We know all about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables (see these 3 surprising raw food tips).
But is juicing actually better than eating vegetables?
Why exactly is juicing so good for you?
I have been thinking quite a bit about why I love juicing. I am not saying that juicing is better than eating vegetables. Of course I still enjoy eating veggies as well.
However, there are many reasons why juicing is good for you, as part of a healthy nutrition plan.
Perhaps listing some of these reasons will help to motivate you to use your juicer more regularly.
13 Crucial Reasons To Use Your Juicer Today
1. Juicing is one of the easiest ways to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. If you look at the pile of veggies that goes into one glass of juice, you will have to admit that you are unlikely to chomp through that much in one sitting! It will take forever to prepare and eat such a quantity of carrots, broccoli, cucumber, cabbage or celery.
2. Juicing breaks down the cell walls of the produce. This means that your body gains access to all the vital vitamins, minerals and enzymes. When eating raw foods, a lot of these remain trapped in the fiber of the veggies. Greens in juice are particularly helpful when it comes to your mineral and enzyme intake.
3. When juicing, you are almost giving your body intravenous fluid. The juice is super-easy to absorb. No heavy-duty digestive process is involved. In a sense, the veggies are pre-digested. Always drink the juice slowly, almost chewing it. By doing this, your saliva will help with absorption and digestion.
4. If you are ill or feeling run down, you will really discover how easy the fresh juice is to take in and digest. When illness makes your body sluggish and drains your energy, your digestive processes may also be compromised. Your juicy meal-in-a-glass can go down with ease and provide vital nutrients. I have often added a handful of finely ground nuts or seeds for fat and protein. Some folks use a quality protein powder.
5. Juicing can help to ensure that you get a variety of fresh goodies into your system. Who would dream of crunching through carrots, cabbage, cucumber, broccoli and celery as part of breakfast? But in a juicing recipe these can be quite palatable, even early in the morning! With a touch of ginger for an extra kick, or some shredded coconut for sweetness, it can become quite a treat!
6. Juicing can even help to ease digestive problems. For instance, cabbage has been shown to be soothing and healing if you have a problem with ulcers.
7. Due to the nutrient jolt, juicing can really help to make your immune system stronger.
8. Depending on the veggies you choose, juicing can also help you to manage things like high blood pressure, your cholesterol level or arthritis. Juicing can also be an important weapon to have in your cancer-fighting arsenal. However, if you have any ailment whatsoever, it is always better to discuss juicing with your doctor first.
9. A tall glass of freshly made juice will fill you up. If you have this 20 minutes or so before your main meal, you are likely to eat less. Juicing can therefore help with healthy weight loss.
10. If you add carrots, apples or shredded coconut to your juices, you will find that the juice can even satisfy your craving for something sweet. Once you get used to the process, it becomes a fat-free, sweet treat. Keep the sweeter juices for special occasions, though. They are very high in sugar and should be limited.
11. If you purchase the right juicer (mine has a large feeding chute and is easy to clean), juicing can be done very quickly. I find that it is much easier to juice, than to prepare all those veggies in the usual way. And there are no pots and pans to clean!
12. Juicing is a great way to make use of the bits and pieces you have in the refrigerator. You can combine almost any veggies.
13. If there are vegetables you don't enjoy eating, you are very likely to find that you can sneak them into your juice without any problem whatsoever. In fact, over time your juicer may even help you to develop a taste for them!
So, is juicing good for you? You bet! Is juicing actually better than eating vegetables? In some ways, yes. However, never replace eating veggies with juicing. Both have an important place in a healthy diet. Vegetables can be prepared in all sorts of yummy ways and give you lots of fiber. Who wants to drink all their food, anyway?
