The idea behind juicing is to extract liquid from fresh fruits and vegetables for consumption. Drinking fresh juice helps the body absorb necessary vitamins, minerals, and fiber that keep you in tip-top health. During the juicing process, insoluble fiber is lost allowing the body to better absorb health-promoting phytonutrients.
Juices are ideal for digestive health as they get absorbed faster into our bodies than solid food.
By regularly consuming fresh juice, you help protect your body from inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
Flavonoids and anthocyanins that are found in fresh produce protect against cellular damage caused by repeated exposure to pollution.
Read on further to better understand the vital benefits of juicing and why including it can change your lifestyle for the better.
Commercial Juices Lack the Health Benefits of Juicing
Rushing to your grocery store and grabbing a packet of fruit juice can be detrimental to your health. Here’s why.
- Packaged juice contains concentrated amounts of sugar and can lead to increased weight gain
- Added preservatives that enhance the shelf life of these juices are also harmful to our bodies
- Juices are boiled before packaging, destroying all nutrients and positive health benefits
- Labels with ‘added fruit pulp’ are generally for advertising purposes only, there is no truth to it
- Artificial coloring in the juice gives them a rich color which is directly counterproductive to health
Commercially packaged juices are just as harmful as sodas and have zero health benefits as claimed by the company. Hence it’s always viable to stick to juicing for your daily dose of nutrition.
Importance of Buying Organic Produce
Organic produce is nothing but environmentally-friendly fruits and vegetables that have been grown without the use of pesticides or nasty chemicals.
Not paying attention to the quality of products that you buy from your local grocery store can have its repercussions.
Firstly, fruits and vegetables grown using pesticides can cause cancer and may weaken your immunity levels. You may end up falling sick more often when consuming products that contain high pesticide levels.
Organic produce, on the other hand, is grown using natural fertilizers such as manure and compost. Pests are controlled using manual traps and by utilizing birds. Hence, produce acquired through organic means are ideal for juicing and maintaining a healthy life.
Juicing Can Aid in Weight Loss and Cure Your Sleep Disorders
Who doesn’t crave a good night’s sleep? However, if you are someone who has been suffering from sleep conditions such as snoring or sleep apnea, there is good news!
Drinking juice made of spinach and green apples has been proven to reduce sleep disorders in less than a week. This is because spinach and green apples are rich in magnesium, which helps relax the muscles and calm nerves.
Juicing regularly promotes weight loss as juices are low on calories.
Losing weight doesn’t just make you physically fit but also decreases your overall fat percentage. Decreasing fat levels with a good diet can eliminate snoring once and for all.
The Right Formula for Juicing
Contrary to what people think, dumping all kinds of produce into your juicer doesn’t automatically make it healthy. In fact, you could end up vomiting and develop stomach problems by not following a recipe.
It’s considered ideal to put twice the vegetables into your juicer to every single cup of fruit.
Leafy vegetables don’t contain sugar and keep your insulin levels in check. Vegetables also offer a multitude of health benefits due to a higher fiber count than fruits.
Quick Ways to Make Your Juices Taste Great
Bored of having the same green juice every morning? Here are a few ways you can enhance the taste of your juice.
Adding a slice of lemon into your juice can give it a tangy flavor. Lemons are also refreshing and aid in detoxifying your body.
You can also add a small piece of ginger to give a nice kick to your juice; ginger lowers cholesterol levels and promotes cardiovascular health.
Proceed to add a few mint leaves to your fruit juice and enjoy a minty fruit flavor, mint leaves offer medicinal properties to keep your skin supple, improve digestive health, and reduce fatigue.
You could also add 2-3 slices of cucumber during the summer months to help regulate your body heat.
Tips to Ensure You Get the Best Quality of Juice Possible
- To store juice, ensure you use glass jars and fill the jar up to the very top. Oxidation is likely to occur if you allow too much air to be locked in.
- Refrigerate after juicing if you plan on consuming your juice within 24 hours
- Clean your juicer after every juicing session to prevent produce from hardening
Always consume your juices immediately after juicing to gain the best quality possible without losing nutrients.
