For kids: the fun way to get your fruits and vegetables in. And for adults: the fastest way to get them antioxidants in. Juices have been recorded in history since the 14th Century, back then literally meaning the ‘water of fruits’. Sadly, they don’t get the recognition they deserve. Juices are absolutely great and wholesome.
Now, not just any juice is great for you, especially if it comes pre-packed, is sugared or has preservatives. Let me tell you the sordid tale of the juicing plant. The boxed juice ❌ you get from the supermarket is not necessarily “juice”, so to say. That is because the fruit is not juiced and packed. From the farm the fruit is transported to the processing plant, which is very expensive. So what is done is that the fruit is cut into small pieces, dehydrated completely, and sometimes ground into powder, and then that the hydrated food is sent to the plant, where it is mixed with water, chemicals and flavouring is added, along with huge amounts of sugar. It’s mostly sugar. Which is why it’s so cheap.
Cold-pressed juice✅ however is just as good as fresh juice except lasts for up to a week in a fridge, so you get the best of both worlds. All of the nutrients with the convenience of having it whenever you want to. It is of course costs more than boxed juice because it is made with real fruits.
Why is juice good for you:
- Immunity: this is a quick way to get you minerals and vitamins that fruits have aplenty, which helps boost the immune system and gives you the required micro-nutrients.
- Removes toxins: while water does good things to flush out toxins, juices are great. Especially beetroot and cucumber juices.
- Prevents food cravings: that period between lunch and dinner can easily be battled with a glass of juice instead of biscuits or chips.
- Increased water intake: cucumbers, watermelons and apples have a high index of water, which makes drinking them very healthy and not as boring as having water as is.
- Antioxidants: fruits like apples, prunes and pomegranates are high in antioxidants that not only strengthen immunity, but also have a range of health benefits, like good eyesight and improvement in health. And honestly, no one wants to eat a whole beetroot.
- Quick prep: juices are fairly easy and fast to make, and doesn’t require definite ingredients. Promoted by juices stands that have been steadily gaining popularity.
Why they can be bad:
- Natural sugar: while natural sugar is better than processed sugar anyday, it’s still sugar. Those with diabetes or problematic blood pressure should be careful.
- Fiber: juice is basically just fruit water, so the fiber content in the fruit is missed out on. Many, for this reason, prefer blending instead of juicing.
- No calories, fat or protein: while juices have a good amount of micronutrients, they have no macronutrients like carbs and fats. It’s best not to sustain yourself on just juices.
Alternative: Infused Water – For many having juices cannot be an option due to diabetes and blood pressure. For this, infused water is greatly helpful. It’s basically sliced up fruit in water with a good helping of ice. This reduces the sugar consumption while giving you benefits of the fruit. Keeping in mind that some fruits are high in sugar and potassium, so pick them carefully.