Why Juice Vegetables
Health Benefits of Juicing
Like with any alternative health theory, there are many different opinions as to whether the health benefits of juicing fruits and vegetables are real or not. Some people are all for it, while others sit on the fence undecided. The benefits in my opinion and experience are real. I will list some then discuss it a bit:
- It intensifies the nutrient absorption process
- Helps fight Cancer
- It makes it easier to consume fruit and vegetables
- Helps to cleanse and detox the body
- Higher energy levels
- Clears complexion and healthier skin
- Stronger immune system
Juicing vegetables usually helps accelerate the nutrient absorption as it leaves out the fiber. This can be a positive thing especially ffor those who suffer from Irritable Bowel Diseases such as Crohn's and need to stay on a low-fiber diet. This ensures that they get most out of the vegetables, they would normally be unable to digest. Read on 10 Foods to Avoid If You Have Crohn's Disease
For those who do not suffer from IBS, adding some of the pulp to the juice before drinking solves the fiber problem as we can then choose how much of it we want. Using a blender instead of a juicer also serves as an alternative to the fiber debate.
We should not however eliminate vegetables or fruits from our daily menu. Juicing does help to minimize the effort associated with cooking, but it should not be seen as a cheat method to eating vegetables.
One Stop Cure?
Juicing vegetables is not a all in one cure for everything. As far as the cancer cure is concerned, in my opinion it definitely helps to support and strengthen the immune system and as such also helps cope with many symptoms that are associated with cancer.
In the book 
Does it go as far as fighting it? I guess the answer to that lies in personal experiences.
The notion that you can consume juice vegetables you don't usually eat or particularly like is partially true. This is true for vegetables like Celery, Cucumber, Carrots or Fennel that have a natural sweetness or rather not so bitter taste. For those who have never juiced, it is misleading to think they can start juicing kale, cabbage or collard greens and like it straight away. It is best to start with vegetables one already likes and try adding a new vegetable or new recipe a day at a time. To make vegetables less bitter, add fruits like apples, pears or pineapple.
Things to note when juicing:
- Make sure you pick fresh fruits and vegetables.
This sounds obvious to many but is ignored so freely. It is very important to pick fresh produce in order to obtain all the healthy goodness one opts for and to make sure that the food is not contaminated hence being more of a health risk than a health benefit.
The freshness is also expressed in the taste. Food that has been in the fridge a day or two will not taste as good as the freshly prepared juices.
- Select Organic Produce
There is no sense in putting emphasis on getting healthier only to digest pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers this obviously cancels the benefits.
If your budget does not allow organic produce although today it is much more affordable and can be obtained in stores such as Walmart for relatively low prices, you could use Fruit and Vegetable Wash to clear the vegetables of any pesticides or contaminants before juicing.
- DO NOT store the fresh juice
Never keep or take along green juices for future ingestion as they oxidize very quickly and lose their nutritional value and can harbor bacteria if left to sit for a few hours.
Do You Own A Juicer?
Types of Juicers
Centrifugal Juicers
These are by far the most common juicers around. They are relatively cheap in price and come in different varieties. They work by pushing the vegetable and/or fruit against a rotating disk which reduces the prior to pulp. The pulp is then pushed through a strainer, which separtes the juice from the pulp.
Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer - As Seen on TV
These juicers do not really juice green leafy vegetables well and may not grind the "normal vegetables" well leaving chunks hence less juice and more pulp. For those who can't afford a better juicer, this can be a way to start their juicing journey.
These are relatively expensive. They work by chewing up the vegetables or fruits and extracting their juices in one step. The quality of the juice produced is of higher quality than the one described above and the pulp is retained in the end hence no need to "return" it to the juice.
Blenders/Liquefiers
Yes! Blenders and or liquefiers can be used as juicers as well. Most powerful blenders grind the vegetables into a fine pulp and do not really produce juice but this does not change the benefits especially because of the pulp retained which increases fiber intake.
Citrus /Wheatgrass Juicers
These are specially made for juicing citrus fruits such as oranges and to juice wheatgrass to extract the chlorophyll in the wheatgrass. Although these have their benefits, they cannot be used with different vegetables therefore restricting the possibilities of juicing a great deal.
Whichever juicer you choose to use for your juice making, make sure you clean it as soon as you have consumed your juice to avoid any contamination for the next time you use it.
It is best to clean with warm water to ensure that all the pieces are disinfected and clean.
Healthy Body Cleanse Juice
- Recipes for Juicing | Juice Recipes
Juice recipes that help you get the most out of your juice. - 9 Ways to Make the Best of Your Juice Pulp | Reboot With Joe
It’s a common question for those of us who love juicing our fruits and vegetables…“What can I do with the pulp that is leftover after I juice my produce?” Good news is there are plenty of ideas to inspire you to start using the pulp so it doesn’t go
Conclusion
For those who have been having doubts as to the benefits of juicing, I believe that it makes a great difference to the body and helps to boost and reactivate the bodily functions and immune system.
It is one of the easiest solutions to taking a step towards a healthier, younger and energetic body and lifestyle.
