Juicing Benefits
The health benefits of juicing are countless. Juicing is great for weight loss, better immune system function, increased energy, glossy hair and smooth, glowing skin. However, the most important question is, when juice can be purchased at the local grocery store for a fraction of the cost of a juicer, is the cost of a juicer justifiable?
Absolutely!
There are many reasons canned and bottled juice from the supermarket is far inferior to freshly-juiced fruits and vegetables. First, commercial juice is pasteurized, which means that it is heated. This heating kills all of the vital enzymes that are essential to health and life. Have you ever heard the saying, “Live food, live body; dead food, dead body”? Raw fruits and vegetables contain living enzymes, as well as essential vitamins that get destroyed through the pasteurization process. So while you think you are getting the health benefits of the fruits and vegetables from the juice, usually you are just getting sugar, liquid hydration and empty calories.
Many times this bottled and canned juice will also contain sweeteners, like sugar, corn syrup and sometimes artificial chemical sweeteners. Many juices only contain a small amount of juice, or in some cases, no juice at all! Other juices have artificial colors that have been known to cause cancer in laboratory animals, and certain ingredients that are difficult to even pronounce. When you juice fresh fruits and vegetables you are getting no artificial ingredients, no chemical sweeteners, and you can bet you actually are getting juice.
What can juicing do for you?
Fruits and vegetables are a wonderful source of countless vitamins, minerals, live enzymes and phytochemicals, which have been shown to fight cancer. Juicing is an excellent way to add fruits and vegetables to your diet. As juice contains the entire fruit or vegetable, with the exception of the fiber, it contains all the life-giving parts of the plant. Because you are juicing raw fruits and vegetables all the nutrients remain intact, and you are getting the full health benefits of the plants.
Another important health benefit of juicing is that it is in a form that is easy for the body to digest and absorb. People who juice nearly always report a boost of energy that lasts much longer than a cup of coffee, and is much healthier.
1) It takes the workload off the body, so it doesn’t have to work so hard at digesting
2) You feel the results of the juicing almost immediately.
Juices made from green vegetables, such as spinach, cabbage, broccoli, wheat grass and kale are rich in chlorophyll, which helps to build red blood cells, aid in purification of the blood, and to detoxify and heal the body.
The juice of cucumbers contains silica, which is essential for healthy skin and hair, and also strengthens connective tissue. It is important when juicing cucumbers to leave the peel intact, as the majority of silica is found in the peel. Be sure to wash thoroughly before juicing.
Orange fruits and vegetables like carrots, squash, mango and papaya are sky-high in beta-carotene, which is a known cancer fighter, and it’s good for your heart. Just a half a cup of carrots contains 12 mg of beta-carotene, which is twice the amount needed to get its heart-healthy benefits.
Cranberries have been proven to clean out infections in the bladder. Mixed with the sweeter fruit of an apple or watermelon, they are delicious and healthy.
The juice of carrot, apple and wheatgrass works very effectively to quell the symptoms of constipation and promote regularity.
Juicing for kids
Juicing is perfect for children who may be finicky when it comes to eating their vegetables. Stronger vegetable flavors such as cabbage or broccoli are easily disguised by adding the sweetness of an apple. Suddenly the veggies that were once looked upon with much disdain are now gulped down greedily by kids who have no idea they are drinking something healthy. They just know it’s sweet and delicious.
Juicing is also perfect for the elderly population, who may have trouble chewing the hard vegetables, or have difficulty with proper digestion. It’s a way to add numerous fruits and vegetables in one convenient and tasty drink.
Juicing for weight loss
Juicing also aids in weight loss, as it combats the craving for sweets and helps you to feel full. After eating a small meal try drinking a glass of freshly-juiced vegetables and fruits to enjoy the health benefits of juicing, and to help fill you up.
In summary, juicing nourishes the body with vital live enzymes, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that have not been destroyed by the pasteurization process of commercial juices. Juicing is a quick, easy way to get the nutrients your body needs, and best of all you have the peace of mind knowing that you are giving you and your family what the body needs to ensure good health and vitality for years to come.
Article found : http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/health_benefits_of_juicing#ixzz0m2WvOn00