagnoses are related to genetics, but most are diet-driven. Most times, diabetes is attributed to a poor diet lacking in vegetables. Juicing when avoiding fruits and their high amount of carbs helps stabilize blood sugar.

The reason for avoiding fruit when juicing is because fruits have carbs, so the more fruit you juice, the more carbs you will drink. These will have a profound effect on your blood sugar level and may even cause weight gain. Juice containing only a majority of vegetables decreases insulin resistance because there will be less glucose circulating in your system; this allows the beta cells in your system to create enough insulin for the amount of circulating glucose.

Improved mood

This is because most people typically don’t get enough nutrition. After juicing and getting all those key vitamins, your body will feel rejuvenated. So will your mind. You won’t feel as groggy or bloated as you would after a full-course meal. You will also feel a boost in energy. Some people have also associated juicing with beating their depression.

Points to consider

Fiber plays a big role in gut health and digestion. Insoluble fiber isn’t broken down and pulls out the toxins and waste from your body. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, creates a gel that helps eliminate cholesterol. Juicing destroys the fiber in plants, so make sure you’re getting fiber from other sources. Eating vegetables or beans is a good way to get enough fiber into your body.

As for sugar – beware of juicing high-carb foods like fruits. The reason people gain weight on juice diets is that their juices consist mostly, if not completely, of fruits. An increase in carbs usually causes an increase in weight if you don’t burn them off. High-carb juice also negates the blood-stabilizing properties of juicing vegetables.

Now that you know the benefits of juicing, go ahead and pick your favorite fruits and vegetables. Happy juicing!