What's the deal with the juicing craze?

[Anonymous]

I have a bunch of facebook friends who are always posting their juicing concoctions. So what's the deal - does this really add positively to a diet? Isn't it better to eat vegetables and fruits whole for the fiber? And isn't it more filling whole? I would think that I'd just be adding extra calories rather than replacing some. Also, isn't it expensive since you need a ton of produce to create one serving of juice? Is there a certain machine to use for this? Is it a good way to diet, or just a healthy option?

A think I may be biased against it because of all the crappy juice in the grocery store that I avoid like the plague.

So tell me the benefits please - I think it must be healthy because the people who I know who do this are health nuts!

[Anonymous]

Assuming you really want the answer and aren't trying to start a debate, I'll bite.

The benefit to juicing is that you can digest many more nutrients than you could if you tried to eat the whole vegetable or fruit. Your body can absorb the nutrients more easily without the fiber. That said, it is important to also eat whole fruits/veggies for fiber at some point in the day. Juicing alone is not sufficient for a healthy diet, in my opinion, though I know not everyone agrees.

A glass of green juice could contain the vitamins and minerals from a few leaves of kale, a cup of broccoli, 2-3 carrots, half an apple, plus a lot more. It is much easier to drink that in a cup of liquid that to eat the equivalent amont of whole foods.

You make a few good points. It can get pricey to juice. Also, if you're doing mostly fruit instead of veggies or veggie blends, you can very well wind up with too much sugar. Even so, when I make a glass of carrot-apple juice, I feel pretty good knowing that I am getting so much healthy stuff into my body. I do try to balance it out with some protein to reduce the glucose reaction.

If you want to learn more, the movie Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead is available on Netflix. It is actually an enjoyable movie to watch and it gives good info about about the benefits of juicing. Even if you are just interested in incorporating a little bit of juice into your diet.

Fresh juice, btw, tastes SO much better than those Odwalla juices you buy at the store. Plus, they're healthier. My DH read that you lose most of the nutrients in the juice within 24 hours of making it.

Also, I was extremely skeptical of drinking green juice and other strange looking things because I thought they'd taste terrible. However, it isn't that bad. Maybe one of your friends can give you a sample. Give it a try!

[Anonymous]

I don't buy into the arguement of removing the fiber. I'm a slow cook/whole foods person and I think our bodies are designed to eat wayy more ruffiage/whole foods than we do today. I also think just juicing really leaves you with a disproportionatly huge amount of sugar.

For me, I do whole foods in my Vitamix.

The documentary "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" started the craze.

I think juicing vegegables and fruit is better than nothing, but I personally do not think it the best way to get your nutrients.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posing the question OP. I too have been wondering about juicing and this seems like a great post with insightful information. I'll have to check out the movie recommendation.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Nope, not trying to start a debate - I don't know enough about it to even know it's controversial! I'm going to do more research and probably look into that movie. Even though I try to eat healthy, I know I don't get enough veggies and fruits in my diet.
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

People are running to the bank with your money and you are falling for the biggest joke of products since GI Joe and the Kung Fu Grip. It never worked but people bought them up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Nope, not trying to start a debate - I don't know enough about it to even know it's controversial! I'm going to do more research and probably look into that movie. Even though I try to eat healthy, I know I don't get enough veggies and fruits in my diet.
Thanks!

9:21 here. If you want to try to get more fruits and veggies in your diet, how about starting the day with a smoothie - or having one anytime for that matter. Try a frozen banana, some frozen fruit such as berries, milk (or another liquid), and a handful of spinach (I promise you can't taste it). If you like it, there are lots of things you can add for more nutrition. It is a great way of getting a good nutrient (and fiber) boost.

[Anonymous]

This is something I'm confused about. If I use fruits and vegetables in a normal blender to make a smoothie, I have to peel and core everything and doesn't that take out the fiber and a lot of the nutrients? Is that the benefit of a vitamix? Since you can throw the whole fruit or vegetable in you get all the nutrients and all the fiber?

[Anonymous]

bump am curious too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is something I'm confused about. If I use fruits and vegetables in a normal blender to make a smoothie, I have to peel and core everything and doesn't that take out the fiber and a lot of the nutrients? Is that the benefit of a vitamix? Since you can throw the whole fruit or vegetable in you get all the nutrients and all the fiber?

Im a vitamix user who does not buy into juicing. I believe in eating WHOLE foods which is all of it, including the fiber, so yes, I use a Vitamix for this reason. I also like the Vitamix over a blender due to the simplicity. Any appliances that helpe me eat healther faster and easier is perfect for me! I could never use a juicer as a meal replacement, but definitly do us the Vitamix for htis!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is something I'm confused about. If I use fruits and vegetables in a normal blender to make a smoothie, I have to peel and core everything and doesn't that take out the fiber and a lot of the nutrients? Is that the benefit of a vitamix? Since you can throw the whole fruit or vegetable in you get all the nutrients and all the fiber?

Im a vitamix user who does not buy into juicing. I believe in eating WHOLE foods which is all of it, including the fiber, so yes, I use a Vitamix for this reason. I also like the Vitamix over a blender due to the simplicity. Any appliances that helpe me eat healther faster and easier is perfect for me! I could never use a juicer as a meal replacement, but definitly do us the Vitamix for htis!

Wow - that didn't answer the question at all.

Peeling and seeding fruits and vegetables does not remove the bulk of the fiber. Yes, there is some benefit to eating or using the apple peel, but you still get a ton of good fiber from a peeled and seeded apple.

Yes, one of the benefits to the vitamix is that it will process the whole fruits/veggies better. Of course, you still have to peel some things like citrus and bananas. However, as the owner of a vitamix, a juicer, and a regular blender, I wouldn't say you need to buy a vitamix to get enough fiber. You can do just fine with a regular blender.

[Anonymous]

Love my Omega juicer and my Blendtec. I don't see either juicing or smoothies as an all-or-nothing situation. I enjoy green smoothies a lot during the summer, but I love juicing year round. I especially enjoy being able to make my own wheatgrass shots, carrot/orange, and lots of green vegetable juices. It's been a great way for me to get some more greens and vegetables into my daughter's diet and she loves helping. Sometimes the texture of a smoothie is too much and I'd rather have something lighter- but this is a matter of personal preference, I think.
In terms of concerns about calories/sugar, I keep portion size down to about 4 oz of juice and try to be careful about the fruit /veg ratio when I'm juicing.
Good luck everyone with your blending and/or juicing!

[Anonymous]

Just watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead yesterday.... I think I'm going to buy into trying to juice for 10 days or so. I've been feeling blah anyway and at least this may help.

I found this website to have helpful suggestions: http://www.juicing-for-health.com/

[Anonymous]

The first time I juiced, I literally had 20 quick trips to the john, all within 24-48 hours after my spinach/fruit juice concoction. DH and DS were totally fine, though. I've been a nervous wreck at the prospect again. What in the heck happened to me?

[Anonymous]

I don't understand the "it is too hard to eat food" argument. I assure you, it is not at all hard for me to eat. I am very good at it. Had a bunch of snap peas, carrots, an apple and some crackers already today and I am not feeling fatigued from the chewing at all.