Juicing is a healthy way to maintain nutritional values in your body. Like most other things, juicing requires procedures to enhance its effectiveness for your health. There are ways to ensure maximum utilization of minerals, and antioxidants in your body through juicing.
To get the most out of your juice, you should be aware of some of the most common juicing mistakes every newbie makes. Here, we’ll go through these 11 most common juicing blunders, as seen through the eyes of a nutritionist.
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Get over these 9 common juicing mistakes | A nutritionist’s advice
1. Not using fresh veggies or fruits
The most crucial thing in juicing is the raw material. So, if it’s not fresh in the first place, you are not going to get proper nutritional values from the juice. Fresh fruits and vegetables give more nutrition than processed ones.
Most green veggies stay nutritious for less than one week. It means lowered vitamin levels with significant antioxidant loss to your fruit and veggies. Moreover, old vegetables tend to catch soft rot, which is not ideal for juicing.
So going with fresh, especially organic ingredients will confirm maximum nutrition intake in your body.
2. Too much/ too many juicing raw ingredients
The quantity of the raw materials in your juice should be in an optimum range. To minimize the sugar content in your juice, you should follow the 80/20 rule. The rule suggests you should have 80% vegetables and 20% fruit content while juicing.
Increasing the number of fruits in your juice gives rise to your blood sugar. Also, too much green veggies, especially kale, isn’t good for your health. You will face problems like bloating, diarrhea, constipation, etc.
The fact is, having anything in large quantities isn’t a good sign for your health.
3. Not drinking it fresh (the right timing)
The most crucial thing to do after you prepared a healthy juice is to drink it fresh. Freshly prepared juice may grow harmful bacteria as it’s not pasteurized like the store-bought juices. So, drinking fresh juice right away is the best decision for your health.
You can go for a vegetable juice any time in the day. However, early morning is the ideal time as healthy minerals are best absorbed on an empty stomach.
Store-bought juice can last from weeks to months. It basically depends on the juice type, how it was stored, best by date, etc. Homemade juice on the other hand can last up to three days in the refrigerator.
However, it’s advised to drink fresh for maximum nutrition intake.
4. Not paying attention to cleaning juicing equipment
Juicing is done right if your juicer is doing great while in operation. However, if you don’t clean your juicer after juicing, the tiny bits of the pulp can harden quickly. So it will be difficult to remove them later.
Cleaning your juicer helps to overcome bacterial and mold growth from the trapped pulp in your device. Most of the juicers in the market are dishwasher-safe. So, keeping your juicing machine clean is crucial for a better juicing experience.
5. Going with too much sugar in your juice
Excess sugar is a no-no in the case of juicing. Concentrated sugar and calories are the root cause of obesity and inappropriate weight gain. In other words, excessive weight causes high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and similar health problems.
Using too much fruit also increases the sugar content in your juice. So, going with too much sugar isn’t an option for a healthy juicing practice.
6. Depending primarily on juicing and not caring about fiber/calories
Juicing whole fruits and vegetables helps include fiber content which is good for your health. The presence of dietary fiber and nutrients in the fruit’s skin and pulp boosts the nutritional value of your juice.
So, in addition to your usual juicing, try smoothies on occasion.
7. Giving less attention to cold-pressed juice
Cold-pressed juice, as we all know, is extracted from veggies and fruits using a hydraulic press. The advantage of cold pressing is that it retains more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than ordinary juice.
So, cold-press juicing is a healthier alternative to traditional juicing. It’s also completely natural and organic because there’s no sugar or other preservatives. Also, no vitamins or minerals are lost in the process. Cold-pressing your juice is a great way to maximize healthy nutrient intake in your body.
8. Not having variation with juicing ingredients
Making changes to your juicing ingredients is a better approach to getting the most out of your detoxing practice. There are many green veggies and fruits that you can try juicing.
With various ingredients, you will get different vitamins and minerals throughout the course of your juicing period. As a result, you don’t lose any nutritional value from the other ingredients.
9. Drinking juice on an empty stomach in the morning
It’s a common blunder among new juicing enthusiasts. As our stomachs remain empty for an extended period (dinner to breakfast), drinking juice first thing in the morning causes some natural problems like constipation, acidity, stomach ache, etc.
According to nutritionists, drinking citrus fruit juice (oranges, grapes, and seasonal fruits) in the morning may cause acidity and stomach pain.
So, it’s best to avoid drinking juice on an empty stomach in the morning.
FAQ
Is there any wrong side to juicing?
Juicing is a method of extracting vitamins and minerals from the liquid portion of fruits and vegetables. There are no negative aspects to juicing as long as the amount consumed is appropriate and you are not allergic to certain juicing ingredients. However, eating whole fruits/veggies is a healthier option compared to juicing. It’s because the fiber that whole fruit contains gets lost while juicing.
How much juice is optimum for you to drink per day?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends eight ounces of juice per day for teenagers and adults. In some cases, too much juice can be a source of extra sugar and calories. Therefore, sticking with one juice serving throughout the day is ideal for your health.
Is there any vegetable that you shouldn’t juice?
When it comes to juicing, every vegetable has certain drawbacks. However, some green veggies like broccoli, kale, spinach, and pear can cause digestive problems and kidney stones. People with bowel syndrome and those sensitive to fructose shouldn’t go for broccoli or pear juice.
The bottom line
Juicing is a healthy way to get natural minerals and vitamins on a regular basis. You may make your juice as nutritious as possible. To get the most out of juicing, though, you should follow some fundamental guidelines. Everyone, from novices to health ethicists, commits these common juicing mistakes.
However, implementing some simple advice, as discussed throughout this post, is all you need to make juicing more efficient for your health.