The goodness of fresh juices
Fruit and vegetable juices are live, energising foods. Apart from helping to prevent a range of ailments, these superfoods deliver a range of nutrients, minerals and vitamins, which our bodies require for peak performance.
Throughout our lives, our bodies replace old, worn-out cells with new ones. Obvious examples are the growth of our nails and hair. Our body even builds a new heart, cell by cell, every 30 days. But for this, the body must receive vital nutrients for cell regeneration.
The elements necessary for rebuilding healthy cells are found in abundance in fresh fruits and vegetables. The problem though is that most people don’t eat enough of these and also, cooking and packaging destroys many of the nutrients.
Canned juices contain artificial colours, stabilisers, thickeners, acidifiers, etc. Most of them are pasteurised. The heat required for the process drives off most of the vitamin C. So, if you want a nutrient-dense juice, make it yourself. You must have these foods raw, in the required quantities and most importantly, regularly, as our bodies cannot store large quantities of vitamins and minerals, and need a daily supply of these.
The nutrients you derive from a glass of juice depends on the vitamins, minerals, proteins, sugars and enzymes present in the food you juiced. For instance, carrot juice is packed with beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamins B1, B2 and C, niacin, sodium, calcium, carbohydrates, protein, potassium and iron. In the body, iron combines with protein to form haemoglobin, a deficiency of which causes anaemia. Most vegetables are a good source of iron. Pectin is another soluble fibre found in most plants though it is most concentrated in apples, plums, blackcurrants, bananas, blackberries and citrus fruits. Pectin facilitates digestion, and is often used to treat stomach ulcers. It has detoxification and cholesterollowering properties.
It’s easier to supply your body with these nutrients by drinking fresh juice than by eating whole fruits and vegetables of the equivalent amounts. Juices provide nutrients without having to force food into an unwilling stomach. They ensure that the body gets its daily quota of building material. The fresher the juice you drink, the more nutrients you will derive. Just remember to wash the fruits or vegetables thoroughly before juicing to remove any traces of pesticides.