If you are over thirty, or have a chronic digestive condition, you will have lived through a juicing detox. Legend had it that juicing helped make the micronutrients in vegetables and fruits easily bio-available to the human body. Before we reached for the multivitamins, we would have been told to try a juicing regimen first. Watching the juicer get through the slush and pulp to give you pure fruit and vegetable juice in all those colours probably felt like a gift from the gods.
But that was the traditional mindset. Current opinion is that a juicing detox might be more harmful than beneficial, especially if the intake is restricted to fruit. Fruit contains fructose, a simple sugar, and latest research seems to indicate that a pure shot of fructose might actually promote fat gain. From the Mayo Clinic website: “Some juicing proponents say that juicing is better for you than is eating whole fruits and vegetables because your body can absorb the nutrients better and it gives your digestive system a rest from working on fiber. They say that juicing can reduce your risk of cancer, boost your immune system, help remove toxins from your body, aid digestion and help you lose weight. However, there’s no sound scientific evidence that extracted juices are healthier than the juice you get by eating the fruit or vegetable itself.”
Besides, traditional juicing gets rid of the most essential ingredient from vegetable and fruit: fiber. Most nutritionists and dietitians recommend at least 25-30 grams of fiber in our daily diet, which aligns with the 3 servings of fruit, and 5 servings of veggies per day dictum. There are benefits to a juicing detox that are unquestionable: it is a shot of essential vitamins, minerals and other key phytonutrients that are essential for body function. However, to get that benefit, there is no point in throwing out the fiber, an essential component for gut health, regular bowel movements, weight loss, and for steady cholesterol in the body. Juicing detox is great as long as you also use the fiber from the produce.
Blending Detox v/s Juicing Detox: Which is better?
Blending. Absolutely. Don’t give up on that fiber. Here is what FoodMatters.comhas to say about the benefits of blending: “Unlike juices, smoothies consist of the entire fruit or vegetable, skin and all and contain all of the fiber from the vegetables. However, the blending process breaks the fiber apart (which makes the fruit and vegetables easier to digest ) but also helps create a slow, even release of nutrients into the blood stream and avoids blood sugar spikes. Smoothies tend to be more filling, because of the fiber, and generally faster to make than juice, so they can be great to drink first thing in the morning as your breakfast, or for snacks throughout the day.”
Here are some of my smoothie recipes for you to try. I usually have a whey protein shake with berries after my workout, but I love mixing up different fruits and vegetables into a thick smoothie with some healthy fat in it like a tablespoon of coconut oil or almond oil for an instant pick-me-up. All natural, easy to carry smoothies and juicing recipes that you can make in a jiffy, with no added sugar.
- Cucumber Melon Cooler: 1 cucumber; a few sprigs of mint; 1 slice honeydew melon; juice of one lemon (or two, if you like it citrusy like I do); beet greens, cleaned; a big bunch of cilantro or celery leaves; 1/2 inch piece of ginger; ice cubes; cold water as needed. Grind everything first, then slowly add water and blend again to get this gorgeous green smoothie that works wonders for your skin and hair. Makes two servings.
- Kale-ing me Softly: 1 big robust bunch of kale, trimmed; 1/2 bunch of chard or spinach; 1/2 granny smith apple; 1 cutie or mandarin orange; 1-2 carrots, grated; juice of two lemons (vitamin C is everything!); ice cubes. First, chop up the kale and blend into pulp with the spinach or chard. Then add the chopped fruit and carrots, and the lemon juice. Blend, use water if needed. Makes 2-3 servings.
- Winter Squash Lassi: 1 cup of winter melon or squash, cubed (the white kind – all fiber, no sugar); 1 bunch of cilantro; 1 bunch of mint; 1 bunch of curry leaves (if you can get them where you live – rich in vitamin A, great for eyesight and hair); 1/2 inch galangal; zest of two lemons; 1 cup of yogurt or coconut yogurt; ice cubes. Just blend the whole shebang in your Nutribullet, sprinkle a dash of salt if inclined, and drink on a hot summer day for an instant supply of electrolytes. Makes 3-4 servings.
- Mint Chocolate Low Carb Smoothie: 1 avocado, cubed; a big bunch of mint, cleaned; dark cocoa powder or cacao nibs; 2 drops of stevia; ice cubes; 1-2 tablespoon coconut oil; powdered cinnamon; 1 vanilla bean, scraped; 1 cup coconut milk. Blend into this gorgeous chocolatey, minty smoothie that will take you down memory lane sans carbs. Makes 2-3 servings.
