According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, the average American eats fruit a mere 1.1 times each day and vegetables only 1.6 times daily. This is a far cry from the recommended amount of six to eight servings. And even though these statistics are actually an improvement on previous years, there’s no denying that as a whole we need to eat more produce.
But maybe you just don’t have time or maybe you simply don’t like the taste of vegetables. If you’re looking to reap the benefits of fruits and veggies but don’t see how you can possibly find the time to eat six to eight servings each day, juicing may be the answer you’ve been waiting for. Skeptical of sipping your vegetables? Don’t be! Juices can be delicious and a great supplement to a less-than-perfect diet. Here are eight reasons you should start juicing now:
You’ll be more likely to get your six to eight. It may seem nearly impossible to consume that much produce each day. But research has found that implementing vegetable juice into a diet is both a practical and acceptable way for many adults to consume a diet more in line with a healthy and disease-free lifestyle.
The nutrients are better absorbed. Fruits and vegetables are full of important vitamins, minerals, enzymes and more. These become available to our bodies as we chew, however many fail to get absorbed during the digestion process. Juicing allows for quick absorption of these vital nutrients and even helps boost energy levels.
You’ll increase the variety of your diet. We tend to eat the same thing every day. Juicing allows you to try different fruits and vegetables you may not normally choose to eat. Beets and carrots may not top everyone’s list, but their juices are sweet and delicious. And greens that are too strong alone like kale or collard, can be masked in a juice by incorporating something sweet.
Most produce is more nutrient-dense when consumed raw. The way many Americans consume their vegetables is cooked, which can deactivate important enzymes. But who is realistically going to nosh on a raw beet? Juicing allows you to enjoy the full benefits of raw fruits and vegetables without the hassle of actually chewing them.
Fresh juices aid in cancer and disease prevention. According to the Stanford Cancer Institute, fresh vegetable juice is loaded with cancer-fighting phytochemicals and vitamins. You would have to eat 5 cups of carrots to yield the same benefits from drinking one cup of juice.
Juices help you detoxify and lose weight. While juice fasts are not recommended for everyone, incorporating juices into your diet will help detoxify your body and can aid in weight loss. A diet high in fats and processed carbohydrates puts a great strain on organs such as the liver, where fat is metabolized. When the liver is in such an overworked state, it cannot efficiently metabolize fat, which keeps you from losing weight.The nutrients found in many juices can help detoxify the liver and jump-start your weight loss.
You’ll be more hydrated. Juices are meant to be sipped slowly. Replacing a dehydrating cola with a fresh juice will keep you hydrated far better than other sugar-laden beverages.
Juicing is efficient. There’s no denying that juicing is one of the easiest ways to improve your diet. Cooking and preparing vegetables takes time and can take even more time to eat if you’re on the go. Juicing allows you to supplement your diet in an easy way.
So if you haven’t tried it yet, what are you waiting for? Start sipping today for better health tomorrow.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/13/benefits-of-juicing.aspx
http://www.thebestofrawfood.com/benefits-of-beet-juice.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20849620
http://www.naturalnews.com/041961_juicing_weight_loss_healing_foods.html
http://cancer.stanford.edu/patient_care/services/nutrition/recipes/juicingRecipes.html
http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/downloads/national-action-guide2013.pdf
