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Fruit has quite the reputation for being a hearty little cleanser, jettisoning undesirable bacteria and other toxins in its wake. For detoxification purposes, consider fruit for juicing.
Fruit contains enzymes such as bromelain and papain. Enzymes are believed to help in the digestion of fats and proteins.
Malic acid, found in apples, apricots, cherries, grapes, lemons and peaches, is thought to assist the liver, kidneys and intestines do their jobs.
When juicing your fruits, keep in mind that a good juice comes from fruit containing plenty of water. Consequently, apples, grapes, grapefruit, peaches and oranges should top your list. Fruits like bananas don't produce much in the liquid department but they can add flavor and nutrients to other fruit being juiced.
The key to health improvement through fruit juicing is moderation. Too much fruit juice constitutes a big ol' sugar spike, and a real habit of this kind can increase the risk of problems with candida or other yeasts, diabetes, gout and hypoglycemia.
There's more to love about fruit than its juice. The skin and pulp, which are discarded in the juicing process, have much to offer.
Skins contain pigments like carotenoids and flavonoids. Some skins like those of grapes may lower the risk of getting cancer.
Pulp of an orange, for instance, contains most of its flavonoids. These flavonoids are lost during juicing.
The pulp and fiber help moderate blood sugar, keeping it from spiking as it would when you drink juice. They also help the digestive system with quality elimination and regularity.
By eating fruit, your blood, colon and lymphatic system will all benefit.
Having uttered these cautions, I want to reassure those teetering on the edge of indecision as to whether or not they will juice their fruits. For what it's worth, my vote is yes ... depending.
If you are diabetic or have other blood sugar issues, this is not for you. I, for instance, have problems with too much of any kind of sugar, including natural fruit sugar.
I love the stuff, but it's not good for me and I can tell within a matter of minutes that drinking that orange or apple juice was a mistake. But if this doesn't apply to you, then plunge that fruit into your juicer and have at it.
Enjoy the sweetness. Feel the enzymes and other warriors for good coursing through you.
Just don't do it all the time. This is the moderation part, remember?
And don't drink all your fruits. Save some for eating, so that you can get the full benefit of the skins (of some) and the pulp of all of them.
How else can you get to experience that splash of juice that spurts when you bite into a sweet juicy orange?
Resources:
How does fruit juice compare to whole fruit?
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=24
Juicing
http://www.barnonedrinks.com/tips/techniques/juicing.html
Fruit Juice - Guide to Juicing Fruits
http://www.juicingbook.com/fruits
Visit Jody's website and blog at http://www.ncubator.ca and http://ncubator.ca/blogger
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