Answers To 5 Of Your Questions About Juicing For Weight Loss And Health
Rika Susan
May 18, 2009
It can be quite daunting to start with a juicing for weight loss and health program. There are so many different types of vegetable juicers on the market today, from really cheap to costing a bundle. Not to mention all the wonderful fruits and vegetables at your disposal. But how do you know what to use and how to combine them?
Our family has been juicing for many years. Let's see if I can answer some of your crucial juicing questions.
1. Why is juicing for weight loss and health such a good idea? Can't I just eat the fruits and veggies?
Let's start with a surprising fact: When you eat a fresh carrot, your body can absorb only around 1% of the beta carotene in it. The rest remains firmly trapped in all that crunchy fiber. Now, if you chose to rather run that same carrot through a juice extractor, you would gain access to more than 90% of the beta carotene! How's that for adding to value for money! And this is just one example.
The thing is that many nutrients never get a chance in your body due to all the fiber that surrounds them. By using a juice extractor such as a Breville juice fountain or a Jack Lalane Juicer, a large percentage of the goodness is drawn from the fiber.
The juice is a cocktail that can be easily assimilated by your body. No complicated digestive processes need to be involved. It is almost as if you are giving your body intravenous feeding when you are juicing for weight loss and health. Your body can take up all the vitamins, minerals and enzymes with total ease. And it really is much easier to down a glass of juice, than to crunch through plates of carrots and spinach....
2. But what about all the fiber? Won't I lose too much in this regard?
Yes, you will lose some fiber, but you will still be eating whole fruits and veggies. You can also get fiber in other ways. And some folks even mix the residual pulp in the juicer back into the juice before drinking it. Or you can use the carrot pulp for a delicious, extra healthy carrot cake! It can also be added to soups or yogurt. So, don't be too concerned about this. The benefits of juicing for health far outweigh the possible negatives.
3. How can juicing for weight loss help me?
Here's what I have found: When I drink a glass of freshly made juice about 15 minutes before my main meal, I am not nearly as hungry by the time I get to the table. I tend to eat less, as the juice can be quite filling, especially if you add some of the pulp as well.
The other benefit is that these juices can be quite sweet. So, that ever-demanding sweet tooth is satisfied in a low-calorie way. You can try this even with the kids, instead of giving them sugar-laden sodas.
The third thing is that the juices are fat-free. Now, where else can you get a fat-free treat that tastes this good?
4. Which fruits and veggies should I try first?
This is a very important question. If you approach juicing for weight loss and health in the wrong way, you will come up with a drink that has such a strong flavor, that it may end your juicing journey there and then. I started with the milder flavors, gradually adding more of the potent stuff. A good place to start is with carrots and apples as a base. To this you can then add some cucumber and celery. A bit of broccoli doesn't taste too bad in this mix. You can also add a bit of beet for a nice color, but don't make this the main ingredient, as it also comes with a strong flavor.
Your greens can generally taste quite bitter. So, use them sparingly in your juicing recipes and get used to them gradually. If you want to give the juice to children, you have to be careful to give them a really good tasting concoction at first. Otherwise they won't support the juicing idea. This is such a great way to make sure that your kids get their share of fresh goodies each day, that it is worth your while to do some experiments in order to make sure that you get them off to a good start.
5. What type of juicer do I need? Do I have to buy the most expensive one?
I have used a Breville Juicer 800JEXL for many years. It is strong, juices fast, and I don't have to spend a lot of time on prep work. It happily takes quite large chunks of produce. The main thing for me is that it is very easy to clean. I simply don't have time to spend an hour scrubbing many small parts every time we juice.
This is one of the centrifugal juicers. The Jack Lalane Juicer is similar. This type of juicer has a basket that spins at a high speed. The pulp is collected in a container, while the juice is spouted into another container. This is a really quick process. One drawback is that quite a lot of heat is generated in the process. This means that there may be some loss of nutrients. However, I think it is more important to have a machine that is as simple as possible to use - especially in the beginning. You will make up for any possible nutrient losses by juicing for weight loss and health on a daily basis. A finicky machine will simply land back in the cabinet to gather dust.
If you wish to go another route, you can choose one of the masticating juicers. These come with a gear system that 'chews' the produce in a sense. The juicing process usually is a bit slower and not as simple. Cleaning may also be more difficult. The main benefit is that less heat is generated, so more of the nutrient value is retained. One of the juicers that purists recommend, is the Norwalk juicer, but it comes with a really hefty price tag.
You don't have to opt for the most expensive juicer to start with. Just make sure that it is easy to use, easy to clean and has a strong motor. You would also want something with a good warranty.
I hope this answers some of the first questions you will be asking. If you have any ailments (especially sugar-related such as diabetes), are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, it is safer to speak to your doctor first before you start on your juicing journey. This is also a good idea if you want to give juice to very young children.
I hope you enjoy discovering the benefits of juicing for weight loss and health with me!
Our family has been juicing for many years. Let's see if I can answer some of your crucial juicing questions.
1. Why is juicing for weight loss and health such a good idea? Can't I just eat the fruits and veggies?
Let's start with a surprising fact: When you eat a fresh carrot, your body can absorb only around 1% of the beta carotene in it. The rest remains firmly trapped in all that crunchy fiber. Now, if you chose to rather run that same carrot through a juice extractor, you would gain access to more than 90% of the beta carotene! How's that for adding to value for money! And this is just one example.
The thing is that many nutrients never get a chance in your body due to all the fiber that surrounds them. By using a juice extractor such as a Breville juice fountain or a Jack Lalane Juicer, a large percentage of the goodness is drawn from the fiber.
The juice is a cocktail that can be easily assimilated by your body. No complicated digestive processes need to be involved. It is almost as if you are giving your body intravenous feeding when you are juicing for weight loss and health. Your body can take up all the vitamins, minerals and enzymes with total ease. And it really is much easier to down a glass of juice, than to crunch through plates of carrots and spinach....
2. But what about all the fiber? Won't I lose too much in this regard?
Yes, you will lose some fiber, but you will still be eating whole fruits and veggies. You can also get fiber in other ways. And some folks even mix the residual pulp in the juicer back into the juice before drinking it. Or you can use the carrot pulp for a delicious, extra healthy carrot cake! It can also be added to soups or yogurt. So, don't be too concerned about this. The benefits of juicing for health far outweigh the possible negatives.
3. How can juicing for weight loss help me?
Here's what I have found: When I drink a glass of freshly made juice about 15 minutes before my main meal, I am not nearly as hungry by the time I get to the table. I tend to eat less, as the juice can be quite filling, especially if you add some of the pulp as well.
The other benefit is that these juices can be quite sweet. So, that ever-demanding sweet tooth is satisfied in a low-calorie way. You can try this even with the kids, instead of giving them sugar-laden sodas.
The third thing is that the juices are fat-free. Now, where else can you get a fat-free treat that tastes this good?
4. Which fruits and veggies should I try first?
This is a very important question. If you approach juicing for weight loss and health in the wrong way, you will come up with a drink that has such a strong flavor, that it may end your juicing journey there and then. I started with the milder flavors, gradually adding more of the potent stuff. A good place to start is with carrots and apples as a base. To this you can then add some cucumber and celery. A bit of broccoli doesn't taste too bad in this mix. You can also add a bit of beet for a nice color, but don't make this the main ingredient, as it also comes with a strong flavor.
Your greens can generally taste quite bitter. So, use them sparingly in your juicing recipes and get used to them gradually. If you want to give the juice to children, you have to be careful to give them a really good tasting concoction at first. Otherwise they won't support the juicing idea. This is such a great way to make sure that your kids get their share of fresh goodies each day, that it is worth your while to do some experiments in order to make sure that you get them off to a good start.
5. What type of juicer do I need? Do I have to buy the most expensive one?
I have used a Breville Juicer 800JEXL for many years. It is strong, juices fast, and I don't have to spend a lot of time on prep work. It happily takes quite large chunks of produce. The main thing for me is that it is very easy to clean. I simply don't have time to spend an hour scrubbing many small parts every time we juice.
This is one of the centrifugal juicers. The Jack Lalane Juicer is similar. This type of juicer has a basket that spins at a high speed. The pulp is collected in a container, while the juice is spouted into another container. This is a really quick process. One drawback is that quite a lot of heat is generated in the process. This means that there may be some loss of nutrients. However, I think it is more important to have a machine that is as simple as possible to use - especially in the beginning. You will make up for any possible nutrient losses by juicing for weight loss and health on a daily basis. A finicky machine will simply land back in the cabinet to gather dust.
If you wish to go another route, you can choose one of the masticating juicers. These come with a gear system that 'chews' the produce in a sense. The juicing process usually is a bit slower and not as simple. Cleaning may also be more difficult. The main benefit is that less heat is generated, so more of the nutrient value is retained. One of the juicers that purists recommend, is the Norwalk juicer, but it comes with a really hefty price tag.
You don't have to opt for the most expensive juicer to start with. Just make sure that it is easy to use, easy to clean and has a strong motor. You would also want something with a good warranty.
I hope this answers some of the first questions you will be asking. If you have any ailments (especially sugar-related such as diabetes), are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, it is safer to speak to your doctor first before you start on your juicing journey. This is also a good idea if you want to give juice to very young children.
I hope you enjoy discovering the benefits of juicing for weight loss and health with me!
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