Every one should know the Pros And Cons of Juicing. The race to healthy living by going on a juicing diet is all the rage these days. From Hollywood celebrities jumping aboard the juicing bandwagon to health gurus prophesizing the health benefits of juicing, this craze seems to be an inescapable conversion for just about anyone concerned with their health.
Juicing, or drinking a combination of fruit and vegetable juices, for an extended period of time has indeed taken the health world by storm. Just look at the juice section of your favorite supermarket, where the little stack of cartons of orange, apple, grapefruit or the occasional tomato juices that used to greet you in the old times has now been replaced by almost a full section of quite an assortment of juices, many of them containing exotic fruits or offering targeted health benefits and specific dietary benefits.
Juicing has been extolled with an abundance of benefits from detoxifying the body to losing weight the healthy way. Much of its charm, especially among those who yearn to be healthy, but shy away from hard core dieting, is in fact in its promise of multifaceted benefits without feeling deprived of your usual craving for good tasting food.And who doesn’t want a refreshing drink that packs in lots of nutritional benefits, by the way?But, while it is vastly popular, make sure you are aware of the pros and cons of juicing before you give it a try.
Pros
Juices are a good source of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins – Fruits and vegetables are packed with an abundance of these good nutrients. Drinking a glass of orange juice can already supply your body with more than your required daily dose of vitamin C that will help boost your immune system and generate antioxidants to fight free radicals and other toxins lurking in your system. Combining fruits and vegetables known for their specific health benefits will give you an ample source of much needed nutrients.
Juicing will help you get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables – Let’s face it: not everybody likes to eat fruits and vegetables, especially in their raw form. If you’re among those who are not able to eat a balanced go-grow-glow diet because your taste buds are simply not up to the challenge of eating whole vegetables and fruits, juicing might just give you a new lease of life, so to speak.A four-ounce glass of apple juice, for example, is equivalent to a whole apple fruit. So, if you feel burdened somehow by eating an apple a day, Comforted by the thought that you can breeze through your daily apple serving by quickly downing a small glass of apple juice.
Get your vegetable nutrients – Vegetables are so important for good health, and many of us do not consume nearly enough. Juicing your vegetables at home is an easy and effective way to gain the benefits of these nutrients. But, keep in mind that it is still important to eat whole vegetables and juice should only be used to supplement an overall well balanced diet.
Juicing can get kids important nutrients – For kids that refuse to eat vegetables, and many do, juicing is a great way to hide them by blending healthy low sugar fruits with vegetables.
Cons
Juice is not nutritionally equivalent to whole produce – Never even for a moment believe that fruit and vegetable juice can replace all the nutrients and good benefits you get from eating whole fruits and vegetables, for example the all-important fiber that gets stripped away during juicing, along with essential nutrients that are contained in the pulp. When you juice, you leave behind parts of the fruit and vegetables in your juicer, parts, which unfortunately are where the good stuff remain—unconsumed.
Juice is high in calories and loaded with sugars – Those who think that it is okay to drink as much juice as possible and simply because it is fat free and comes from nature are sorely mistaken. A glass of orange juices for example is a highly concentrated source of calories—140 calories per 8-ounce glass to be precise—and this is way above the 60-calorie count of a whole orange fruit.The majority of the calories contained in fruit juice especially, are actually derived from their high amount of natural sugar from fruits and some vegetables. At the core of it, juicing gets you on a high-carb diet that is low on protein and fiber.
Bottom Line
While juicing definitely has its benefits for one’s health, there is also a tradeoff when a holistic approach to diet and health is also considered.When you do juice make sure it is mostly comprised of vegetables and not fruits, low sugar fruits should only be used to complement the juice and not be its star.The bottom line is, if you want to make a new habit out of juicing, do make it a point to also complement it with a wholesome and balanced diet plan that will ensure you get maximum nutritional benefits.
Thank you I hope that it is informative
Chef Murph
