Juicing isn’t just a rage…it’s a health movement…one that’s here to stay because it works.
Juicing helps you to consume an optimum amount of veggies in an efficient fashion as well as helping you soak up all the nutrients from the veggies.
Since most of us have impaired digestion as an outcome of poor food choices over the years this helps our body soak up extra nutrients and it also helps to pre-digest them so we get the most nutrition from the veggies we pay for.
Most health advocates advise us to eat 6-8 servings of veggies and fruits per day and very few of us really get that. Some people find consuming that amount of veggies challenging in such a short period of time and juicing fills that need perfectly.
Juicing is not as hard as you probably believe it is and with the super-tough and fast juicers on the market these days it has become easier and easier. Mid-range juicers can do the job nicely.
Salads are the mainstay for most people in the veggie department but eating the same veggies daily violates the principle of veritable food rotation and increases any chance you might have of developing an allergy to a particular food.
Juicing answers that need also and opens the door for you to try new veggies as well as use some “not so favorite ones” hidden and blended nicely in your juice.
Although juicing fills many needs it provides little protein and little fat by itself so it cannot be considered a complete food and should be utilized (for the most part) in addition to your regular meals.
Juicing is no different than any other food choice…always pay attention to your stomach and how it is reacting especially when trying new veggies…or fruits you have not used before.
If juicing is something entirely new the easiest veggies to digest and tolerate are celery, fennel (anise) and cucumbers. Add some nutrient rich dark green veggies into your juice. Red and green lettuce, endive, escarole and spinach are all good choices as well as fruits (unless you are veggie juicing).
When juicing be sure to choose pesticide free veggies…organic if possible.
Here’s a short list of veggies that are loaded with the most pesticides:
Celery
Spinach
Kale
Collard Greens
Lettuce
Carrots
Cucumber (not as bad if you peel the skin)
Let’s face it, nutrient dense juice is not always the most exciting flavor to sink your palate into so adding ¼ to ½ a lemon or lime (leaving the rind on) can really break up flavors. Cranberries are good also but should be limited to approximately 4 ounces per pint of juice. Fresh ginger will add a real “kick” and is another good choice if you can tolerate it.
To get the most nutrient value from your juice you should drink it immediately after making it or store it carefully (veggie juice is extremely perishable) in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed glass jar and drink as soon as possible.
Make juicing a family affair and get the kids involved. They love to eat what they create and juicing helps everyone to adopt healthier eating patterns.
The best time to enjoy your juice is on an empty stomach or at least an hour before eating a meal if possible. This maximizes the amount of nutrients your body absorbs. Even if you can’t hit that “perfect window” your juice drink still provides awesome health benefits.
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