Juicing: Healthy detox or diet trap?
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Ely82010
Posts: 1,998 Member
Interesting article, and I think that it reflects the MFP philosophy. The links is at the end of this posting
-- Juicing -- if you believe its avid fans -- is a great way to detox the body, prevent disease and lose weight.
There's something appealing about being able to blend up broccoli, kale and cucumbers and mask them with the sweet taste of strawberries. You get your vitamins without having to chow down on salad every day at lunch.
Plus you can tell everyone you're juicing, which helps you look cool in today's fitness-focused world.
But (you knew there was a "but" coming), you can't juice all day, every day, and expect to stay healthy. We took to the experts to answer your most pressing juice questions:
What are some of the benefits of juicing?
New research shows eating up to seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day can have a significant impact on your lifespan. For those of us who don't have time to cut up or cook two servings with every meal, juicing is an easy way to consume them on the go.
.
"Many people don't really like to eat fruits and vegetables, and this gives them a way to feel like they are doing something good for themselves," says Gayl Canfield, director of nutrition for Pritkin Longevity Center.
Juicing provides all the same vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients as eating whole fruits and vegetables, Canfield says. And the water content can help you stay hydrated.
Juicing is also a good way to use up any about-to-spoil produce, which means you're doing your part to stop food waste.
Juicing is low-calorie, right?
Not exactly. While juicing is probably low-calorie compared to a cheeseburger and fries, it's a very concentrated source of calories.
A cup of pineapple, for instance, is about 83 calories, but a cup of pineapple juice is 120 calories. An 8-ounce glass of orange juice may contain as many as four medium oranges, Canfield says.
"Would a person actually sit down and eat four oranges in one sitting?" she asks. "But you can down that glass of orange juice in fewer than 5 minutes."
And because the fruit is more concentrated, so is the sugar content.
A cup of pomegranate juice contains 37 grams of sugar, compared to just 12 grams in a cup of whole pomegranate.
Consuming your food in liquid form may also leave you feeling less fulfilled, meaning you'll eat more calories than you would if you simply chewed the food, says Jennifer Nelson, director of clinical dietetics and nutrition at the Mayo Clinic.
Will it help me detox?
First, let's start with why you think your body needs to detox. Your organs -- particularly the liver and kidneys -- and your immune system already work hard to rid your body of toxins.
"There is nothing in the medical literature to affirm that the body needs an outside source to cleanse itself," says registered dietician Deborah Levy.
Still, some people say juicing helps them transition to healthier habits. It's worth a shot -- of juice that is.
For clients who insist on doing a cleanse, Levy recommends they limit it to three days.
Can I go on an all-juice diet?
You can, but it's not a good idea.
"You want your diet to be balanced and healthy and to include protein, dairy, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and fats," Nelson says. "Some foods don't juice properly -- like fish or whole wheat bread."
We'll let you think about that yummy concoction for a minute.
When you juice fruits and vegetables, you're "mechanically pulverizing," them, Nelson says. Doing so separates the fiber from the juice. This fiber helps regulate your blood sugar levels after you eat a piece of whole fruit. Without fiber, the sugar in juice goes unchecked.
"The wonderful health effects of fiber -- satiety value, gastrointestinal regulation, (bad) cholesterol lowering and blood glucose regulations are missing in the juice," Canfield says.
Although going on a liquid diet might help you lose weight in the short term, it can seriously mess with your metabolism. And lean muscle mass starts to break down after just a few days -- meaning your body will burn fewer calories overall.
"Very few people will ever voluntarily consume a liquid diet for life," Nelson says, and the pounds will quickly pile back on once you re-introduce solid foods.
So what's the bottom line?
Juicing in moderation can help you consume essentials nutrients, but it's not a good way to detox or diet. Orange you glad you asked?
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/health/juicing-pros-cons/index.html?hpt=hp_bn13
-- Juicing -- if you believe its avid fans -- is a great way to detox the body, prevent disease and lose weight.
There's something appealing about being able to blend up broccoli, kale and cucumbers and mask them with the sweet taste of strawberries. You get your vitamins without having to chow down on salad every day at lunch.
Plus you can tell everyone you're juicing, which helps you look cool in today's fitness-focused world.
But (you knew there was a "but" coming), you can't juice all day, every day, and expect to stay healthy. We took to the experts to answer your most pressing juice questions:
What are some of the benefits of juicing?
New research shows eating up to seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day can have a significant impact on your lifespan. For those of us who don't have time to cut up or cook two servings with every meal, juicing is an easy way to consume them on the go.
.
"Many people don't really like to eat fruits and vegetables, and this gives them a way to feel like they are doing something good for themselves," says Gayl Canfield, director of nutrition for Pritkin Longevity Center.
Juicing provides all the same vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients as eating whole fruits and vegetables, Canfield says. And the water content can help you stay hydrated.
Juicing is also a good way to use up any about-to-spoil produce, which means you're doing your part to stop food waste.
Juicing is low-calorie, right?
Not exactly. While juicing is probably low-calorie compared to a cheeseburger and fries, it's a very concentrated source of calories.
A cup of pineapple, for instance, is about 83 calories, but a cup of pineapple juice is 120 calories. An 8-ounce glass of orange juice may contain as many as four medium oranges, Canfield says.
"Would a person actually sit down and eat four oranges in one sitting?" she asks. "But you can down that glass of orange juice in fewer than 5 minutes."
And because the fruit is more concentrated, so is the sugar content.
A cup of pomegranate juice contains 37 grams of sugar, compared to just 12 grams in a cup of whole pomegranate.
Consuming your food in liquid form may also leave you feeling less fulfilled, meaning you'll eat more calories than you would if you simply chewed the food, says Jennifer Nelson, director of clinical dietetics and nutrition at the Mayo Clinic.
Will it help me detox?
First, let's start with why you think your body needs to detox. Your organs -- particularly the liver and kidneys -- and your immune system already work hard to rid your body of toxins.
"There is nothing in the medical literature to affirm that the body needs an outside source to cleanse itself," says registered dietician Deborah Levy.
Still, some people say juicing helps them transition to healthier habits. It's worth a shot -- of juice that is.
For clients who insist on doing a cleanse, Levy recommends they limit it to three days.
Can I go on an all-juice diet?
You can, but it's not a good idea.
"You want your diet to be balanced and healthy and to include protein, dairy, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and fats," Nelson says. "Some foods don't juice properly -- like fish or whole wheat bread."
We'll let you think about that yummy concoction for a minute.
When you juice fruits and vegetables, you're "mechanically pulverizing," them, Nelson says. Doing so separates the fiber from the juice. This fiber helps regulate your blood sugar levels after you eat a piece of whole fruit. Without fiber, the sugar in juice goes unchecked.
"The wonderful health effects of fiber -- satiety value, gastrointestinal regulation, (bad) cholesterol lowering and blood glucose regulations are missing in the juice," Canfield says.
Although going on a liquid diet might help you lose weight in the short term, it can seriously mess with your metabolism. And lean muscle mass starts to break down after just a few days -- meaning your body will burn fewer calories overall.
"Very few people will ever voluntarily consume a liquid diet for life," Nelson says, and the pounds will quickly pile back on once you re-introduce solid foods.
So what's the bottom line?
Juicing in moderation can help you consume essentials nutrients, but it's not a good way to detox or diet. Orange you glad you asked?
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/health/juicing-pros-cons/index.html?hpt=hp_bn13
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Replies
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WHOA. OK. HOLD ON. I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
You found an article on CNN that wasn't devoted to flight 370?0 -
:flowerforyou:0
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Yes I did, but had to go to the Health section which was buried all the way at the bottom of the page. I should get extra calories for that, don't you think?0
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Yes to the moral of the article. Juicing should be an addition to your diet (if you WANT to juice), but not your sole source of nutrition. You don't get all of the nutrition from the vegetables that way, though you do get some. Not enough to live on, not by a long shot.0
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So I am confused and looking for clarification.
When people juice, does this mean they shove however many pounds of various vegetables and fruits through an actual juicer machine that dumps the pulp and they just drink the juice?
I thought people were blending the fruits and veggies into a drinkable liquid. Wouldn't this keep most of the fiber and more nutrients as well?
What the hell is the point of throwing half the fruit and vegetable (the pulp) away in juicing?!0 -
I think juicing is a good detox for a short period of time. Let's say up to 10 days. I can't detox yet but can't wait to. I would do a juice detox but eat small meals at the same time like salads, soups, lots of beans and veggies. I try to juice at least once a day. I love the documentary fat, sick and almost dead with Joe Cross. I actually meet him twice.0
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I think juicing is a good detox for a short period of time. Let's say up to 10 days. I can't detox yet but can't wait to. I would do a juice detox but eat small meals at the same time like salads, soups, lots of beans and veggies. I try to juice at least once a day. I love the documentary fat, sick and almost dead with Joe Cross. I actually meet him twice.
But why do you need to detox? And why would you detox, then reintroduce the 'toxins' into your system? I genuinely don't understand what juice detox's are supposed to achieve?0 -
I think juicing is a good detox for a short period of time. Let's say up to 10 days. I can't detox yet but can't wait to. I would do a juice detox but eat small meals at the same time like salads, soups, lots of beans and veggies. I try to juice at least once a day. I love the documentary fat, sick and almost dead with Joe Cross. I actually meet him twice.
But why do you need to detox? And why would you detox, then reintroduce the 'toxins' into your system? I genuinely don't understand what juice detox's are supposed to achieve?
your body can build up pounds, literally pounds of fecal matter and other crap (hehe) within your large intestine and colon that aren't removed during typical... purging. cleanses get the rest of it out.0 -
I think juicing is a good detox for a short period of time. Let's say up to 10 days. I can't detox yet but can't wait to. I would do a juice detox but eat small meals at the same time like salads, soups, lots of beans and veggies. I try to juice at least once a day. I love the documentary fat, sick and almost dead with Joe Cross. I actually meet him twice.
But why do you need to detox? And why would you detox, then reintroduce the 'toxins' into your system? I genuinely don't understand what juice detox's are supposed to achieve?
your body can build up pounds, literally pounds of fecal matter and other crap (hehe) within your large intestine and colon that aren't removed during typical... purging. cleanses get the rest of it out.
How does drinking juice clean our my intestines? Why not just water? And why does it even matter? The human race has survived millions of year with 'crap' in their intestines, and we're still here so it's obviously not a major health issue.0 -
I think juicing is a good detox for a short period of time. Let's say up to 10 days. I can't detox yet but can't wait to. I would do a juice detox but eat small meals at the same time like salads, soups, lots of beans and veggies. I try to juice at least once a day. I love the documentary fat, sick and almost dead with Joe Cross. I actually meet him twice.
But why do you need to detox? And why would you detox, then reintroduce the 'toxins' into your system? I genuinely don't understand what juice detox's are supposed to achieve?
your body can build up pounds, literally pounds of fecal matter and other crap (hehe) within your large intestine and colon that aren't removed during typical... purging. cleanses get the rest of it out.
How does drinking juice clean our my intestines? Why not just water?
because if all you're drinking for a couple days is water you aren't getting any nutrition, yes?0 -
I think juicing is a good detox for a short period of time. Let's say up to 10 days. I can't detox yet but can't wait to. I would do a juice detox but eat small meals at the same time like salads, soups, lots of beans and veggies. I try to juice at least once a day. I love the documentary fat, sick and almost dead with Joe Cross. I actually meet him twice.
But why do you need to detox? And why would you detox, then reintroduce the 'toxins' into your system? I genuinely don't understand what juice detox's are supposed to achieve?
your body can build up pounds, literally pounds of fecal matter and other crap (hehe) within your large intestine and colon that aren't removed during typical... purging. cleanses get the rest of it out.
How does drinking juice clean our my intestines? Why not just water?
because if all you're drinking for a couple days is water you aren't getting any nutrition, yes?
So why can't I just drink water and get my nutrients from solid food? Or shakes?0 -
If you're so curious, there's this thing called Google
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I think juicing is a good detox for a short period of time. Let's say up to 10 days. I can't detox yet but can't wait to. I would do a juice detox but eat small meals at the same time like salads, soups, lots of beans and veggies. I try to juice at least once a day. I love the documentary fat, sick and almost dead with Joe Cross. I actually meet him twice.
But why do you need to detox? And why would you detox, then reintroduce the 'toxins' into your system? I genuinely don't understand what juice detox's are supposed to achieve?
your body can build up pounds, literally pounds of fecal matter and other crap (hehe) within your large intestine and colon that aren't removed during typical... purging. cleanses get the rest of it out.
How does drinking juice clean our my intestines? Why not just water?
because if all you're drinking for a couple days is water you aren't getting any nutrition, yes?
So why can't I just drink water and get my nutrients from solid food? Or shakes?
because in order to remove the built up crap in the walls of your large intestine and colon, your digestive tract can't be dealing with a full day's worth of food... how are you not getting this?0 -
I think juicing is a good detox for a short period of time. Let's say up to 10 days. I can't detox yet but can't wait to. I would do a juice detox but eat small meals at the same time like salads, soups, lots of beans and veggies. I try to juice at least once a day. I love the documentary fat, sick and almost dead with Joe Cross. I actually meet him twice.
But why do you need to detox? And why would you detox, then reintroduce the 'toxins' into your system? I genuinely don't understand what juice detox's are supposed to achieve?
your body can build up pounds, literally pounds of fecal matter and other crap (hehe) within your large intestine and colon that aren't removed during typical... purging. cleanses get the rest of it out.
How does drinking juice clean our my intestines? Why not just water?
because if all you're drinking for a couple days is water you aren't getting any nutrition, yes?
So why can't I just drink water and get my nutrients from solid food? Or shakes?
because in order to remove the built up crap in the walls of your large intestine and colon, your digestive tract can't be dealing with a full day's worth of food... how are you not getting this?
I'm not 'getting it' because it makes no sense. Millions of years humans have existed, and NOW a build up in our intestines needs to be 'flushed out' because our body can't do it itself? And what happens if we don't? Millions of people in the world don't detox, are they going to keel over and die?
ETA: I'm tapping out dude. You detox, I won't, the world will keep turning. :drinker:0 -
If you're so curious, there's this thing called Google
Unfortunately I can't find any information that sways me towards the need to detox on google, I thought I was missing something.0 -
I think juicing is a good detox for a short period of time. Let's say up to 10 days. I can't detox yet but can't wait to. I would do a juice detox but eat small meals at the same time like salads, soups, lots of beans and veggies. I try to juice at least once a day. I love the documentary fat, sick and almost dead with Joe Cross. I actually meet him twice.
But why do you need to detox? And why would you detox, then reintroduce the 'toxins' into your system? I genuinely don't understand what juice detox's are supposed to achieve?
your body can build up pounds, literally pounds of fecal matter and other crap (hehe) within your large intestine and colon that aren't removed during typical... purging. cleanses get the rest of it out.
How does drinking juice clean our my intestines? Why not just water?
because if all you're drinking for a couple days is water you aren't getting any nutrition, yes?
So why can't I just drink water and get my nutrients from solid food? Or shakes?
because in order to remove the built up crap in the walls of your large intestine and colon, your digestive tract can't be dealing with a full day's worth of food... how are you not getting this?
I'm not 'getting it' because it makes no sense. Millions of years humans have existed, and NOW a build up in our intestines needs to be 'flushed out' because our body can't do it itself? And what happens if we don't? Millions of people in the world don't detox, are they going to keel over and die?
ETA: I'm tapping out dude. You detox, I won't, the world will keep turning. :drinker:
Let me summarize:
You ask questions, I give logical answers, you bow out with "well fine, but I think it's stupid. so there"
Well played sir or madam, well played.
(for the record, millions of people in the world DO detox. Where do you think we Westerners got it from?)0 -
your body can build up pounds, literally pounds of fecal matter and other crap (hehe) within your large intestine and colon that aren't removed during typical... purging. cleanses get the rest of it out.
This is simply not true unless your bowels aren't working properly to begin with. And when they stop working you will certainly know about it pretty quickly. For a healthy person there is literally nowhere for waste to go other than out. And EVERYTHING comes out eventually. Some people's bowels move slower than others, but that is to do with fibre and water intake. Not juice. How does removing fibre (the one thing your bowel really needs to keep things moving) and drinking sugary vitamin water help it function any better? That literally makes no sense. The walls of your bowel are smooth (unless you have diverticulitis*) so there is actually nowhere for waste to get trapped...seriously your comment is just stupid.
*If you have diverticulitis a juice cleanse will not help. Please see a doctor.0 -
your body can build up pounds, literally pounds of fecal matter and other crap (hehe) within your large intestine and colon that aren't removed during typical... purging. cleanses get the rest of it out.
This is simply not true unless your bowels aren't working properly to begin with. And when they stop working you will certainly know about it pretty quickly. For a healthy person there is literally nowhere for waste to go other than out. And EVERYTHING comes out eventually. Some people's bowels move slower than others, but that is to do with fibre and water intake. Not juice. How does removing fibre (the one thing your bowel really needs to keep things moving) and drinking sugary vitamin water help it function any better? That literally makes no sense. The walls of your bowel are smooth (unless you have diverticulitis*) so there is actually nowhere for waste to get trapped...seriously your comment is just stupid.
*If you have diverticulitis a juice cleanse will not help. Please see a doctor.
lol you're such a pleasant person.
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because in order to remove the built up crap in the walls of your large intestine and colon, your digestive tract can't be dealing with a full day's worth of food... how are you not getting this?
Your stomach deals with food when you eat it. Your intestines deal with waste that your stomach has decided isn't necessary.
There is nothing built up on the walls of your intestines. Google-Image colonoscopy pictures if you don't believe me. The walls of your bowel are smooth. If you get constipated then drink water and eat more fibre. If that doesn't work then take a laxative. JUICE WILL NOT HELP.
Also your body can do two things at once* so even if this mythical build-up was real it could get rid of it while also "dealing with your full day's worth of food".
*Except maybe your body specifically because you seem incapable of engaging your brain while also typing.0
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