Is Juicing Healthy? Health Benefits of Juicing

Is juicing healthy or just a fad? The Juicy Truth, we are exploring the health benefits of juicing. In recent years, juicing has gained significant popularity as a means to boost overall health and well-being. With vibrant colors and a myriad of flavors, fresh juices have become synonymous with vitality and nutrition. But what’s the real scoop behind this wellness trend?

Nutrient Powerhouse: Freshly squeezed juices are bursting with an abundance of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. By extracting the juice from fruits and vegetables, we can access a concentrated dose of these beneficial nutrients. From vitamin C to potassium, juicing provides a convenient and efficient way to nourish our bodies with the vital substances they need for optimal functioning.

Increased Micronutrient Intake: Juicing allows us to incorporate a wide variety of fruits and vegetables into our diets, some of which we may not consume regularly in their whole form. This diverse range of produce ensures that we obtain a broader spectrum of micronutrients, including phytochemicals and plant compounds that support various bodily functions and promote overall wellness.

Enhanced Digestion and Absorption: By removing the fiber from fruits and vegetables, juicing provides a nutrient-rich beverage that is easier for our bodies to digest and absorb. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with digestive issues or those seeking quick and efficient nutrient uptake. However, it’s essential to strike a balance and ensure an adequate intake of dietary fiber from other sources to support healthy digestion.

Hydration Boost: Staying adequately hydrated is crucial for maintaining overall health. Juicing can be an excellent way to increase our fluid intake, especially for those who struggle to drink enough water throughout the day. Hydrating with fresh juices not only helps quench thirst but also provides additional nutrients and flavor to keep us energized and refreshed.

Antioxidant Defense: Antioxidants play a vital role in protecting our cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of these powerful antioxidants, and juicing allows us to access concentrated amounts. Regularly consuming antioxidant-rich juices can support our body’s natural defense system, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases and promoting longevity.

Convenient Nutritional Boost: For individuals on the go or with busy lifestyles, juicing offers a convenient solution to incorporate a wide range of nutrients into their diet. A glass of fresh juice can serve as a quick and nourishing snack or a supplement to complement a balanced meal plan. It’s important to note that juicing should not replace whole fruits and vegetables but rather complement a well-rounded diet.

When approached mindfully and as part of a balanced lifestyle, juicing can be a healthy and enjoyable way to boost nutrient intake, support digestion, and promote overall well-being. Freshly squeezed juices provide a concentrated dose of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, offering a refreshing and convenient means to nourish our bodies. So grab your favorite fruits and vegetables, fire up that juicer, and embark on a delicious journey towards a healthier you. It’s important to know where the food item is sourced from, who is handling it, how it’s processed, and what combinations of food are important medicinally.  Juicing can provide you with loads of health benefits by upping your intake of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. The problem is, there’s a lot of confusion about how to properly maintain juice dieting.

Juice Terms: 

• Contains 100% Juice: Everything in the bottle came from fruit or vegetables, but not necessarily the ones front and center on the label. For example, a cranberry juice might have pure cranberry juice diluted with apple or pear juice. This is still considered “100% juice.”
• HPP: This stands for high pressure processing and is a non-thermal pasteurization process. This method is used to give juice a longer shelf life by deactivating certain microorganisms and enzymes.
• Raw 
 At the present time, this term is either used to refer to unpasteurized cold-pressed juice that has a shelf life of two to three days or HPP-treated cold-pressed juice with a shelf life of up to 45 days. Check the label to see if and how the juice has been pasteurized.
• Unpasteurized: A very small percentage of commercially sold cold-pressed juice in the United States is unpasteurized, though it is gaining popularity. Imagine the fresh-squeezed apple cider at a local orchard, or premium green juice blends made at popular juice bars like NYC-based Juice Press and Liquiteria. These juices have a shelf life of a mere two to three days and are usually created with organic ingredients, making them about three times more expensive than your average lunchtime juice box.
• Pasteurized: Usually referring to thermal pasteurization, where a product is heated, pasteurization is used to prevent spoiling and to kill harmful pathogens, like E. coli. In addition to juice, milk, cheese, canned foods, wines and syrups are commonly pasteurized. Some companies use “flash pasteurization,” which supposedly maintains the color and flavor better. HPP is sometimes considered a form of pasteurization, though it does not use heat.
• Cold-Pressed: This juice is created with a press and slow pulverizer. Because the process is slow and doesn’t cause heat, it helps to preserve enzymes and therefore, important nutrients. This is a popular method used for store-bought juices.
• From Concentrate: Many companies create a shelf-stable pasteurized juice product by extracting water from juice and creating a “concentrated” juice product. To make “reconstituted juice,” either the consumer or the manufacturer will add in water to dilute the concentrated juice before serving.
• Not From Concentrate: Used by numerous brands including Tropicana and Florida’s Natural, this phrase was coined in the 80s to distinguish pasteurized juice from juice made from concentrate. Though no water has been removed from this product, some larger producers strip the juice of oxygen, to keep juice stable while oranges are out of season, which reduces some natural flavoring. Some companies add in proprietary “flavor packs” so the product has the taste and aroma of just-squeezed juice. The FDA does not currently require that companies list flavor packs on a product’s packaging.

How To Make Juicing Healthy

Some people get so caught up in a new diet trend that they think going to the extreme will provide better, faster results. In reality, that often sets one up for failure. For most of us it’s extremely difficult to sustain an all-juice diet for any extended length of time. Incorporate juices into your diet without totally replacing your meals. A common mistake is adding juices into your diet without subtracting other foods. Green juices tend to have fewer calories and sugar than fruit juices, add a juice to your diet while subtracting another food. Make sure your juices follow the 80:20 ratio- 80% greens, 20% fruit. It’s important to store your produce properly before juicing, but it’s also crucial to drink any juice you make at home as soon as possible. Once all of the raw nutrients are exposed to oxygen, they have a tendency to break down. At a maximum, juices should be stored for just a few hours before drinking. After that they lose a huge amount of their nutrients and may cause you to become ill if pathogens grow from oxidation. So, if you want to reap the most benefits, drink up right after you juice up.