A few reasons why you should start juicing today

[caption id="attachment_19539" align="alignright" width="360"] Fruit on the brain? Juice it![/caption]

Juicing is getting so much attention these days.

There are all kinds of juice cleanses, fresh pressed juice services, juice bars and Instagram feeds dedicated to juice. Green, red, purple, orange, yellow – doesn’t matter, there are tons of vegetable and fruit juice options these days that are freshly made right at home thanks to the availability of products like Breville juicers.

So why all the focus on juicing, and what’s the benefit of it in the first place?

Before we go into that, let me just be clear on what I’m calling juice. When I say, “juice,” I don’t mean the processed, bottled stuff with ingredients that aren’t just fruits or vegetables. Nothing from a factory. Nothing from concentrate. I mean taking-a-piece-of-produce-and-smooshing-it-to-get-liquid-out-of-it juice.

The Obvious Reasons Why You Should Start Juicing Now

To say that there are lots of vitamins and minerals in juice is pretty obvious. Vegetables and fruits are loaded with vitamins , antioxidants and more, and freshly made juice is a great way to load up on this stuff.  Some of the benefits packed in these things include:

• Kale – vitamins A, C, K, protein, potassium


• Beets – folate, iron, magnesium, B6 - cleansing for the liver


• Carrots – vitamin A, beta-carotene


• Pineapple - thiamin, riboflavin, B-6, folate, beta-carotene


• Mango – vitamins A, C, B6, copper, potassium, magnesium


• Lemons – alkalizing, vitamin C


• Ginger – anti-inflammatory, good for digestion


• Turmeric – curcumin, a very effective anti-inflammatory

Drinking freshly-made juice ensures you get these benefits at their peak, while pre-made, processed juice typically has these beneficial elements diminished as they do with heat (i.e. pasteurization) and time.

Juicing and Digestibility

It’s a word, trust me. I know, I checked. This is where the reason for juicing really comes into play. Juicing removes the fiber from plants, leaving only the liquid. If you remember anything from various old cereal adds (Fruit-N-Fiber, Shredded Wheat, etc), you know that fiber is good for your colon because it’s slow to digest and cleans you out. Actually, you barely even digest it – it’s just tough stuff that kinda makes its way through your system, sweeping things out while it goes. But dealing with fiber takes a lot out of your system – lots of blood needs to go to your digestive tract to process it, and anything trapped in it (like vitamins) are tougher for your body to extract – if it can do so at all.

[caption id="attachment_19541" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Make the right choice with juice[/caption]

So juicing cuts out the middleman that is fiber, and gives you a direct shot of the beneficial stuff like vitamins and minerals. But it’s more than that – it’s actually a way to give your digestive tract a break. Just give you the ingredients you need without asking your body to do any major work.

Take A Break with Juicing

So this idea of taking a digestive break is at the heart of a juice cleanse. Living off fresh juice exclusively for a short period (you’ll find cleanses of one to ten or more days, and everything in between) gives your body the nutrients it needs without having to work for it. It lets your blood be focused elsewhere in the body where it might be needed (like repairing muscles, helping to grow new skin). The way most Westerners eat is very taxing to the body, so giving your body a chance to take a breather and reset can be very valuable.  I did this at the end of last year and into the start of this year as a way to lose weight I had put on at a new job (that always had cookies around) and feel refreshed as I was feeling pretty drained.  I can tell you it worked, and it worked really well.  I dropped 12 pounds in a week, and just felt much more alive by the end. I actually decided to go vegan while I was doing it, and have had no trouble keeping those 12 pounds off or feeling great.

Some Simple, Delicious Juice Combos and Recipes

[caption id="attachment_19531" align="alignright" width="370"] How These Simple Juicing Recipes Can Make You Lose Up To 12lbs in Under 30 days[/caption]

Here are a few of the juices I make regularly that are easy and pretty tasty:

• Green - Kale, lemon, green apple, cucumber, ginger, cilantro


• Red - Beet, carrot, green apple, lemon


• ABC – apple, beet carrot


• Citrus Medley – grapefruit, orange, pineapple (I know, it’s not citrus, but it is so good!)


• Tropical Fruit – mango, pineapple

Most people cringe at the idea of drinking kale juice. Get over your fear – it’s pretty good, and absurdly good for you.  Same goes for beet juice – just be sure to remember that you drank beets when you go to the bathroom, or you may call your doctor for no reason.

Also, juicing produces a lot of fiber as a waste product. For those who follow me on Instagram, you’d know that I use the fiber to cook with. Citrus fiber makes a great chutney-like thing. Veggie fiber can be mixed In when cooking quinoa or rice, or can be turned into some pretty awesome veggie burgers easily. Of course, you wouldn’t do this if you were doing a juice cleanse, but otherwise, experiment with it in the kitchen.

Juice – It’s Not Just a Fad - so try it today!

So this juice thing isn’t a fad. There are very real pros here, and I see the availability growing quickly, so the trend will continue. People are getting more aware of healthier ways to fuel their bodies, and fresh juice is a key part of that. Find a local place to give a green juice a try, and be surprised.

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Author Bio

Bryan Falchuk is the founder of newbodi.es health and fitness coaching and training. He spent the first 2/3 of his life overweight or battling being overweight before transforming his life into one focused on health, fitness and happiness. He coaches and trains people looking to change their lives, has an active  YouTube channel  and  podcast , and shares his own health journey and inspiration via his blog , Instagram and Twitter.