TO JUICE OR NOT TO JUICE....What is the answer ?

Amongst the multitude of foods, drinks, beverages and treats available in this world of abundance, the decisions as to what is good or what will it do for me is often the first hurdle in the choice of gaining a beneficial diet.

Even though most people decide on their breakfast, lunch or evening meal usually by routine, there is an incredible selection of foods, meals and drinks that are rarely considered. Changing the routine or trying a new food or drink is often another hurdle in the possible first place for improved health.

The answer to ‘what are the best foods and drinks’ is simply; the foods that support the body’s needs for the essential nutrients on a regular basis.

A total of 48 nutrients are classed as essential for human life and they are required via the intake of foods and drinks.

As the average diet intake includes a large portion of cooked foods, some of the 48 essential nutrients will not be obtained, as heat and cooking destroy the vital ‘heat sensitive’ nutrients. It is therefore essential to obtain fresh foods or juices for the supply of those heat sensitive nutrients, in particular; vitamins: b1, b5, folate, vitamin c, vitamin f, vitamin k, vitamin p and the minerals: chlorine, sulphur, sodium and potassium.

In addition, food processing destroys or at least depletes numerous other essential nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, vitamin e, vitamins b1, b2 b3, b5, b6, biotin and choline. A total of at least 20 nutrients are likely to be missing or undersupplied from a diet that includes mainly cooked and processed foods.

The common intake of fried foods also depletes nutrients plus the problem of heat altered oils and their nasty companions; free radicals, they basically enjoy lapping up oxygen and destroying living cells.

In summary of the information so far, it becomes evident that for a complete intake of the 48 esential nutrients, the body does require fresh foods. Apart from the abundance with over 70 fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs, the inclusion of raw nuts, seeds, sprouts, sweet corn and natural dairy products can easily assist in the supply of those ‘heat sensitive’ or missing nutrients. A prolonged dietary deficiency of the essential nutrients can lead to various common ailments and generally speaking, there are at least 20 common ailments related to a deficiency of each of the 19 essential minerals and 17 essential vitamins; that’s over 720 ailments.Apart from nutrients and foods, the requirement for oxygen and exercise is often underestimated in it’s ability to rejuvenate, promote health and impart cleansing and healing properties.

The ‘best diet’ without exercise or some form of physical activity, daily, is unable to provide the complete health and wellbeing attributes that the body desires and returns with glowing results and feelings.

In recent years, the trend towards a change in dietary habits has provided many people with a delicious fresh juice, instead of a dim sim for lunch. For those ‘brave’ people who have made the effort to discover the flavours and taste sensations of fresh juices, the answer is clear, fresh juices are a great way to feel content and they certainly have their place in the regular diet.

Renewed energy, improved skin and hair condition and numerous other benefits, depending on the specific juice are the reward from the regular intake of fresh juices. The benefits of fresh juices includes more that just the supply of essential ‘heat sensitive’ nutrients.

The supply of various antioxidants from both fruit and vegetable juices and fresh foods, cannot be underestimated in this era of an increased incidence of cancer, prolonged colds, infections and numerous common ailments.

To juice is the answer, however, what to juice is the next question.

Possibly over half the people who obtain freshly extracted juices regularly, purchase them at the local juice bar or health store. The variety of names, flavours and combinations is a challenge to consider at first but with trial and taste, hopefully at least one combo will satisfy the buds and appetite.

From a wide observation of numerous juice bars and health stores that make freshly extracted juices, there is one common characteristic that leads to the topic of what not to juice. The combination of fresh fruit with fresh vegetables in the same drink is a common unknown problem.

Due to the fact that fruits supply their liquid in the form of fructose or fruit sugars and vegetables supply their liquid as a starch, the body has difficulty in performing both functions of digestive conversion, within the small intestine.

Combining fruit and vegetables in the same juice is asking the body to perform different and fairly difficult tasks and the result will be a reduced value from the juice and possibly some digestion pains a while after drinking the fruit and vegie juice combo, especially if the juice is rushed down in the rush hour.

Ideally, try combinations with just fruits, preferably not combining melons with other fruits. Try pineapple and mandarin, or mango, orange and strawberry, or apple with peach. For the vegetables, the carrot juice on it’s own is idealistic. The carrot and celery is ideal, or add a bit or parsley or beetroot from a super health juice. Try the fruit juice for breakfast or morning tea break and the vegetable juices prior to lunch or prior to the evening meal.

Fresh juices require very simple digestion and if they are taken with other complex meals, their value diminishes and the pain increases.

Fresh juices are the simple and tasty way to obtain those missing nutrients, be sure you remember not to miss out.

Laugh with Health & Natural to Juice
www.laughwithhhealth.com.au

Manfred Urs Koch commenced studying nutrition in 1997 and after 5 years of research, the first edition of Laugh with Health was self published. Since that time 20 editions of the book have been produced. The latest book release: Natural to Juice is now available on line or via order from major book stores and health stores.