CAN JUICE MAKE YOU HEALTHY?

Although adding fruits and vegetables into the diet is an attempt tobe applauded,it is not enough to fulfil the daily requirements of having two servings of fruits and vegetables. Each 240ml of fruit juice contains about 2 to 3 servings of fruits and drinking two thirds of a glass of juice already serves to achieve the daily recommendation of 2 servings of fruits. Juice can boost health as the nutrients found in these beverages have been credited with wardning off cancer and preventing age related ailments. Studies have shown that people who drink more than 3 servings per weekof juices high in polyphenol(which is an anti oxidant found in purplegrapes, grapefruit, cranberry and grape juice), have a lower chance of developing Alzeimer's disease. Some juices bought in stores can be higher in certain nutrients thanthe fruits and vegetables they come from.Juice should be made a supplementinstead of a substitute for all the fruits and vegetables in our daily diet. Mixing it up A glass of orange juice gives all the vitamin C that is needed but thereshould be room for new variety or exotic blend as it acts as a heathier pay off. Drinking a range of juice helps maximise the kinds of vitaminsand minerals that is not usually found in our daily diet as individualfruits and vegetables offer some measures of protection against illnessand chronic disease. In order to get the greatest preventative benefits, the type and colourof produce should be diversified. Learn the lingo Some juices found in stores are also known as juices, cocktails and punches.These usually contain as little as 5% juices and the ingredients are water,a lot of sugar and artificial flavouring. It is neccessary to always check theingredients first.Look out for juices with less than 4% or more than 15% fruitjuice. Although extra minerals, vitamins and fibre are good to have. Stick to one drink maximum Most fruit juices are higher in calories and natural sugars. It take less time toconsume as compared to whole fruits.As there is no peeling or slicing involved, theenergy in the beverage will not fill you up and this will result in weight gain ifthere is continuous consumption of fruit juice. Most juice are also low in fibre nutrientswhich function is to help delay the emptying of your stomach. Unlike whole fruits,juice moves through the digestive system quickly just like water. To make juice more"figure friendly", no more than a glass should be consumed each day as one glass has 110to 150 calories. Do not bother with juice fasts Consuming nothing but juice can help you lose weight or "cleanse" your body of harmful waste materials but weight loss will not be a long term effect as your body is deprived of foods like potatoes,lean meat and whole grains which provides energy to enablethe body to burn off excess calories. Getting too few calories a day will result in low energy levels, feeling sluggish, always hungry, bad breath, outbreaks and sinus infection. All in all, a balanced diet is more than important than any of those fad diets. As long as the calories burnt are more than the intake of calories, weight loss will be a matter of time.Being healthy should be the utmost importance and weight loss should not surpass the importance of being in good health.