The Benefits of Juicing
Featuring My Favorite Juice Recipe
Hey guys! I hope all is well. I’ve been so busy trying to solidify my day-to-day routine regarding health and fitness. Also, I have been busy discovering what works for me and what is going to help me achieve the best results, in the shortest amount of time, while making healthy and life-long manageable and maintainable changes. In doing so, I have realized that juicing yields wonderful results for me.
Consuming the proper amounts of vegetables and fruits within a day isn’t always easy. Juicing allows for greater consumption and allows for quicker nutrient absorption. Since you will probably be consuming more veggies and fruits than normal, you will also be feeding your body more nutrients. However, if you make juicing a regular part of your diet, please be aware that in juicing, you lose out on the fiber you would get by eating your fruits and veggies, because it is extracted (it’s found in the pulp), so you’ll need to ensure that you are getting fiber through other food sources.
Now, juicing is a way to detox the body of toxins—improving skin, boosting your immune system, and promoting weight loss. However, do not be alarmed if you suffer from a couple breakouts in the beginning—that is just how your body is releasing those toxins, getting rid of bad bacteria and promoting good bacteria. Think of juicing as an extra layer of protection from bad bacteria and illness, like different cancers. In the long-run, you’ll see the benefits in your body, skin, and overall health and wellness.
As for the weight loss, that results from a few things. It helps reduce your appetite for bad food. Instead of eating candy, treats, and junk food to satisfy that sweet tooth, add some fruit to sweeten your vegetable juice and you’re good to go! I would just suggest being mindful of how much fruit you add to each vegetable drink. You don’t want to consume excessive amounts of sugar. However, juicing allows you to get your sugar from natural sources, which is always better than artificial sugar. Also, by adding juicing to your regular diet, you reduce the chances of overeating.
Juicing works for me because I like to keep my fat intake to minimum. Based on my natural body frame and desired appearance and health, my goals are to be lean—slim and trim. Don’t be afraid to do your own research. And take the time to evaluate your fitness goals. In fact, I encourage it.
Although I stick up my juices to ensure I’m satisfying all of my nutrient needs—my favorite veggie juice is carrot juice. I use the following (I have also included just a few of the benefits for each):
- Carrots (good source of Vitamin A and K, low in calories, regulates blood sugar levels, the list goes on.)
- Celery (excellent source of antioxidants, cardiovascular benefits, etc.)
- Cucumber (Keeps you hydrated, low in calories, etc.)
- Apple (remember, you lose fiber in juicing, but it reduces risk of diabetes, heart disease, and so forth…)
- Ginger (promotes hair growth, has anti-inflammatory properties, and improves digestion, etc.)
Now, fitting for the name, “carrot juice,” I use carrots as the base (more carrots than any other ingredient is used)—I usually begin with 4 whole carrots. I include roughly 4 celery stalks. I use one medium-sized apple—I prefer to use gala or pink lady apples because of its sweetness and a third (1/3) or half (1/2) of a cucumber depending on its size. I add about a thumb size piece of ginger and from there, I continue to add carrots until I reach at least 16 ounces—though I drink no more than 18 to 20 ounces at a time because I would need to add more fruit for taste purposes.
Feel free to play around with the amounts of each ingredient you use. Juicing shouldn’t be stressful and crazy time-consuming. It should make your life easier by consuming the proper amounts of nutrients and consuming your vegetables and fruits with ease.
I hope you found this to be helpful. Try the recipe and let us know how you like. Feel free to make it your own—substitute, add, or subtract what you will, so that it meets your nutrient needs.
Do you juice? If so, what are your favorite ingredients to use?
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Until next time,
Keep it healthy guys!
Peace.