For most people, juice is a simple way to get your daily serving of fruits and vegetables. The unfortunate truth is that there are more problems that arise from “healthy” fruit juice than benefits, and here’s why:
Lost Nutrients And Nothing But Carbs
Juicing machines are meant to extract juices from fruits and vegetables. Consequently, many of the nutrients are oxidized and destroyed after breaking everything down and removing the pulp, which contains fiber. According to ABC‘s interview with dietician Susan Dopart, “juicing offers the carbohydrate portion of the fruit or vegetable, but leaves the fiber behind. And that translates to sugar to your body.” Shockingly, Dopart reveals that “drinking a juice blend of apple, carrot, and spinach has 100 grams of carbs — or seven slices of bread.” Carbs turn into sugar, which in turn, is stored as fat in your body, and who wants that? Unless you’re really active or have an unusually high metabolism, it would be best to steer clear of juices.
Solutions
Cold-Pressed Juicers
These juicers may be at least $100 more expensive than the average juice extractor, but you get more juice out of the fruits and vegetables. The machine grinds up the health foods, then squeezes them with enormous pressure until every bit of juice is extracted. According to the NY Times, you are also receiving more nutrition for the reason that “the produce is not ‘cooked’ by heated-up rotary blades.” In turn, you are also getting more live enzymes, and the juice is “as raw as possible, without ingredients that have ever been frozen or warmed up.”
Smoothies
With all the carbs and sugar in juices, you might as well be drinking soda. Smoothies, on the other hand, are the perfect alternative. This is because they are made with blenders, as opposed to juices, which makes all the difference. The fruits and vegetables are not as processed, leaving the fiber, pulp, and most of the nutrients. You can also add some flax seeds for the extra fiber to slow the release of sugar into your bloodstream and helping your digestion, or perhaps some protein powder or Greek yogurt to keep your muscles strong by getting your daily protein fix.