Juicing: Why NOT?
Author: Neesha D. Meminger
Juicing: Why Not?
In todays world, pollution and chemicals come at us from all angles; our
water contains toxic levels of metals and chlorine;
our produce is tainted with pesticides; and our meat and meat products are
pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. It is
small wonder that so many of us fall prey to chronic ailments and disease.
So much so, that conditions like allergies, PMS,
and migraines have become as common as a cold or the flu.
In order to live a healthy and vibrant life in todays modern, fast-paced
world, it has become absolutely critical to eat
consciously; including as much whole, unrefined, unprocessed grains, meats,
and produce as possible; supplement the diet with
vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids; get plenty of rest and relaxation;
reduce health-eroding emotions like anger,
resentment, and fear; eat organic whenever possible; and include plenty
of antioxidants in the form of dark, leafy greens and
fruits and vegetables.
All of these components are necessary in the building of Optimum health
and success, as well as combating and preventing illness and disease.
Most North Americans do not get even close to their recommended daily intake
of fruits and vegetables, and juicing is an easy
way to accomplish just that. Extracting fresh juice from raw fruits and
vegetables and drinking it right away, allows many
of the vital nutrients and enzymes to remain intact. And, since enzymes
act as catalysts in almost every bodily function, juicing
plays a significant role in the fight against free radicals. It allows nutrients,
antioxidants, enzymes, and trace amounts of
essential fatty acids to enter the body in a more bioactive form than supplements.
In other words, the body is better able to
absorb all of nutritional value of the fruits and vegetables when they are
juiced. The result of all of this maximum and efficient
nutrient absorption is increased energy and vitality.
In fact, Vitamin A, if taken in large doses in supplement form, could lead
to toxicity; whereas, beta-carotene, which is the
pre-cursor that the body then converts into Vitamin A in the body, is water
soluble, and carries almost no risk of toxicity.
Fresh vegetables, especially carrots, contain large amounts of the more
easily assimilated, and non-toxic form of Vitamin A,
beta-carotene, which is released with the rupture of membranes when the
vegetable is juiced.
Juicing is also a better way to get your vitamins and minerals because all
of the phytonutrients, soluble fiber, and many other
complex compounds that exist in the natural fruit also exist in its juice;
whereas, each nutrient is individually extracted when
it is in supplement form. Since all nutrients work symbiotically with one
another, with each enhancing or balancing the other,
drinking freshly extracted vegetable juice allows you to get the nutrients
in combinations that exist in the food when it is in
its natural state.
Additionally, juicing provides a lot of soluble fiber; therefore, the nutrients
that are contained in the insoluble fiber of a
fruit or vegetable are released so that the body can make use of them. When
fruits or vegetables are eaten whole, these nutrients
would not be available to the body as they would be contained within the
indigestible fiber. Since fiber is such an important
factor in the elimination of waste and toxins from the body, and keeping
the colon and bowel cleansed, a high fiber diet is highly
recommended for optimum health and wellness. Soluble fiber, as well as aiding
in the bodys elimination and detoxification
processes, is also the fiber that has been found to lower levels of cholesterol.
Most of the bottled juices that are available in supermarkets, and even
health food stores, have been pasteurized in an effort
to eliminate harmful bacteria. Unfortunately, the process of pasteurizing
includes subjecting fresh juices to extremely high
temperatures. There are valuable and fragile enzymes, phytonutrients, and
other nutritional compounds that are
destroyed with the addition of heat. Cooking, refining and processing food
strips it of its maximum nutritional value.
Freshly extracted fruit and vegetable juice also provides another, major
key nutrient: water. Everyday factors like
caffeine, over-the-counter medications, salt, cigarette smoking, and alcohol
all act to dehydrate the body. These factors,
combined with the fact that most Americans do not consume nearly enough
water just to reach the basic daily intake, never
mind compensate for whats lost, can contribute to ill health.
Since fresh juices contain ample amounts of this vital substance, this
is yet another reason that juicing could be such an
important addition to an overall Optimum health and wellness plan.
The benefits of juicing are many, while the downsides are few to nil. In
a culture where the number of people who get their
daily requirements of fruits and vegetables, is dismally low, juicing should
be an absolute necessity and priority. I have
educated many of my clients in the particulars of juicing, and every single
one of them has returned to my office full of
vitality, increased energy, and a great enthusiasm for fresh juice. They
often go on to become staunch advocates of juicing
themselves. When faced with skeptics, my question is usually, Why not juice?
About the Author
Copyright Neesha D. Meminger, 2005. All rights reserved.
About the Author:
Neesha Dosanjh Meminger is an Optimum Health, Wealth, & Success
Coach who works with people to actualize their full potential
using the Five Modalities of Optimum Success program that she
developed over years of consulting and coaching. Contact her at
Neesha@seeitbeit.com for a free collaborative interview