(Rachael Marifosque : Ecumenical News)
The spotlight has been on juicing for a while now. People have turned to juicing as a way to lose weight, to get an extra energy boost during the day, as a way to detoxify and even as a way to cleanse the body of certain diseases.
While juicing is relatively easy to start as there are reams of information to be found, there’s a big possibility that one is inadvertently making a mistake that could be easily avoided.
Here are some juicing don’ts to consider:
Don’t wait too long to drink your juice
Once your juice is introduced to oxygen, the nutrients start oxidizing and the enzymes start to lose its nutritional value. Therefore, the best way to reap the most benefit from juicing is to drink your juice as soon as you make it. Some people prefer to make a large batch of juice and store them in the refrigerator for convenience. While it will help save time and is undeniably convenient, the nutrients you will get are considerably lessened, which will defeat the purpose of juicing. It’s best to drink your juice within 20 to 30 minutes after making it. If there is some juice left over, make sure you store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Don’t use too many sweets in your juices
Fruits and vegetables like apples, pineapples, watermelon and carrots are a great way of sweetening juices and to mask the taste of any vegetable or exotic fruit that one might not be too keen on. But using too many sweet fruits and vegetables will result in excess sugar in the juice. And while the sugar found in fruits and vegetables are all-natural, too much of it will still affect one’s insulin and blood glucose levels. To get the most out of juicing, opt for just one sweet fruit per glass.
Don’t forget to chew your juice
This might seem to be a misnomer, but what it means to chew your juice is to simply swish each drink of juice around one’s mouth for a few seconds before swallowing it. This will activate the digestive enzymes in the saliva and make it easier for the body to digest and absorb the juice’s nutrients.
Don’t forget to clean your juicer
It’s very important to make sure that you clean your juicer after you use it. Some juicers might not need to be cleaned thoroughly but make sure you give it a proper rinse. If a juicer is not rinsed or cleaned properly, there’s a danger that molds and bacteria might grow, which in turn might be transferred to your juice. Make sure that you clean all the fruits and veggies that you will be using as well and then rinse your juicer after using. Allot time to thoroughly clean your juicer once every week.
Don’t use the same fruits and vegetables every day
It’s very easy to just stick to a tried and tested juice recipe every day. But aside from the dangers of getting bored from using the same fruits and vegetables every day, your body won’t be introduced to various antioxidants or phytonutrients. So instead of making the same juice daily, look for different recipes and mix it up.
