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Monday, July 22, 2013

Benefits of Juicing

Juicing isn't really a new concept for most people, but I just want to talk about why it is so important and beneficial. First of all, I think we can agree that Americans in general do not consume nearly as many fruits and vegetables daily as they should. It's actually been estimated that the average American only consumes 5% of their caloric intake from fresh fruits and vegetables. That is scary. 

The great thing about juicing fruits and vegetables is that you are able to get the micronutrients digested into your body at a more rapid rate than to just eating the foods themselves. Another benefit is the large amount of vegetables you can consume in one juice. It would be pretty difficult to sit there and eat a giant bushel of kale, 3 carrots, 2 apples, a whole cucumber, and a ginger root. But if you juiced it, ba bam! So easy. It's just a great way to jam-pack nutrients into your body. 

The following paragraph is from www.rebootwithjoe.com


How does it work? Juicing removes the insoluble fiber from vegetables and fruits. While fiber is an established, important part of an overall healthy diet, removing the insoluble fiber allows for increased absorption of specific health promoting phytonutrients including enzymes, while the soluble fiber persists into the juice.  By removing the fibers and consuming fruits and vegetables in liquid form, we are providing a nutrient delivery system to our bodies that allows individuals who would otherwise have difficulty consuming whole vegetables, the opportunity to reap the numerous benefits vegetables have to offer.

Of course fiber is still important, so you couldn't juice for the rest of your life. But it is a great way to boost your immune system and clear your body of toxins. 
Juicing can (among other things): 
  • Improve sleep
  • Clear skin
  • Help with weight loss
  • Eliminate migraines
  • Help get you off your medication
If you've never seen the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, I highly recommend you to check it out. I copied the synopsis from the website:


100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn't end well— with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn't far behind. FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe's personal mission to regain his health.

With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help long- term, Joe turns to the only option left, the body's ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle....

(click here to read the rest and watch the trailer) 

I started juicing a lot lately (especially after watching the documentary) and it has been really fun for me. I like to experiment with different fruit/vegetables combinations and even with spices like curry and ginger.

You'd be surprised at how full you feel after a juice. I didn't need to eat anything with it. It can even just be a meal replacement if you're in a rush or you just don't feel like cooking!

For the orange glass, I just did mostly carrots with a few slices of apple, and then I actually dumped some curry powder in there. (Um, yum!)

The green juice is made of kale, cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger. I know juicing kale sounds gross, but as long as you pair it with something sweet (like I did with an apple) then I promise you will hardly taste it. But I highly recommend using dinosaur kale instead of the regular kale. Seems to work a lot better.

Please, please try it! And let me know how it goes. I would love y'all to give me your own juicing recipes to try for myself. My next juice is going to involve beets!

If you want to buy a juicer, I've provided some links below of juicers in various prices.

Walmart
Walmart
Amazon
Target
Overstock


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