Introduction
Juicing is the latest diet and health craze at the moment with juice bars springing up all over the place. But is this just one of a number of new fads expounding a novel way to lose weight and become healthy, or is there any substance or more importantly, juice to the matter?Actually, juicing has been around for about 50 years and is not, in fact, a novel idea.
Natural health advocates have been consuming raw fruit and vegetable juices in particular, every day in order to maintain good health, boost energy, cleanse the body, boost hair, skin and nails and protect against certain illnesses ranging from the common cold to the more devastating cancer.
Juice specialists were actually able to treat specific ailments with a concoction of selected juices for a period of several weeks. For example, to treat arthritis a combination of the following juices were to be taken, along with a raw fruit and vegetable diet for several weeks: celery, cucumber, carrot, apple, lemon, grapefruit, watercress, tomato, spinach and orange.
Fifty years on, in today's society, when many people are more concerned about their weight and appearance than their health, juicing is the latest way to achieve a flat stomach in three days or lose 5 lb as quickly as possible. Many are not aware of the amazing benefits on the body, inside and out, that juicing actually has.
It must be noted, however, that juices should not replace the whole fruit or vegetable in the diet. It is crucial that you still consume plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, including the pulp and skin, as this is where most of the fibre is contained. Fibre is essential for good health, many people do not consume enough of it and whole fruit and vegetables are a major source.
Reasons to juice
- Consuming a juice concoction of several fruits, vegetables or a mixture of both is an easy way of achieving the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, as detailed by governments and health departments.
- Raw fruit and vegetables contain massive amounts of essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes required daily by our body that are often lost in cooking and are not found is such quantities in bottled juice.
- Raw juice is an excellent detoxifier and cleanser of the body. All fruits contain certain acids that cleanse the body and break down harmful substances.
- Larger quantities of the essential minerals and vitamins are assimilated or absorbed by the body when found in the juice form, as they are more easily digestible and are not excreted out of the body with the fibre from the skin and pulp of the fruit that the body is unable to break down and digest. For example, a 200 ml glass of freshly squeezed orange juice contains as much as 3 times the amount of vitamin C as a medium-sized orange fruit.
- Fruit and vegetables, believe it or not, are an important source of water. Many of us do not consume enough water throughout the day and fruit and vegetables are able to contribute, being a clean and pure source of water. Cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes contain up to 95% water!
- You can experiment with delicious variations on your favourite juices and will probably end up consuming a wider variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
- Chemical plant substances found in all fruit and vegetables are known to prevent and protect against many illnesses and allergies including cancer, high blood pressure, cystitis, constipation, asthma, rheumatism and many more.
How To Juice
First of all you must invest in a juicer
for your home. This machine is essential
in today's kitchen and is not necessarily
expensive. Prices may range from as little
as $50 (£30) to as much as $650 (£400).
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Secondly, try to use produce that is as
fresh as possible, as more minerals and
vitamins are retained. Fruit should be ripe
yet not overripe and vegetables should be young and fresh.
Wash your ingredients thoroughly to remove dirt and pesticides but you do not necessarily have to peel each fruit or vegetable before passing it through the juicer. Obviously, remove the hard skin of pineapples or melons but the skin of peaches, apples, lemons, pears and cucumbers for example may be kept intact.
Chop the ingredients into small pieces, place into the juicer, switch the machine on and wait for your fresh juice to appear.
Fresh juice is best served slightly chilled, therefore store it in the refrigerator for just the right amount of time to cool it or add a few ice cubes instead. Remember that as soon as the juice is squeezed from the fruit and comes into contact with air, it will start to deteriorate and lose vitamin and mineral content. Ensure that you clean your juicer as quickly and as thoroughly as possible and store in a dry place. What To Juice
Basically, you can just about juice any fruit or vegetables available.
If you are just starting out, it is probably a good idea to look up some recipes from books, magazines or the Internet, to give you a few starting points and inspiration for your own recipes once you get the hang of it. Be careful with fruit juices, as they do contain a lot of natural sugar and may raise insulin levels in the blood. The same goes for beetroot and carrot and these juices should be avoided by diabetics. Begin by using your favourite fruits and vegetables first and then try to become a bit more adventurous by using more exotic combinations. Carrots, apples, oranges, tomatoes and cabbage are all good bases to which other fruits and vegetables may be added. Additionally, for a bit more substance and kick, try adding herbs, spices and seeds to your fresh juices. Herbs are another source of minerals and vitamins, some spices such as ginger will definitely add some spice to the juice and seeds in the form of pumpkin or flax seeds provide protein, which are lacking from fruit and vegetable juices. | |
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