Juicing: Bottled Vs. Fresh

As more and more people have learned about the health benefits inherent in fresh fruits and vegetables, the more popular juicing has become. Juicing is simply the process by which fresh juice from fruits and vegetables is extracted; it is done by way of a juicer, a machine designed to extract juice from the flesh of fruits and vegetables. These machines are readily available, and can range from $40 up to a several hundred dollars.

Juicing is a fantastic way of concentrating the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Of particular interest for those on the Kaufmann 1 or Two Diets: Juicing can concentrate the anti-fungal nutrients inherent in many fruits and vegetables. Allicin in garlic, falcarinol in carrots, chlorophyl in greens are all among the powerful phytonutrients that may provide some benefit for those on an anti-fungal regimen that can be concentrated by juicing. Any fruit or vegetable that is on the Kaufmann 1 Diet is useful for juicing. (Although keep in mind some fruits and vegetables don’t juice particularly well…) While on Kaufmann 1 or Two, it is recommended to avoid sweeter fruits when juicing because of the natural sugar content.

The one downside to juicing is the removal of most of the fiber from fresh fruits and vegetables. Knowing this, juicing is never a substitute for eating whole fruits and vegetables. However, remember that you can always add fiber back into your diet, supplementally. Psyllium hulls, which is known to absorb mycotoxins and sweep them out of the gut, is an insoluble supplemental fiber that Doug often recommends for those on Kaufmann 1 or Kaufmann 2.

With the rise in popularity of juicing, many companies have sprung up that bottle freshly-squeezed juice. Many of these bottled juices have great ingredients and fit within the Kaufmann 1 or Two framework. Many of them contain no added sugar and are often comprised of completely organic fruits and vegetables. Many of these are available at health food stores and other purveyors, and often, these bottled juices can be good to reach for on the go. But are they a substitute for juicing, yourself?

Many nutrients are susceptible to oxidation and break down when exposed to air, which can compromise the quality of the juice. Per health code law, most bottled juices are pasteurized, or flash pasteurized, to prevent bacterial contamination. While this is a necessary process for large-scale food production, it can also affect the nutrient quality of the juice.

Knowing this, to glean the most benefits from drinking juice, extracting your own juice and drinking immediately is the best way to enjoy all the benefits therein. While drinking pre-bottled juice isn’t necessarily a bad option, enjoying the benefits of freshly-squeezed juice is a great way to fill your body with health-promoting nutrients. If you are enjoying bottled juice, be sure to check the ingredients list before enjoying.