The process of juicing removes the fiber from the juice. Although fiber is good for us, it prevents digestion and nutrient absorption. Removing the fiber makes the juice very concentrated and highly bioavailable. Juices retain digestive enzymes that would normally have gone to breaking down tough plant fiber. These enzymes can now go to breaking down old food and debris that sits in the intestinal tract.
Juicing helps reduce food cravings. Circle of life put it perfectly:
When your cells and organs become malnourished from eating devitalized and non nutritional foods, your body constantly sends signals to your digestive system, causing an overproduction of digestive juices. If your digestive system is congested with old hard-to-digest food debris, the digestive juices become attuned to not what your body needs but what is sitting in your digestive system.
Digestive action creates a taste and inclination to eat, not what your body needs, but what’s sitting in your digestive system. Lingering food is more than likely the residue of refined and processed foods -- white flour, white sugar and hydrogenated fats (natural vital food does not linger in your digestive tract). Hence, you crave white flour, white sugar and hydrogenated fats because this is what your digestive juices are focused on digesting.
Juicing lessens cravings by addressing and correcting malnutrition, as well as aiding the body’s digestion of old food debris.
There's no heating involved. This is beneficial because it spares the healthy enzymes that cooking can take away. It's important to consider a juicer that doesn't heat as it juices. Lower RPM's are better. Check out lower RPM juicers here. Also, a good juicer will produce less foam, a sign of oxidation which lowers antioxidants in the juice. Less foam equals more antioxidant benefits:)
Detoxing in and of itself from juicing is especially beneficial. You can detox fats, preservatives, chemicals, and other toxins that other poor food choices have left behind. This allows the body the ability to access and utilize restorative and sustaining nutrients.
Juicing provides the most digestible and absorbable form of food. It provides nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that the body can use to repair itself. It helps boost the immune system and helps with cell regeneration and growth.
Not only do you get a larger variety of vegetables with juicing than you normally would, but you also get the benefits of eating more of the healthy parts of the fruits and vegetables.There are vital nutrients found in the the skin, seeds, and pits of fruits and vegetables. The type of juicer you have will determine what parts you can place in your juicer. You can also add variety like beets, garlic, lemons, ginger, etc that you may not normally eat large amounts of. This allows you to have a bigger variety and more balanced nutrition. Let's not forget that you can pick any combination of fruits of veggies that you feel in the mood for or that you need to help clear up a specific problem.
Juicing helps you lose weight too. In addition to helping you form healthy eating habits, you also feel better and have more energy to be active. Since juicing provides you with the nutrients your cells need, unhealthy food cravings are reduced.
Last, but not least: Increased energy due to the quick absorption into the bloodstream!! Can you say that your coffee or soda does any of the above things for you? I didn't think so!
Oh wait, I just thought of another reason: It tastes delicious!!
Here's some information about different kinds of juicers that might be helpful.
To see a very detailed chart of juicer comparisons, click here. Don't forget to click on page 2 once you get there. This is where I bought my dehydrator and juicer. I found them to have the lowest prices, and depending on which model you buy, you can get free shipping.
Types of Juicers From Food Matters Website
There are many types of juicers available, with accordingly variable quality and price. A cheaper juicer may be an appropriate start for beginners and certainly preferable to not juicing if other models are unaffordable. However, a premium cold-press juicer will produce a superior-quality juice and allow you to extract more from your fruit and vegetables, saving expense in the long-term.Centrifugal Juicers
Centrifugal juicers are commonly available in retail outlets and are the cheapest to purchase. These machines initially extract juice by pulverizing fruit and vegetables against a round cutting blade that spins very quickly against a metal strainer. The centrifugal force generated by this cutting apparatus separates the juice from the pulp, which drains away separately from the fibrous remnants.Advantages
- Generates large quantities of juice before pulp accumulates for removal
- Cheaper
- Easy to use
- May reduce food preparation time, as many will accept larger fruit and vegetable pieces
Disadvantages
- Noisy
- Yields less juice
- Destroys enzymes more easily by introducing heat and oxygen
- Extracts nutrients less efficiently
- Not well-suited to juicing greens
Cold Press Juicers
These superior machines operate via a mastication (chewing) or cold-press method. In contrast to the rough extraction of centrifugal juicers, mastication or cold-press juicers compress fruit and vegetables to ‘squeeze’ out their juice. Whilst more costly, their slower and more thorough extraction rates produce a high-quality juice – and more of it.Advantages
- Quieter
- Lower heat and oxidation, thereby protecting nutrients and enzymes
- Well-suited to juicing greens and sprouts
- Yields more juice
- Juice preserved in better condition for longer
- Less foam
- Often able to serve other food processing functions, such as making nut butters, pasta and ice cream
Disadvantages
- Heavier
- More expensive
- Longer food preparation, as smaller food pieces are required for their narrow chutes
Manual Juicers
Like cold press juicers, manual juicers provide a slow and gentle extraction that preserves the nutritional integrity of juices. However, there are several features to consider before purchasing a manual juicer:Advantages
- Quiet
- Operate without electricity
- Produce a high-quality, high-yield, nutritious juice
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages
- Slow
- Require some physical exertion
- May rust if iron-based
- Often limited to certain types of fruit and vegetables
Website about juicing.
http://www.circle-of-life.net/juicingbenefits.php
http://www.juicer-guru.com/benefits-of-juicing.html
http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp/Juicer%20Buying%20Guide
http://goddessofthegarden.com/2008/08/juicing-and-juice-feasting/
All righty then! Anyone want to go purchase their first juicer, or even upgrade? Too many benefits to pass up if you ask me!!
