The Biggest Benefits Of Juicing
Juicing for health has become more and more popular in recent years, as people are trying to lose weight and become more health conscious. But what exactly are the most common benefits of juicing?
You may wonder if it's better to simply eat more vegetables and fruits rather than juice them. Well, yes, of course you should also eat more whole, fresh fruits and vegetables, especially if you are currently eating little or none, but the benefits of juicing your fruits and vegetables in addition to eating them can greatly add to your overall health.
First of all, there is a reason so many people to not consume enough fruits and vegetables in the first place: they don't like them. This is especially true for vegetables, the dark leafy green ones. If you are one of those people, you may find that drinking your vegetables instead of eating them is a much more palatable experience, especially if the vegetables are mixed with fruits. Don't knock it until you try it. It may look muddy green, but if you do it right, all you will taste is the fruit.
One of the greatest benefits of juicing is that the juice is nutrient rich and delivers a high dose of vitamins and minerals to your body without the added burden of digestion. The body does not have to work very hard to break down the juice, and the nutrients are easily absorbed into the system. To take full advantage of this, try to drink your juice on an empty stomach. Fresh juice that is put into a stomach full of food is slowed down by that food.
Depending on what and how much you eat, your stomach may not be empty very often, so if you want to reap the full benefits of juicing you should drink your juice in the morning, or possibly before dinner if you have not eaten for a while. Then your body will have an easy time getting what it can use from the juice. After all, you took the time to drink it; you should let your body use it!
There are several more benefits to juicing in the morning. First, if you are one of those people who find fruits, vegetables, and their juices unpleasant, but want to achieve greater health, then "getting it out of the way" in the morning can help you stick to a juicing regimen, and give you the feeling that you have done something good for yourself.
Also, many people find that they feel so energized by a good vegetable juice in the morning that they no longer need their morning coffee, at least not for the caffeine. Vegetable juice provides a more natural energy, one that comes from being truly nourished, rather than from a caffeine and sugar rush, which will eventually leave you crashing.
Finally, a juice in the morning may suppress your appetite for a heavier breakfast, which can aid in morning elimination, weight loss, and overall energy. I know we have been taught that a substantial breakfast is the most important thing to eat each day, but this is simply not true, especially if your usual breakfast choices include fatty breakfast meats or sugary treats.
For a nice green breakfast, try juicing cucumber, celery, green apple, and baby spinach. If you are new to juicing vegetables and don't want a strong "green" flavor, these vegetables will mix nicely and not over-power. Baby spinach looks dark green, but does not add a strong or bitter flavor to juices. The green apple will give it a nice tart-sweetness.
As you can see, the many benefits of juicing, especially in the mornings, make it worth the effort, whether you juice your own or buy it at your local juice bar. Give it a try; you may like it.
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Sarah Ridgway is a natural health and raw food diet advocate. She contributes regularly to Raw Food Diet Resource at www.rawfooddietresource.com