Mission Nutrition:
Health Benefits of Juicing
by Terrence Lind
A healthy diet and regular exercise are two basic ingredients that lay the foundation for a long, happy and wholesome life. Food is the fuel that drives the human body, and the choice to consume convenient and affordable fast food items verses healthy meal alternatives is one of the biggest challenges today. The modern world is brimming with highly processed foods that are loaded with fat, sugar and a multitude of unpronounceable chemical additives that offer few, if any, vital nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. These are the essential building blocks required to maintain strong healthy bodies and sharp vibrant minds, and they are predominantly absent from most commercial food products consumed by the general public.
Fortunately, there are several ways to incorporate vital nutrients into one's diet. In addition to taking a daily multivitamin, eating more fruits and vegetables is one of the easiest options to ingest naturally-produced vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Enjoy an apple or a banana instead of a cookie or a bag of chips. Have a side salad at every meal (be sure to go easy on the dressing). Instead of cake and ice cream, have fruit salad for dessert. But for many, consuming more fruits and vegetables is a major challenge, primarily due to busy work schedules and hectic lifestyles. For others, digestive disorders force them to avoid consuming fibrous plant-based edibles. Then there are those who just despise eating fruits and vegetables. They simply refuse to do it; they'll even remove the lettuce from their Big Mac.
Who doesn't like juice? A popular alternative to crunching on carrots, cucumbers, and apples is to juice them. A juicing machine pulverizes the fruits and vegetables, extracting the liquid into a refreshing nutrient-rich concoction that's loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and some fiber. One would have to gnaw on a basket full of raw produce to get the equivalent health benefits gained from drinking a tall glass of freshly made juice. Moments after guzzling down a glass of juice, a tidal wave of nutrients are quickly absorbed by the body, delivering a near-instantaneous infusion of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to every cell in the body. This liquid gold energizes all of the organs, including the brain, and assists in healing, cleansing, and reducing inflammation.
Those who juice on a regular basis may choose to create favorite recipes that are primarily comprised of either fruits or vegetables. Many choose to combine both fruits and veggies to get the best of both worlds. Often it comes down to taste. A green juice made with spinach, kale, cucumbers, and celery will have a fresh, but somewhat earthy flavor, like drinking a liquid salad, only without the dressing. The taste is easily tempered with the addition of apples or pears. On the opposite side of the spectrum, a juice made from apples, pears, and carrots will taste much sweeter. A good balance of both fruits and vegetables can result in a delicious juice that is neither bland nor overly sweet. Beets, carrots, cucumbers, spinach and apples are a great mix. The addition of a small piece of ginger root in the juicer will infuse the juice with a spectacular zesty zing. A squeeze of fresh lemon into any juice also packs a refreshing burst of flavor.
For those who do not have the time or desire to slice up fruits and veggies and make their own juice at home, it's quick and easy to dash into a local juice bar and grab a freshly made-to-order juice to take on the go. It's just as convenient as darting into Starbucks for a morning latte macchiato, but without the fat, refined sugar or caffeine. More and more juice bars are popping up all over. To find one simply do a quick search on Google. Many supermarkets have added juice bars, usually located next to the fresh produce aisles. Even high-end fitness centers like LA Fitness now provide in-house juice bars. After a strenuous workout, guests can replenish their muscle tissues with a healthy and nutritious juice.
As more people strive to pursue a healthier lifestyle, the popularity of juicing continues to rise. Drinking freshly-made juice on a daily basis provides beneficial nourishing effects on the mind and body. Combined with regular exercise and eating a healthy diet, juicing is wholesome, nutritious, and paves the way to greater health, strength, durability, and longevity.
MMA Long Island Magazine is published by MMA New York Media Corporation. For more information please visit www.mmalongislandmagazine.com or call (516) 318-2418.
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