What’s the juicing craze all about?
Juicing vegetables and fruit for better health has become increasingly popular in American households after the Netflix airing of Joe Cross’s documentary, Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, as well as a slew of other health documentaries focusing on the benefits of a plant-based diet and food as medicine.
What is juicing and what are the benefits? Fresh, unpasteurized juice is extracted from whole fruits and vegetables with a cold-pressed juicing machine that removes the pulp. The remaining juice is rich with phyto-nutrients and live enzymes – nature’s finest liquid nutritional supplement! Since juice is easier to digest, the vitamins and minerals are more readily and rapidly assimilated into the bloodstream. Juice is best consumed on an empty stomach, as nutrient absorption won’t be impeded by a heavy meal.
The health benefits of fresh, unpasteurized juice are numerous and depend on how frequently you include juice as part of an overall healthy diet. There are those who like to partake in a seasonal juice cleanse or fast where one consumes six 16 oz. bottles of fresh juice along with alkalized water the entire day up to three days. The idea behind the cleanse is to give the digestive system a rest and to help organs rid the body of excess dietary toxins, to reduce stress and inflammation in the body, to reset the metabolism while slowly weaning one’s taste buds off processed sweets, dairy, carbohydrates and meats. It’s no wonder that juice fasts become popular after the holidays!
Before and after starting a juice fast, it’s best to limit the intake of foods that create acidity in the body, like caffeine, dairy, alcohol, gluten, grainfed meats and farmed fish. Fresh juice is also one of the most effective hydrators and nutritional sources if you have a difficult time chewing or enjoying raw vegetables, are recovering from surgery, have a hangover, or just feel nutritionally starved.
Other benefits of drinking fresh juice on a consistent basis include: strengthening of immune system (Karma Kitchen’s popular Ginger Immunity Elixir helps achieve this), renewed energy and vitality, digestive relief, weight loss, mental clarity, and alkalizing the body. Drinking one or two juices daily or at least a few times per week interspersed with nutritious meals containing good fiber, lots of plants, healthy fats and clean proteins is a great place to start and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Located in downtown Mystic at 15 Holmes Street, Karma Kitchen is a coldpressed juice and smoothie bar and plant-based eatery that offers a nice selection of fresh cold pressed juices, smoothies, wraps, salads, avocado toast, and healthy superfood treats.