Have you ever juiced vegetables? If so, what was your experience like?
I dusted off my juicer last week, As of today, I have juiced once a day for five straight days. My juicer is the kind that separates the juice from the pulp. So, I’m not getting the benefits of eating the fiber component of the vegetables or fruit. So why would I even think to do this?
I purchased my juicer many years ago. My first experience was at a time when I was not feeling well. Two of my symptoms were slow digestion and brain fog. At the time, I was doing research on various holistic health topics, and came across the topic of juicing. I recall reading that juicing can allow for quick nutrition absorption into the body, and thus, allow the body to work less to digest it. Because I had slow digestion, I wanted to try it.
And try it I did. I remember purchasing some organic vegetables including beets, carrots, celery, and apples. I had a juice for breakfast and dinner for five days in a row. By the fourth day, my brain fog lifted. And for a couple of days thereafter, I felt like Albert Einstein. It was an amazing feeling. It took extra steps beyond juicing to fix my slow digestion, but I was extremely happy with the results.
The five days of juicing that I just did this week did not have the same huge impact that it did the first time. If I had to guess, that’s probably because my diet back then was not as good as it is now. So the first juicing experience was probably a big jolt to my system.
I do not recommend replacing whole vegetables with juiced veggies. Rather, use juice as a supplement to eating veggies. This way you still get the fiber intake from whole veggies, along with an extra kick of nutrients with the drink.
However, with juicing, it is essential to drink immediately upon juicing. The longer the juice sits out, the less nutrients that it contains. That is why purchasing vegetable or fruit juice at a supermarket will not provide the same nutritional value. Because the bottled juice was made a long time ago, and probably contains extra unhealthy ingredients, this makes them a poor choice.
Additionally, whether you eat or drink veggies, it is most beneficial to prepare a variety of veggies based on the colors of the rainbow. The more colorful your plate or glass, the more nutrient riches your body will receive.
Be careful with the fruit that you select to juice or eat. Many fruits have high sugar content. Even though it is natural sugar, it can still produce a blood sugar spike. And for those with digestive (and various other) issues, it can exacerbate symptoms. Refer to a glycemic index chart (found on the internet) for a list of various foods and their corresponding glycemic index scores. The standard Glycemic Index ranges from 0-100. The lower the food is on the GI, the lower the effect on your blood sugar.
There are gadgets on the market that will juice/blend the entire vegetable or fruit, keeping the fiber intact. I have not tried this type of juicer yet, so I cannot offer an opinion on it.
And if your juicer separates the pulp, the fiber does not have to be thrown out. It can be used to make veggie broth, to blend into a smoothie, to add to soup, and even to use in the backyard as compost.
Juicing is all about experimenting. Some may fall a little flat. It’s a great feeling when it tastes just right.
