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Juicing Weight Loss the Right Way

By on February 5, 2015
juicing weight loss

Juicing Weight Loss the Right Way

If you’ve made it here, you are already contemplating juicing and its potential to help you lose weight. If so, good for you, and welcome to the wonderful world of juicing. As with any new diet or healthy eating lifestyle, there are some things you should know to make sure you know what you need to do, and whether it’s right for you. Here you will find lots of honest, truthful information about the juicing lifestyle, and how it can help you get healthier.

 

Losing Weight with Juice

First things first, you need to consider what you are looking for in your juicing weight loss journey. If you are planning a juice fast or cleanse, you need to know that while that method can help jump start your healthy eating, it is not a perfect solution. In fact, you should not be doing a detox or fast at all without speaking with your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to do so. However, if you are interested in using juice as part of a healthy diet and exercise plan, it is a great option that will help you reach your goals.

 

Juicing vs. Smoothies

The first thing you need to know is that juicing and smoothies are not the same thing. Juicing involves using a juicer to separate the water content, vitamins, and minerals from the solid portion of the fruits and vegetables. You are left with a true juice from the ingredients, without the fiber. A smoothie is made with the entire fruit or vegetable, and is usually mixed with some type of milk. You keep the fiber in the drink, and also add additional non-fruit or vegetable ingredients. Both can be healthy, and the choice between the two is a personal one that you have to determine based on your own tastes.

Juicing Weight Loss

Now that you know a bit of the basics that will help you decide which option is right for you, you need to know why it helps you lose weight. There are a few potential reasons:

• You are likely replacing an unhealthy beverage such as soda or tea with healthy, vitamin-rich juice. If you compare the calories between a normal carbonated beverage and a glass of juice, you might find that there may be more calories in the juice depending on how many fruits you add. However, the difference is that you are also getting beneficial vitamins and minerals, which sugary soda can’t provide.

• You are likely reducing the amount of calories you normally consume in a day, especially if you are also adding other healthy foods to your diet.

• You are adding more soluble fiber, while removing insoluble fiber, which means your body won’t be dealing with the excess bulk.

Best Produce for Juicing Weight Loss

It’s important to understand that juicing weight loss diets focus on green juicing, which means there are considerably more vegetables than fruit. This is due to the high natural sugar content in fruits. When these are juiced, it concentrates the sugar, which is not beneficial for losing weight. If you need to add a bit of sweetness to your juices, consider using green apples or kiwi as opposed to other, high sugar options. Additionally, some fruits and vegetables are better suited for juicing then others. The following are some of the best options.

• Peeled Carrots

Celery

Beets

• Cucumbers

Fennel

• Wheatgrass

• Spinach

• Herbs such as cilantro, parsley, garlic, and ginger

These vegetables all provide serious health benefits, and many are high in vitamins and minerals that the body needs as well. There are also other vegetables that we absolutely still juice often, but juicers should be aware that in rare occasions they can cause harm to the body. These include:

• Cruciferous Vegetables – These include kale, raw cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, and collard greens. Just like their whole counterparts, these juices can cause bloating and gas when consumed raw. They also contain substances that affect thyroid function in some people.

• Chard and Beet Greens – The juices from these can irritate your intestinal tract, mouth, and throat.

Although these instances are rare, we just want to make sure our readers understand the full effects of all vegetables. No matter which vegetables you choose for your juices, you will want to make sure they are raw and organic. This will ensure the greatest number of vitamins and minerals, and ensure that you are not adding harmful pesticides back into your diet.

It’s Not All About the Juice

You are losing weight so you can be healthier, but you can’t just drink juices all day long unless on a short juice cleanse. Not only is this not a healthy way to lose weight, it will also leave you very hungry. Your best bet is to try to sneak your juices in as a drink in the morning, an afternoon snack, or even with your dinner. The rest of the time, you need to make sure that you are eating healthy fats, proteins, and whole fruits and vegetables so you can make sure you are getting enough fiber and nutrients from other sources.

What You’ll Need

If you are serious about adding juicing for weight loss, you should always make your own so you know exactly what is in them, and to ensure there are no added preservatives and the like. This means you will need to purchase a juicer. Blenders do not separate the pulp from the juice, which means you will be adding considerably more fiber to your diet. You can use a blender and use cheesecloth or a very fine strainer, but this will not result in the purest juices.

You will also want to purchase cups, jars, or bottles that seal and airtight. These will come in handy when you want to take your juices with you, and keep them safe in your refrigerator or freezer. Some juicers come with their own cups, so make sure you keep that in mind when deciding which options are right for you.

Juicing weight loss efforts and healthy eating habits will provide plenty of benefits, and help your body get all of the vital nutrients it needs to be as healthy as possible.

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About Lionel Correia

Lionel is a fitness enthusiast, juicing advocate, and serial entrepreneur. He loves real estate, but is even more passionate about health, wellness and a positive mindset. He’s a graduate of the University of Arizona and prides himself on establishing great habits because great habits lead to great results. His favorite workouts include, yoga, spin class, sprints on the track and resistance training. He believes that if you desire a strong healthy body, you must first build mental toughness because a healthy body requires a disciplined mind and great habits.

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