In light of the awful news and scandals about the obesity epidemic and the world falling off the “healthful” cliff, there has been a new emergence: juicing. Some do it for a detox, some do it to lose weight, others just want a change--and then there are the devoted veggie and fruit lovers (debatable). Regardless of the reason, this trend has hit hard, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
There’s so much to be said about the benefits and the dangers of juicing. There are so many variations on “cleansing” that celebrities and health nuts seem to be endorsing or trying. There is, however, a slight caveat to this masterful plan: we eat and drink so many processed and unhealthy things that a once-in-a-while detox can’t possibly “fix” such a global problem. You might drop a few pounds for the upcoming date party, formal, or whatever else you’re trying to slim down for, but the long-term implications are unconvincing. That said, taking a break from beer and fries is definitely a step in the right direction. This topic shows us, once again, that the world of health can tend to be a grey area.
There are a couple of things we’d like to talk about regarding juices and detoxes: let’s discuss pros, cons, who’s juicing and who should be juicing, how to juice correctly, and, of course, a few juice recipes that we’ve tried (yup, if done correctly this stuff is great - we do it too!).
Why juice?
The truth is, there are tons of obscure diets/detoxes out there. We’ve got supplements, fasting, herbal remedies, juicing (duh), and so much more. Why follow these fads? Realistically and ideally, we should be able to eat right consistently, go outdoors regularly, and get our physical activity levels up to become perfect, healthy super-humans! Right? Too bad that seems far too daunting for so many of us. Fad trends like juicing are a result of natural spurts of motivation, commitment-phobia, and the urge, like everything else in American culture, to get it done and get it done fast (see what I did there?). So now that we’ve told you how we really feel, let’s shed some light on the benefits of throwing a bunch of veggies and fruits into a blender and mixing them up into deliciousness.
1) As noted above, juice is tasty and quick (and not to mention very portable). It’s a fantastic way to get vitamins and minerals, especially with an on-the-go lifestyle. Ready, set, juice.
2) The experience, if you incorporate it into your lifestyle, is unlike any other. There’s something of a juice cult out there. Walk into Nekter in Santa Monica, CA and you have entered a world of yogis/yoginis (male and female practitioners, respectively), bikini-ready beach-goers, stars, and people that seem just downright stoked about life. There's a reason they do it, whatever it is, and their sleek and zen vibes make you want to do it to.
3) You get tons of fiber. Eating whole fruits and vegetables ensures that you consume enough fiber, which is important for weight management. Fiber both lowers insulin spikes triggered by all of the sugar in a fruit and simultaneously makes you feel fuller, longer. That smoothie sure sounds good, doesn’t it?
4) It can help you reverse your bad habits. Companies like Nekter offer hardcore cleanse programs that involve buying carefully numbered bottles along with detailed instructions and guidelines on how to consume them. Some people really need these strict diet directions to avoid "cheating" and eating bad foods. This may just be one of the best solutions to encourage us to get the processed nastiness out of our diets, ditch the added sugars and syrups, and appreciate what nature gives us. Are we being too hopeful here?
Why not juice?
There are a few reasons: toxicity, too-quick weight loss leading to even-quicker weight gain, the potential of developing an eating disorder, not getting other necessary vitamins and macro-nutrients, tons of sugar, and ruining your social life (but actually)... among others. Stop right there with that blender, orange and kale, and read below.
1) A number of those fancy juice companies are messing with your mind. They write all about the fruit and vegetables included in the bottle but leave the additional sugars and starches in small print. Read the backs of those bottles and be weary of those products that claim they're healthy versus the ones that actually are.
2) Some of the fads suggest juice detoxes and cleanses as full replacements for all food. One meal a day is one thing (and we aren’t necessarily recommending that), but ditching all food for a cup-o-juice? Not the best idea in the long run. Your body was made to take in solid foods, and if you stop that, some things may go out of wack.
3) Statistics show that when people see results, they want more. What does that mean if you get these results going from eating three square meals a day to just sipping on juice? It could encourage some people to stay on the “no-food” binge, which could lead to bad habits, battles with eating disorders and a skewed perception of the boundary between looking healthy and looking scary skinny.
4) In nature, plants let out poison when they feel that they may be getting harmed or attacked. This doesn’t change in the human body. Going from a “normal” or “too-little” consumption of vegetables to an all-vegetable diet can, and often is, shocking to the body. It can cause an inflammatory response to the toxicity released by the veggies, which could lead to acne, stress, and other issues that aren’t fun to deal with. Consider these side effects, even if the trade-off is a rockin’ bod.
5) This kind of detox is temporary. You can’t live on liquid fruits and vegetables for the rest of your life. If you’re oh-so-tempted to try it, go for it but know that it has to end at some point. Just remember that while it can help you restructure your eating habits and reevaluate your food choices, a lifelong state of detox isn’t the answer to a lifelong state of health.
Who’s juicing, should I juice, & how do I do it correctly?
It seems like every celeb is doing some kind of detox – or at least talking about it in magazines. Notice, however, that you don’t hear about many athletes doing any sort of cleanse. Brides will do them in preparation for their upcoming big event, and teenage and college girls will follow the fad to get super-runway-skinny. These are not good ways to go about detoxing. Instead, if you are choosing to try out the trend, give these things some consideration:
1) Try Kombucha. Don’t let the floating live cultures scare you away because this stuff is a miracle! Instead of skipping meals and supplementing with blended veggies, try complimenting your morning meal with this drink. It’ll cleanse you, give you natural energy, and it’s rich in probiotics. There’s a whole movement on this stuff right now because of what it can do for your body: weight management, digestive ease, clearer skin. Running to your nearest Whole Foods yet?
2) Add juices and smoothies (no sugar or other processed evils added, obviously) into your regimen to compliment breakfast or lunch. Those are the best times to get a lot of vitamins and nutrients but, more importantly, the preferable time to eat sugar. In the evening, sugar (even natural) may give more of an intense insulin spike.
3) The best advice we can give? Make it yourself. That way, you know exactly what you’re putting into that blender and into your body, and that is health rule #1.
Our favorites.
Our favorite detox-type foods include juices and smoothies made from fruit, vegetables, nut milks (yogurt-like consistency) and other natural ingredients. Try these options and pick wisely, depending on whether you’re in a veggie or fruit mood, and enjoy!
Nekter’s “The Greenie”: Parsley, spinach, kale, celery, cucumber, lemon and apple
It’s nutrient-rich, appetite-suppressant, and a just a little bit sweet thanks to the apple!
Nekter’s Acai Bowl: Acai, bananas, dates, peanut butter and raw vanilla bean cashew nut milk. Blend together and top with hemp seed granola and sliced bananas.
This one tastes like a little slice of paradise, not to mention you get a huge variety of nutrients and protein at the same time. What’s not to love?
Her Campus wishes you the best if you decide to add a little juice to your life. It can do a lot of good if done right. To read more about
this writer's personal health thoughts and experiences, visit my blog at
http://bewellccs.blogspot.com/!
