| Q&A: Juice Your Fruit? |
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| by Diet Detective Editorial Staff | |
| Friday, 07 July 2006 | |
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Q: I have heard a lot about "juicing" and how it is so beneficial
for your health. One of my friends now gets most of her calories from
juice alone. Is this a good idea? A: The premise behind juicing is that the high nutrient content of juices will eradicate harmful "toxins" that are produced by the body and absorbed from the environment. This is a truth that has been dramatically stretched. Your body produces substances called "free radicals" or "toxins" as a normal part of metabolism. Free radicals have the potential to cause damage to cells and have been linked to diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Foods high in antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C and beta carotene combat the action of free radicals by binding to them so they cannot wreak havoc on the cells of the body. Juices happen to be high in antioxidants, but simply drinking a lot of juice will not "cure" you of any disease.The relationship between health and disease is a very complicated one with many factors coming into play - including your total diet, activity level, family history, environment, etc. Antioxidants in juice can play a role in promoting health and preventing disease, but it's only a small part of the big picture. The nutrients in one food can never be isolated as a promoter of total health. Juice may be high in antioxidants, but is also low in other vital nutrients such as protein, fat, fiber and dozens of other vitamins and minerals. Additionally, juice is very high in sugar, calories and does not make a satiating (filling or satisfying) meal. Realistically, it would be very difficult (and boring) to attempt to live on juice alone. Your best bet would be to enjoy juice in moderation and get your nutrients from a varied diet containing whole foods such as plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean sources of protein and low-fat dairy. Bookmark:            Trackback(0)
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