6 reasons why you should be juicing regularly
By Louise Belle BHSc (Nut Med)
Have you thought about making your own juice, but decided it was all too hard? Do you drink juice off the supermarket shelf thinking that it’s the same as fresh juice? Do you know that fresh juice has many amazing health benefits and that you should be drinking it regularly? Here’s why:
1. Boosts your immune system
Fresh vegetables and fruit are packed full of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and antibacterial substances that help to strengthen your immune system and fight off infection. Citrus fruits, garlic, onion, leek, capsicum, kiwi, carrots, beetroot, pineapple, berries, ginger and fresh herbs have the best immune-boosting properties.
2. Reduce inflammation
When you juice raw vegetables and fruits, the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals are concentrated and delivered straight into your body, without any need to break them down. These nutrients help to reduce inflammation and acidity in the body. Citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens, cucumbers, beetroots, ginger, garlic, and other brightly coloured produce will help to reduce inflammation and pain in the body. The Dr Cabot Superfood powder also helps to reduce inflammation and acidity and adding it to your juices or smoothies helps to increase their benefits.
3. Improved digestion
Raw juice contains living enzymes which nourish your digestive tract and assist in the breakdown of your food. They are easy on the digestive tract and can help to reduce inflammation. Drinking fresh juice allows your gut to utilise vital nutrients, without placing a strain on it for digestion. Cabbage juice is particularly healing to the gut lining.
4. Boost nutrient intake
With food processing, soil depletion and poor nutrient absorption due to gut damage, it can be difficult to obtain the recommended intake of every vitamin and mineral each day. Because juicing concentrates the nutrients of the fresh produce, it’s a great way to boost your daily nutrient intake. You would not normally be able to eat 4 carrots, 1 beetroot, 1 orange, 3 cups of greens and a ¼ of a cabbage in a single sitting!
5. Reduce fluid retention
Kidney dysfunction, poor circulation, weak blood vessels, high blood pressure and injuries can contribute to fluid retention. Cucumbers, parsley, ginger, celery and watercress act as diuretics and help to alleviate fluid retention. Of course, these can be eaten fresh, but juicing them is convenient and highly potent.
6. Enhanced detoxification
Fresh vegetable and fruit juices assist in flushing out toxins, heavy metals and waste products from your body. Cruciferous vegetables, bitter foods, citrus fruits, onions, garlic and chilli are particularly good at supporting the liver in working efficiently to detox the body and leave you feeling great!
Dr Cabot’s book Raw Juices Can Save Your Life provides therapeutic juice recipes for any ailment.
when juicing is it necessary to include the pulp or leave it out ??
It comes down to personal preference really, but including some pulp has the added benefit of fibre 🙂