Juicing has exploded in popularity in the past decade or so, mainly because it’s a convenient, fast and easy way to consume fruits and vegetables and all the beneficial vitamins and nutrients they contain. Let’s take a look at these one-by-one.
Eating fruits, and especially vegetables, can require multiple preparation steps that may include cutting, chopping and heating over a range or in an oven or microwave. Then there are the pots and pans, serving plates and dishes, and cooking and eating utensils that are involved. Afterward, you have to clean up the mess you made in the kitchen. With juicing, you simply insert your produce (whole or cut into large chunks) into a juicer appliance and process it. The pulp goes into one container, and the extracted liquid is either dispensed through a spout directly into your glass, or into a built-in beaker. The typical juicer takes up a minimum of counter space, and cleanup is relatively quick and simple. Also, for those who don’t like eating their vegetables, juicing can provide a tasty alternative. By combining green vegetables with fruits and/or sweet root vegetables like carrots, juicing can be a delicious way to overcome your aversion to – and get your minimum daily requirement of – veggies.
As opposed to the considerable time it can take to prepare, serve and eat vegetables, it takes just a matter of minutes to prepare and consume most Juice drinks. With most juicers, cleanup consists of disassembling a few parts, rinsing them off, and placing them in your dishwasher or leaving them out to air dry.
Many juice drinks, using most popular juicer machines, require ten steps or fewer from start to finish, including cleanup. Typically, the only kitchen items required are (possibly) a knife, a juicing machine and a glass. And while juicing recipes vary, many call for only 4-6 simple ingredients.
Great source of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients
With today’s active lifestyles and abundant fast-food and junk-food options, many of us don’t get enough of the “good stuff” we need in our diets. This can result in low energy, poor sleep, unwanted weight gain, sluggish physical and mental performance, and compromised overall health. You can spend a fortune buying vitamins and supplements, then struggle trying to remember when to take them. And most medical and nutrition experts recommend getting your vitamins and minerals from food sources vs. taking supplements. Juicing (especially Green Juice) is a natural “fast food” option that delivers a concentrated dose of essential vitamins and minerals, as well as beneficial phytochemicals and antioxidants. It’s a great source of the nutrients you need for good health and wellness. It can even help you lose weight, if that’s your goal. And best of all, it tastes good going down!