If there’s one thing the fitness industry has learned in the past year it’s that people want to eat healthy and lose weight. And what’s better than eating healthy and losing weight? Eating healthy while still enjoying your favorite food groups. And what’s more exciting is that there are so many ways to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. One of the most popular is juicing.
What is juicing?
Simply put, juice is the fruit and vegetable liquid that you can drink. You might know that many fruits contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that aid in health and give you a nutritional boost. Well, the same goes for vegetable juices. They too contain health benefits and can be custom-made to fit your needs. For example, a carrot juice or celery juice might help you to lose weight or be more energized.
While fruits contain sugars that give you a quick burst of energy, vegetables contain no sugars at all and thus, no calories. The combination of both in a single glass puts you in a healthy mindset and ready to take on the world. So, essentially, fruit juice is a quick and easy way to get your daily dosage of vitamin C while feeling good about what you’re eating.
Why is juicing becoming so popular?
Well, let’s take a quick look at the obesity epidemic that has hit our country. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 35.7 million American adults are classified as obese. That’s 78.9% of the population. If you’re one of those individuals whose body mass index (BMI) is more than 30, then you’re considered obese. (A BMI of 18.5 to 25 is considered healthy.) The good news is that there’s hope in sight for those struggling with obesity. According to the CDC, only 4.1% of American adults are clinically obese. In other words, 95.9% of the population are either overweight or obese. Which means that there’s nearly 2 out of 3 Americans who are hoping to lose weight.
The global obesity epidemic has reached epidemic proportions. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 400 million peoples’ are classified as overweight. That’s 71.7% of the world’s population. Obesity, which was previously considered a disease associated with developed countries, has now reached virtually every nation on the planet. According to the IDF, by 2025, one in three people will be obese. So, while we’re waiting for the next great health breakthrough, juicing is the next best thing.
How Does Juicing Work?
Many people believe that eating fruits and vegetables gives them a nutritional boost because vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are delivered directly to the bloodstream. This is true, however, most fruits and vegetables contain compounds that are toxic to the human body. When these compounds are broken down by the stomach and digestive system, the body is forced to discard them as toxic waste. This, in turn, leaves you less energy to perform at your best. (1) While juicing, you’re taking in all these healthy compounds but you’re not breaking down toxic compounds. So you’re getting the nutritional benefits of the fruits and vegetables with none of the negative effects.
When you juice a bunch of fruits and vegetables, you’re using the natural fiber in the ingredients to form a gel-like substance that is thicker than juice. This substance, known as pectin, binds to the toxins in the food and transports them out of the body while releasing the nutrients into the bloodstream. As a result, you get the nutritional benefits of the food while avoiding any of the food’s negative effects. (2) Since nutrients are more available to the body when digested as opposed to in their natural state, there’s often a burst of energy that follows a juice fast. That’s probably the reason why so many people are looking to juicing as a way to lose weight.
The Advantages Of Juicing
Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of juicing. First, it’s very easy to prepare. Second, it’s very portable. Third, it’s delicious. Fourth, it forces you to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables that you might not normally consume. And last, but not least, it enhances your daily intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
While fruits contain sugars that give you a quick burst of energy, vegetables contain no sugars and thus, no calories. The combination of both in a single glass puts you in a healthy mindset and ready to take on the world. So, essentially, fruit juice is a quick and easy way to get your daily dosage of vitamin C while feeling good about what you’re eating.
While fruits contain sugars that give you a quick burst of energy, vegetables contain no sugars and thus, no calories. The combination of both in a single glass puts you in a healthy mindset and ready to take on the world. So, essentially, fruit juice is a quick and easy way to get your daily dosage of vitamin C while feeling good about what you’re eating.
The Disadvantages Of Juicing
Before we move on, it’s important to note the disadvantages of juicing. First of all, it’s calorie-rich. Second, it’s very high in sugar. Third, it’s difficult to prepare. Fourth, it has a short shelf life. And last, but not least, it has a tendency to encourage you to consume too much fruit and vegetable juice. Which leads me to my next point.
This might be difficult for those who are trying to lose weight or those who already follow a healthy eating routine. Simply put, fruit and vegetable juices are extremely high in carbohydrates. And it’s well-established that too many simple carbs might lead to weight gain. If you want to prepare a nutritious meal that will help you to lose weight then you might want to avoid juices and instead, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Is Juice The One To Follow?
So now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of juicing, it’s time for some solid food opinions. Is juicing the one to follow? Well, that all depends. First, you need to determine if you’re an individual who needs to lose weight or are you already at your ideal weight and just want to maintain it. If you’re someone who needs to lose weight then you’re probably better suited to a fruit-based juice diet than a vegetable-based one. And last but not least, your personal preferences matter. Some people prefer a tart diet while others like their food more on the sweet side. So you might need to try out different juices to find the one that suits your taste buds the best.
Ultimately, it’s a personal choice. You have to figure out what works best for you. That being said, let’s take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of each diet choice.
Fruit-Based Juice Diet
This is probably the most popular choice among weight loss juicers. Simply put, you’re taking in all the nutrients and antioxidants that your body needs to function but you’re not taking in any calories or toxins. This makes the juice a great choice for those who need to lose weight. (1) It’s easy to prepare. Simply consume the fruits and vegetables that you like most and you’ll be given the nutrients that your body needs. The disadvantage is that this type of juice diet encourages you to eat too much fruit and vegetable juice. Which could potentially lead to weight gain. (2) Since there are no rules, you might not know what minerals or nutrients you’re lacking. So it’s always a good idea to get your daily requirements by reading food labels. This will help you to make the right choice when preparing food at home. (3) You’re not forced to prepare food according to any particular diet. So if you want to prepare something that’s light and refreshing then you might want to opt for an orange juice diet. Or if you want to prepare food that’s more filling then you might want to opt for a tomato juice diet. (4) Since it’s all about what you prefer, your taste buds are the ones who decide. This makes it easier to fall off the wagon when tempted by those tempting sugar-filled snacks. (5) You don’t have to keep track of what you eat. Since there’s no calorie restriction, you don’t have to worry about overindulging. This is sometimes seen as a disadvantage because too much eating goes against the whole point of shedding those unwanted pounds in the first place.
Vegetable-Based Juice Diet