Juicing How Healthy Is It Ready to give juicing a whirl Its an easy way to get more fruits and veggies into your diet. Before you get started, you should know a few things about what you can expect juicing to do for you, and whats just hype. The Biggest AdvantageIf youre not big into fruits and vegetables, its a good way to get them in, says nutritionist Jennifer Barr, RD, of Wilmington, DE. You should still eat fruits and vegetables, too, says Manuel Villacorta, RD, founder of Eating Free, a weight management program. Aim to eat two whole fruits and three to four vegetables a day. Choose them in different colors, so you get a good mix of vitamins and minerals, Barr says. Fiber Factor. When you juice, you dont get the fiber thats in whole fruits and vegetables. Juicing machines extract the juice and leave behind the pulp, which has fiber. So you dont miss out on the fiber, you can add some of the pulp back into the juice or use it in cooking. Barr adds it to muffin batter, or to make broth for cooking soup, rice, and pasta. Thats going the extra step to fortify your meals, she says. Do You Need a Juicing Machine Juicers can be expensive, ranging from 5. Some more expensive juicers will break down a lot of the fruit by grinding the core, rind, and seeds, Barr says. You may not need a juicing machine to make juice. You can use a blender for most whole fruits or vegetables to keep the fiber. Add water if it becomes too thick, Villacorta says. Youll want to remove seeds and rinds, and some skins. Once your juice is ready, its best to drink it the same day you make it, for food safety. Wash your blender or juice machine thoroughly, so its ready for your next batch. Continued. Watch the Calories. How many calories are in your juiceThe 20 Healthiest Drinks. This blend of natural fruit and vegetable juices is combined with. That depends on whats in it. You could be taking up to four fruits, and now the calories start adding up. If you use vegetables to juice, the calories are a lot less. If they use mainly vegetables, add an apple or kiwi for flavor. Calories are a concern if its pure fruit juice, Villacorta says. You can make your juice more balanced by adding protein. Some good sources are almond milk, Greek yogurt, flaxseed, and peanut butter. Juicing for Weight Loss and Cleansing. Juicing might seem like a simple way to lose weight, but it can backfire. Chicken Alfredo Pizza. On a juice only diet, you may not get enough fiber or protein to make you full. You might rebel. If youre doing a juicing diet, youll be so tempted to eat something like a cake or doughnut because youve restricted yourself, Barr says. Not getting enough protein could also mean you lose muscle mass. The bottom line Its too extreme, and the results arent likely to last. What about juicing as a way to detox or cleanse your body I havent seen any research or science paper to support that cleansing is happening from juicing, Villacorta says. Your liver and kidneys take care of that whether youre juicing or not. Other Health Claims. As for other health claims, its true that eating a plant based diet is linked to lower risk of heart disease or cancer. But there hasnt been a lot of research done thats specific to juicing. There is some research on juicing and the immune system. But any immune system benefits probably come from eating fruits and vegetables, whether its in juice or not, Barr says. If Youre Taking Prescription Drugs. Check with your doctor before doing a lot of juicing, so you can avoid any potential problems. For instance, large amounts of foods high in vitamin K, such as kale and spinach, may change how the blood thinnerwarfarin works. Sources. SOURCES Jennifer Barr, MPH, RD, LDN, owner, Downingtown Nutrition Weight Management Center adjunct instructor, West Chester University, West Chester, PA. Healthy Juices In StoresInstitute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids, The National Academies Press, 2. U. S. Department of Agriculture Phytonutrient FAQs. Manuel Villacorta, MS, RD, founder, Eating Free owner, MV Nutrition, San Francisco. Web. MD, LLC. All rights reserved. Best Green Juice To Buy' title='Best Green Juice To Buy' />Trying a cleanse, want to jumpstart your day, or need a postworkout treat These juices and smoothies satisfy. Trying a cleanse, want to jumpstart your day, or need. Buy products such as Great Value 100 Apple Juice, 96 Fl Oz. Frozen Juices. Baby Beverages. Welchs Healthy Heart 100 Grape Juice, 64 fl oz. From the magazine Juice Recipes for Better Health Is there more to juicing than cleansing or detoxing You bet. These three juice recipes will boost your brainpower. Think juice is full of sugar and a nutrition nono These healthy juices pack some powerful health perks just dont guzzle them down by the gallon. Guide to Eating Healthy Carbs Becoming a Vegetarian Foods to Choose From. Best and Worst Juices 10 Ways to Control Your Eating Guide to Becoming Vegetarian. Healthiest Juices To Drink' title='Healthiest Juices To Drink' />Healthy Recipes. Healthy Juice Recipes for a Juicer or a Blender Healthy Juice Recipes for a Juicer or a Blender. Healthy Juice Recipes.