Just Juice It

Bite This: There are at least 5 different categories of juicers and at least 3 different types of juicers in each category. Millions of dollars are spent every year on juicers.

Recently, I've been thinking about extracting our $300 juicer from under the counter and blowing off the dust. But every time I hunker down to get it, I think "is it worth it?" It's a big hunk of metal that takes up valuable counter space.

 Last month my husband and I were eating dinner one evening and after I had noticed his plate was piled high with meat and bread, I inquired, "Have you eaten any vegetables this week?" He thought about it a while before replying with a grin and a simple, "no."  Exhibit A.

I, on the other hand, enjoy the taste of fruits and vegetables and do my best to eat them on a regular basis for a variety of reasons. I do not have preferences when it comes to taste, and like the whole spectrum from brussels sprouts to carrots and blueberries to bananas. I  have no qualms about consuming 2 cups of spinach in one serving just to get closer to the 5 servings per day. Exhibit B.

Obviously exhibit A is an example of someone who would significantly benefit from using our over-priced and under-used juicer. My husband is willing to take 2 shots (4 ounces total) of liquefied spinach, apples and carrots (all together) but is not willing to eat whole spinach, carrots or an apple. Apparently by using my husband's method, gulping a shot of this goop while holding your nose and chasing it with a big swig of ice-cold water is not as bad as just eating them whole. But, he is only willing to do this once a day, therefore still not conquering the recommended daily amount. He also prefers more fruit in his juice and is skimpy on the vegetables. But some is better than none, I suppose.

Plenty of people juice daily and are doing it correctly in order to enhance their fruit and vegetable intake. There are, however, plenty of other people who get the wrong idea about juicing and may cause more harm than good by ingesting so much sugar and a lot less fiber.  Exhibit A is consuming a more concentrated version of the now liquefied natural sugars which are going to his bloodstream quicker than consuming the whole food. Not a problem for someone like my husband, but could potentially cause blood sugar issues in someone else. Exhibit A may also experience constipation with the almost complete lack of fiber in his diet and will be able to accomplish lot of good reading in the restroom. Meanwhile exhibit B is quite efficient with her bathroom duties (no pun intended) and is back before exhibit B even noticed she was gone.

Bottom line: There is no sound scientific evidence that juicing is any better for you than eating whole fruits and vegetables despite the claims of juicing as "giving your digestive system a break" and "getting the nutrients to the bloodstream faster", and my personal favorite, "releasing the toxins from your body." (Maybe those without kidneys and a liver benefit from that last claim?) But if you are not a proponent of consuming whole fruits and vegetables then juicing may be a good way to incorporate the healthy nutrients into your diet.

Sound bite: If you are not eating fruits and vegetables daily, start incorporating them into your diet by juicing. If this does not fit into your budget, just suck it up and eat some greens already!

My Favorite Juice Blend

3 handfuls of spinach

2 large carrots, peeled

1 apple

1 red bell pepper

Place them all in the juicer (I like to start w/ the softest vegetable) and enjoy!