What Are the Benefits of Juicing?

WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Between juice bars and high-powered home juicing machines, drinking your fruits and veggies has certainly gone mainstream.

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Depending on the specific mixes you sip -- a vegetable blend, for instance -- juice can be a filling snack when you're on the go. But is juicing a way to lose weight and boost health?

Some juicing proponents claim that your body can better absorb nutrients in juice form. But there's no scientific evidence of this -- or that drinking only the juice of a fruit or vegetable is any healthier than eating the fruit or vegetable itself.

Another claim is that juicing gives your system a break from digesting fiber. But the fact is that most Americans fail to get enough fiber in their daily diet.

There's also a lot of talk about juicing to get rid of toxins. But many health experts say the body removes toxins on its own.

Juices may have some long-term health benefits -- grapefruit, lemon, celery and red grape juices have all been the subject of research. But while experts agree that juices are a good way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet, they shouldn't be the only source of nutrients, as in a juice fast. No juice is a weight-loss miracle, and fruit juice in particular can cause spikes in blood sugar. Some fruit-based smoothies can also contain hundreds of calories.

If you like making your own juice blends, prepare only as much as you can drink at one time -- harmful bacteria can develop quickly. And if you're in the market for a new juicer, choose one that juices the entire fruit, or else add the pulp back in, to get needed fiber.

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