Extracting the juice — nutrients, minerals and all — from fruits and vegetables... that’s all juicing really is. But like many dietary trends and fads, it’s a popular way to squeeze in (pun intended) those recommended fruits and veggies for a well-balanced diet. That is, if you do it the right way. Know these few seeds of information before having a go at juicing.
1. AVOID JUICING TOO MUCH FRUIT.
Fruit contains lots of sugar — natural sugars, but they still spike your sugar levels quickly, meaning those levels then crash quickly, too. Include more vegetables like spinach, carrots or celery, and maybe throw in one fruit for a bit of sweetness, if you’re looking to avoid that sugar spike and fall.
2. DRINK WHAT YOU JUICE, WHEN YOU JUICE IT.
Fruits and veggies, when exposed to oxygen, oxidize and sometimes turn brown and yucky looking. The same process happens to the juice from them, so it’s best to drink it as soon as it’s made.
3. JUICING GIVES YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM A BREAK.
So if you feel like your body needs this, juicing is a good option a couple times a week. It’s not having to work as hard to break down the nutrients, because it’s juice, not food.
4. NUTRIENTS FROM JUICING ARE ABSORBED QUICKLY.
Juicing allows all those valuable vitamins and minerals to be delivered and absorbed straight into your bloodstream.
5. WASH VEGETABLES, BUT DON'T PEEL.
By peeling your fruits or vegetables, you lose a lot of nutrients that the skin provides. However, some peels are not very ideal to juice. It’s best to avoid the peels of lemons, limes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, mango, grapefruit, and oranges. They’re too bitter, and some are too tough.
6. JUICE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
Your body is waking up from a fast, so the best time to input lots of nutrients in your body is breakfast time! You’ll reap all the benefits, and feel energized and ready to start your day.
7. JUICING SHOULDN'T REPLACE MEALS.
If a juice did replace all your meals, you simply wouldn’t get enough protein. Leafy greens do offer some protein, but certainly not enough to meet your body’s daily needs. After all, juice is a drink, not food. It really won’t curb hunger.
8. JUICING ISN'T A PROPER DETOX.
Your body is built to cleanse and detox itself naturally — your liver and kidneys get rid of any toxins that don’t belong in your body. So a juice actually cleansing is a common misconception.
Juicing done the right way, will yield plenty of delicious benefits, and you’ll know exactly what’s going into your juice — not all those added sugars from the ones you buy at the grocery store. And many avid juicers recommend juicing only organic produce, as pesticides and other pollutants get grown into non-organic produce. And on that note, shouldn’t you always know what’s in your products? Check out all of Nurture My Body’s organic all-natural skincare to live your most wholesome life. Happy juicing… and nurturing!