Dr. Michael Lange discusses how juicing is a great way to get some valuable nutrients.
Juicing fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables is a great way to get the antioxidants, phyto nutrients, enzymes , vitamins, minerals and carotenoids you need to stay healthy. Juicing fruits and vegetables is very easy on the digestive system and allows for easy assimilation of the nutrients int the blood stream . Juicing preserves valuable enzymes that aid in digestion that cooking may reduce or destroy. As we age the digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid, intrinsic factors and natural probiotic in our digestive system are much less abundant and active than when we were younger. This is one very good reason to add juicing to your wellness plan as you get older. Most nutritional experts recommend at least ten servings of fruits and vegetables a day in order to stay nutritionally fit. This is very difficult for most in our society to do. A large percent of our population is consuming overly processed , genetically modified foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients. Many of these foods are also grown using high amounts of pesticide and grown in soil that has been depleted of its minerals.
I recommend that everyone try to consume a juice using a variety of organically grown fruits and vegetables on a daily basis . This is a crucial step in the right direction of total body wellness. When u drink an organic juice you are drinking a “pre digested” food source that absorbs into the cells within 15 minutes of consumption. These raw juices are a great way of helping to balance the acidity in the typical american digestive system. Many studies now indicate that the consumption of more fruits and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of many forms of cancer and eye disease and will boost the immune system.
Always try to use organically grown produce and wash the produce extremely well before juicing . I recommend doing a triple wash prior to juicing,. I also recommend “mixing it up a bit”, don’t use the same fruits and vegetables every day or rotate the types of fruits and vegetables used . The rotation to different types of produce will make sure you don’t develop a food sensitivity or allergy to a particular fruit or vegetable. Rotation of fruits and vegetables also allows for a much more diverse allotment of vitamins and minerals that are different in each type of produce. To maximize the health benefits of juicing and enable the highest absorption of the vitamins, minerals and carotenoids a good fat needs to be ingested at the same time. I recommend taking a good triglyceride form omega three fish oil like Fortifeye Super omega and / or a teaspoon of organic coconut oil. The coconut oil is high in medium chain triglycerides and lauric acid that has some neuro protective qualities as well. Lastly if you want your juice to be a complete meal then you will need to add a good form of protein powder to the juice. I prefer using a undenatured whey protein but many people may want an egg protein or a vegetable based protein powder. Many will simply make the juice and consume it with their meal or in between meals to gain the valuable phyto nutrients that are derived from these live plants.
I recommend using vegetables for 75-80% of the juice and then adding some specific fruits for the other 20-25% of the juice. If you are a diabetic or trying to lose weight then you may want to hold off on the fruits and juice only vegetables. If you are taking a blood thinner like coumadin then consult with your physician before consuming dark green leafy vegetables since it could interfere with the medication. A juice that I like to start the morning with and I recommend to all my patients that have macular degeneration is to combine, spinach, kale, celery, cucumbers, orange bell peppers an apple and a small piece of ginger. This drink is a potent antioxidant beverage that is especially high in lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that are crucial for proper macular health. There are a vast array of fruits and vegetables that can be utilized for juicing. you want to make enough juice for you to consume at one time and do not try to save the juice for later since ethe enzyme activity will drop considerably and then lose the great absorption properties of fresh juice.
There is no time like the present to take a pro active role in your current and future health by drinking the nutrients that your cells are thirsting for. Drink to your health.
any questions please go to my blog site a www.drmichaellange.com and go to “ask the dr” the question will come right to my email.
Dr. Michael Lange, Optometric physician and certified nutrition specialist.
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