Warmer weather is just around the corner and many of us are evaluating our diets and looking to make healthy changes. Who are we kidding? We are looking to lose some of those winter pounds that piled on over the last few months so that we will be swimsuit ready!
Juicing and juice detox diets are all over the news and in all the magazines. Everyone is crazy for juicing! I don't care for drinking green stuff but figured I would do my research before deciding to get on the juicing bandwagon. I prefer a great glass of fresh squeezed orange juice but could be convinced to try a juicing diet or cleanse if it would really help me lose weight. The problem has been finding experts that all agree it is great for you.
Proponents of juicing say that the benefits of juicing are that it reduces the risk of cancer, boosts your immune system and can help in weight loss. It is also a great way to get all of your vitamins and minerals during the day. Sounds great, right? Consider the opposing viewpoint.
Opponents say that juicing is not all it is cracked up to be. When you remove the skin from the fruit or vegetable, you are removing the vitamins and other nutrients that is in the skin and the juicer also removes the pulp, which contains lots of fiber. Additionally, opponents point out that if you are juicing all of your fruit, the one thing that stays are the calories. One has to be careful with too much fruit because it can be high in calories, especially if you are juicing three times a day. To cut the calories, juice experts counter that you can add in a few vegetables in with the fruit to cut the number of calories.
Whether you are a proponent or an opponent of juicing, I imagine the health benefits are found somewhere in between the two. While juicing can be a great way to get some of the vitamins and minerals, especially if you dislike fruits or vegetables, it cannot be a prolonged diet. Maybe for short periods of time, juicing can be a great way to limit your intake while still getting some vitamins and minerals. As a busy mom, I can definitely see juicing once in a while for my young kids (who really don't like vegetables) and hiding them in a 'fruit smoothie.' In my book, a few vitamins and minerals in the form of a 'fruit smoothie' (which has hidden vegetables in it) is better than none at all!
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