Health Benefits of Juicing
Juicing is a wonderful way to treat specific health conditions, and to boost nutrition for the whole family. As a mom, nothing warms my heart quite like watching my young daughters drink their greens and veggies! They get lots of fiber from grains and fruits, but I used to worry that they weren't getting enough mineral-rich veggies, and clorophyl, etc. Even the best, whole foods vitamin doesn't come close to the living nutrients found in fresh vegetables and fruits. Quantity & Quality Fresh, raw, fruits and vegetables are excellellent sources of vitamins, minerals, phtyochemicals, and enzymes. Because they come from living foods, they are more easily assimilated by the body than synthetic supplements. Juicing allows us to take in higher quantities of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, etc. Most of us could not sit down to a meal of 3 lbs of raw vegetables, but we can easily drink that much. All that's removed during juicing is the fiber - which is the indigestible part of the plant. By drinking fresh juices we are receiving the nutrients intact, without losing the enzymes, or destroying the vitamins and minerals which are lost during processing and cooking. Juicing offers nutrients in a form that's easy to digest. It only takes the body 20 or 30 minutes to assimlate a glass of fresh, raw juice. Do It Yourself Is Best Commercial juices are not the same as the fresh, raw juices made at home. By law, most fruit and vegetable juices must be heat treated since they are not going to be consumed right away. The have to pasteurized or processed, and sometimes they even contain preservatives or other additives to prevent spoilage. A great deal of nutrients and enzymes are lost. To get the most out of juicing, invest in a good quality juicer and make your own pure, nutrient-rich juice. Tips for Juicing ~ Try to drink 2 glasses of fresh juice daily for optimum health. ~ For the therapeutic benefits of juicing for specific health concerns, 3 to 4 glasses daily are suggested. ~ Try to buy organic produce for your juices to ensure that chemical residues don't end up in your juices! When this is not possible, thoroughly was, or peel produce. ~ For daily health maintanence, rotate different fruits and vegetables to get a wide variety of nutrients and phytochemicals in your diet. ~ Generally, juice the stems and leaves of most plants. Exceptions to this would be carrot tops, and rhubarb greens,which can be toxic. ~ You can leave run small seeds of most plants through the juicer as well, except for apple seeds, which contain cyanide. A few seeds will not be harmful, but don't consume in large quantities. ~ Avocados, bananas, papayas, etc, don't really contain enough water to juice well. These are better blended in smoothies. To Skin or Not to Skin? In most cases, if using organic produce, leave the skins on for maximum nutrients. However, there are some exceptions. Potato skins are okay to juice as long as they're not green. Always peel the greenish tinted skin and any sprouting eyes as they are high in solanine which is toxic. I usually peel the skins of tropical fruits also, because many of them are sprayed with nasty chemicals. Pineapple skins don't juice well! A little lemon peel can be very tasty and add a refreshing zing and lots of bioflavanoids to your juice. But orange and grappefruit skins contain toxic substances and they are too bitter flavored. Click Here for Some Juicing Combinatins Back to Natural Therapies Index
The information on this web site is intended for educational purposes only, and not as any form of medical advice. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider.
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