How important are juices for health?

So what does juice do for our bodies that is so important? It provides us with a daily supply of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids and other nutrients that our bodies need on a daily basis to improve or maintain good health.

And what is the difference between eating a vegetable, raw or cooked, and drinking the juice of that vegetable?

When we eat a vegetable, such as a carrot, it needs to be broken down so that our bodies can absorb the nutrients it contains. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that can prevent damage to our cells through oxidation. (Soon I will write about antioxidants). Just to give you an idea, a medium carrot has about 25 calories and a lot of vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, potassium, iron, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin E, folic acid, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, dietary fiber and protein.

Raw foods have a distinct advantage: Along with all the nutrients, they have natural digestive enzymes that help break down the food. Cooking food kills all of these natural enzymes, which means our bodies have to seek them out in other foods or external sources (enzyme supplements) to properly digest those foods and absorb all the nutrients they contain.

Juices provide our body with food that has already been broken down to a certain extent, greatly facilitating the task of digestion and absorption, and giving us more energy and vitality.

People with certain health problems such as diabetes should be careful with the intake of fruits and certain vegetables such as carrots and beets, due to their high sugar content.

When I first started juicing, I found that a combination of 60% vegetables and 40% fruit was great as it helped me get used to the taste of vegetables. Gradually I increased the vegetable content and decreased the fruit content. Certain fruits, like apples and pears, contain less sugar than others, like bananas. (By the way, bananas are best added to a blender or for smoothies, as they turn to mush when squeezed.)

Some of my favorite combinations are:

1. 1 apple, 1 pear, 1 cup of fennel. Add 1 teaspoon of ground flaxseed for additional fiber.
2. 1 apple, 1 cup of spinach and 1 cup of cabbage.
3. 3 large bok choy leaves, 1 cup bean sprouts, 1/2 cucumber, 1 parsnip, 1 pear, 1/3 bunch fresh mint, and 1/2-1 inch fresh ginger

Try adding fresh herbs like basil, parsley, mint, coriander, and tarragon. Add fresh ginger or a clove of garlic to boost your immune system. Add a tablespoon of flaxseed oil, ground flaxseed, or raw apple cider vinegar for a fiber and nutrient boost.

Be adventurous… experiment with different combinations of fruits and vegetables to find your preferences… and vary them every day, so your body gets all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it needs.