Ease and convenience are the reasons people give for preferring to have their fruits and vegetables as juices, rather than as a whole. Of course, it cannot be ignored that eating the whole fruit or vegetable is not quite equivalent to its juiced counterparts. Nonetheless, juicing helps people easily meet the recommended daily target of fruits and vegetables. If you are not eating enough whole fruits and vegetables, aim to consume between one and a half to three cups of pure, fresh juice daily.
Adding more fruit and vegetable juices to our daily diet improves all areas of our mental and physical health and well-being. However, many people still do not consume the required amounts and lack understanding about the many advantages that can be derived from mixed, fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Therefore in this article, I will provide you with 7 motivating reasons to include fruit and vegetable juices as part of your daily diet and also share with you 7 powerfully healthy juice recipes to help you take action.
7 Reasons Why Fruit and Vegetable Juices are Good for You
1. They help you detoxify
A fresh fruit and vegetable juice detox will provide a nutritional boost to your immune system. The processed food we eat and reduced physical activity can cause an accumulation of toxins in the body. Fruits and vegetables help you detoxify and cleanse and help you regain that much needed energy.
2. They nourish you with multiple vitamins and minerals
Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for health. Vitamins A, C and E, magnesium, zinc, folic acid and phosphorus are among the many nutrients present. They are essential in shielding the body from various diseases and for optimizing all body functions.
3. They help you maintain a healthy weight
If you are looking to reduce weight, then the amount of calories you take in should be lower than how much you burn. However if the goal is to maintain your weight, then the goal would be to burn as much calories as you take in. Fruits and vegetables, especially in the form of juices help you do both effectively.
Being low on calories, compared to other foods, fruits and vegetables provide you the best substitute, as compared to high calorie foods. You can easily replace foods high in fat and sugar with them, whether whole or juiced. Their high water and fiber (when whole) content helps to fight off feelings of hunger for in-between meals, by making you feel full. This in turn helps you eat less.
4. They improve palatability
Juicing also saves you from the extra effort of chewing some ‘not so tasty’ vegetables and getting adequate servings of vegetables that you would not otherwise enjoy. Mixing such vegetables with fruits as part of your juices can help you consume and enjoy them.
5. They provide you with energy and vitality
Adequate energy to optimize our physical and mental health is derived by consuming the right diet. Generally though, the diets people consume are lacking in vital, high quality nutrition. Most people look to sugar, tea, coffee or other caffeine sources for some super quick energy without understanding the health hazards involved. Sustained energy can only be gained from the intake of true nutrients. It works wonders for our mental and emotional states too! Depression and negative feelings are kept at bay when health, nourishment, energy and rejuvenation come your way!
6. They protect you from disease
Studies at Harvard and in countries like the US and Europe have proven that people who take in more fruits and vegetables in any form have a lower risk of falling prey to high blood pressure which can lead to coronary heart disease and stroke. Fruit and vegetable juices also provide many phytonutrients and antioxidants that protect us from oxidative damage and inflammation; both of which are the main root causes of chronic diseases. The vitamins in the juices will also help to enhance your vision and keep your eyes functioning optimally.
7. They keep you hydrated
An interesting statistic is that about twenty percent of a person’s daily water intake is from solid food, namely fruits and vegetables. It is important for each individual to stay hydrated for best health. Along with the eight glasses of water that we should be consuming, having fruit and vegetable juices helps your body obtain the required amount of fluids. This hydration is needed for the body to stay healthy and run optimally. It prevents headaches and sluggishness that occur due to dehydration. As mentioned earlier, this water intake also prevents high calorie consumption from other foods, helping you regulate your weight.
There are numerous other reasons to use fruit and vegetable juices as part of your diet. We will go over them in more detail as we go through seven recipes that utilize fresh fruit and vegetable juice mixes.
7 Powerful Fruit and Vegetable Juice Recipes
Pomegranate Green Juice
This juice helps to lower blood pressure, improve the complexion, enhance bone health, and reduce inflammation thanks to its specific vitamin, mineral, phytonutrient, and antioxidant composition. It is especially powerful for boosting immunity and preventing cancer thanks the wonderful benefits of pomegranate and its juice.
Ingredients:
- 1 apple
- 4 stalks of medium sized celery
- 1/2 of an English cucumber
- 2 cups of grapes
- 1 cup of pomegranate seeds
- 4 cups of spinach
Put all of the above ingredients through your juicer. Stir well before serving.
Source: https://juicerecipes.com/recipes/pomegranate-green-91
The Power Zinger
This recipe is aptly named the power zinger as it is a great source of iron and chlorophyll, both of which help to optimize our energy levels. Thanks to its high vitamin, mineral, phytonutrient and antioxidant composition, healthy blood cells, great muscle function and strong bones and teeth are sure to come your way by drinking this juice.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of chopped kale
- 1 cup of green grapes
- 1 English cucumber
- 2 green apples
- a small chunk of ginger (1-2 inch)
Put all of the above ingredients through your juicer. Stir well before serving.
Carrot-Orange Wonder Juice
Known as a ‘wonder juice,’ this unique blend of oranges and carrots helps to maintain healthy vision, boost the immune system and retain healthy skin. It is rich in antioxidant vitamins like vitamin A and C, as well as many phytonutrients. It brings instant rejuvenation and helps flush toxins out of the body. It is also a recommended drink to prevent digestive and heart related ailments.
Ingredients:
- 2 oranges
- 4 carrots
- 1 tomato
- 1 apples
Put all of the above ingredients through your juicer. Stir well before serving.
The Bazinga
If your mind feels cloudy and you’re looking for an energy boost, look no further than the Bazinga juice. This is a great choice for anyone whose lifestyle involves a high degree of physical or cognitive work. Parsley helps to stimulate energy while the ginger improves the blood circulation in the body. Along with the lemons, it is highly refreshing, cleansing, and detoxifying. Lemons also provide a good amount of electrolytes that supply us with energy for exercises and other bodily exertions.
Ingredients:
- 1 lemon
- 2 parsley bunches
- 3 apples
- a chunk of ginger (about 4 inch)
- 5 carrots
Put all of the above ingredients through your juicer. Stir well before serving.
Recipe source: http://justjuice.org/2012/bazinga-a-fruit-and-vegetable-juice-recipe-to-clear-head-fog/
The Ruby Red
This richly colored and flavored juice recipe contains only a few powerful ingredients, yet is an excellent choice for weight reduction and health improvement. The antioxidant group of betalains from the beets help your body detoxify, cleanse, heal and repair. Thanks to the unique combination of ingredients and nutrients, this juice also helps to flush toxins out of our system faster.
Ingredients:
- 1 beet
- 1 grapefruit
- 3 English cucumbers
Put all of the above ingredients through your juicer. Stir well before serving.
Recipe source: http://justjuice.org/2013/3-low-calorie-high-nutrient-juice-recipes-for-weight-loss/
The Glowing Beauty
Red peppers contain high levels of vitamin C, even more than oranges. The rich amount of carotenoids in peppers and carrots are great for the skin and give it a healthy, natural glow. This juice also helps to relieve symptoms of arthritis, like swelling, and reduce inflammation. Thanks to its many other vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, it helps to lower bad cholesterol, protect the cardiovascular system and protect against cancers.
Ingredients:
- 2 red peppers
- 4 carrots
- 2 apples
- 1 celery stalk
- 1 lemon
Put all of the above ingredients through your juicer. Stir well before serving.
The Post-Workout Rejuvenator
Celery and cucumbers help replenish salt and electrolytes lost through sweat from workouts. Pears and grapes provide a quick boost of energy. The ginger provides further nutritional benefits and flavor punch! This juice also provides many other benefits associated with fruits and vegetables. Thanks to its high vitamin, mineral, and phytonutrient content, it helps with cleansing, detoxification, reducing inflammation and managing optimal weight.
Ingredients:
- 2 pears
- 1 cup of green grapes
- 1 English cucumber
- 4 celery stalks
- a chunk of ginger (about 1 inch)
Put all of the above ingredients through your juicer. Stir well before serving.
By enjoying the many rich combinations of vegetables and fruits as juices, we can reap numerous health benefits! Juices are easy to make and provide a fresh and natural way of keeping us optimally healthy.
About the Author
Vineetha Reddy is passionate about nutrition, fitness, health, and wellness. She strongly believes that the ingredients you find in your kitchen can be the best medicines that you can get. She most enjoys writing based on her personal experiences, and sharing with others good health ideas. For more health and wellness tips, follow her on Twitter.
Editor: Evita Ochel