Benefits of Juicing

Bolstering your family's intake of nutrients through the benefit of juicing, will prove to be a priceless gift to them.

Why such a bold statement about a mundane topic like juicing?

These days the 9 to 5 you are at work, isn't nearly as important as the 5 to 9 you are expected to eat at home. I am referring to the recommended portions of fresh vegetables and fruits you need each day.

Only a fraction of the population reach that lofty goal. If you have kids, you know all about broccoli-battles and other skirmishes...

The solution lies in the benefit of juicing. Discover this for yourself, and you will never look back. Is it easier to down one pint of juice, than eating two large salads? Or to drink one cup of carrot juice, rather than crunching through four cups filled with diced raw carrots?

Every child goes through a stage where, having to eat certain veggies, is nothing short of torture. Don't make healthy eating a battleground! The benefit of juicing offers an easy way out.

Children love the sweet taste of carrot juice, combined with apples, grapes or peaches. They will not even notice that mom has added a few secret ingredients in the form of cucumber, celery, leafy greens, and other unmentionables.

Add a bit of beetroot for an appealing colour - not too much though, as young palates may not enjoy the strong taste.

Give the juice combination a name they can associate with, and they will be more likely to drink it. Or ask them to come up with a name for their own concoction! If you can tempt them to drink juice on a regular basis, they probably won't need additional supplements, unless they have special health needs.

Even adults who detest certain vegetables, such as cabbage or broccoli, will be surprised by how palatable they become when juiced together with other produce. If you combine the no-no's with carrots, apples and beetroot, for example, they won't even be noticeable. Through the benefit of juicing, you have tricked your body into absorbing all their valuable nutrients!

To experience the advantages of juicing to the fullest, use as wide a range of produce as possible. Variety is necessary to ensure nutritional balance.

Why is juicing so beneficial? The fibres in fruits and vegetables trap enzymes, minerals, and vitamins. A substantial percentage of the goodness remains out of your body's reach in the normal digestive processes.

When produce is processed in a juice extractor, these nutrients are released for immediate absorption. In a sense the juice becomes pre-digested food. When drinking the juice, your body can instantly access this most concentrated form of micronutrients.

The powerful cocktail of enzymes, minerals, and vitamins are available to all the cells in your body, and is quickly assimilated with virtually no effort. You will almost hear your body heaving a sigh of relief!

Just imagine how much energy your body usually has to expend to digest huge, heavy, fatty meals. Instead of the usual energy slump you experience after a meal, a glass of juice will be followed by an energy surge.

The secret to experiencing the full benefit of juicing, lies in drinking it with as little standing time as possible. Your aim is to minimize oxidation, and loss of any of the precious nutrients.

The three main culprits responsible for destroying the micronutrients in your fresh juice are heat, air, and light. If you have to store juice, try to do so in individual portions. Fill the container to the top, seal it airtight, and even go so far as to wrap the container in aluminium foil to keep light out. Refrigerate it immediately. Don't store the juice for longer than 24 hours.

A few drops of lemon juice added to the juice, also helps to preserve it.

Much has been written about the health benefit of juicing. Not only does it improve well-being and vitality. It is anti-aging and may even prevent certain serious diseases from developing. Many existing ailments are better managed if fresh juice is introduced as part of the treatment plan. Drinking vegetable juice daily, will go a long way toward helping your body to achieve optimal performance.

If you are unwell or elderly, you may experience difficulty eating in the normal way, or your digestion may be compromised. Whatever the situation, you should be able to experiment and find suitable recipes for juices you are able to tolerate well.

If you are constantly on the run and don't nourish yourself as you know you should, what can be easier than quickly popping a variety of veggies into your juicer, and downing an energy cocktail?

A few caveats:

1. If you have any illness, if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or if you are nursing, it is always sensible and safe to consult a medical practitioner before joining the juicers.

2. You lose some of the fibre when you juice fruit and vegetables. Make sure you find other natural ways to include enough fibre in your diet.

3. Some vegetables are more difficult to tolerate or metabolize. Start slowly and find the combinations that work for you. Wheat grass for example, has quite a strong taste, but is very beneficial. If your juicer can manage it, introduce it slowly and always in combination with other juices.

4. You may wonder if store bought juice won't give you the same benefit. Many store bought juices contain unwanted, unhealthy ingredients. Even if you do find 100% pure juice, the nutrient value will have been depleted to a large extent.

Of course, no one expects the benefit of juicing to make you give up the benefit of eating that aromatic, tasty meal! Juicing is not meant as a replacement, only an addition... very soon to become an addiction.

For more information visit Best-Juicing.com Rika Susan of http://www.Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan.

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