That is the question!
This is one question I am often asked, and my answer is as follows:
- Juice once a day, not more!
- Juice low sugar fruit and veg that you don’t love eating in their whole form or probably won’t eat during the day.
- Drink juice on an empty stomach (early morning is best) for best absorption and to prevent juice from reacting with other foods in your digestive system.
- Make sure you eat plenty plant based, high fibre wholefoods throughout the day. Juice lacks fibre, which is crucial to long term wellness and health.
- THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION to get your 8-10 servings of fruit and veg a day. Think of juice as a supplement and not a replacement.
- Juice only what you could eat in its whole form in one sitting. If thinking about eating 5 oranges in one go makes you feel sick, don’t juice 5 oranges!
The benefits of juicing are that you get a high dosage of antioxidants as well at phytochemicals. Research is showing that a diet rich in Phytochemicals helps prevent chronic diseases by helping to protect the body from environmental and physical stressors that lead to them.
You also get a boost of Vitamins and Minerals in their natural state instead of taking multivitamin supplements. This makes them easier to absorb and they will be used more efficiently by your body.
Here’s a quick reference guide to help you choose between high and low sugar fruits and veg
LOW SUGAR FRUIT
Although it is classified as a low sugar fruit, use no more than 1 portion fruit to 5 portions veg.
Apples
Berries – all kinds
Melons (Incl Watermelon)
Grapefruit
Kiwi fruit
Lemon/Lime
Oranges
Pawpaws
Peaches
Pears
Pineapples
Plums
HIGH SUGAR FRUIT
Grapes
Guavas
Mangoes
Pomegranates
LOW SUGAR JUICING VEG
Beetroot
Carrots
Celery
Cucumber
Ginger
Kale
Spinach
To simplify it: select 1 low sugar fruit and then complement it with 5 servings veg
MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE:
1 apple + 1 beet + 1 carrot + 1 stalk celery + ¼ cucumber + ginger (the kids love it too). Pictured here in this blog post.
