When eating breakfast most of us like to drink orange juice. Most of you would believe that it is a great choice for weight loss, but truth is it may be helping you gain weight.
When you are at the store doing your food you may come about juice boxes that say that they are healthy, organic, natural, full of natural ingredients, but the fact is they aren't. Let me get this cleared up…Juice is NOT part of a good eating plan unless you are freshly squeezing it right in your home with your own hands or through a juicer.
“But mine says its organic, natural, 100% juice with no sugar added. Is that ok?”
Well, spend some time reading the label of practically every single juice box and they all came up the same…with tons of SUGAR. Read the label clearly and you will see that every single gram of carbohydrate included in the juice directly comes from sugar.
“But all the carbs from fruit are from sugar too right?”
Yes, fruits are for the most part sugar (coming from fructose), but a full fruit also contains a good deal of fiber and vitamins that are lost when you make a juice, bottle it and store it for any amount of time.
“But my juice is strengthened with vitamins and minerals (or whatever they are fortifying juice with these days).”
When you “fortify” any food or drink with a vitamin and/or a mineral, your body is wise enough to recognize that this is not the real version of this particular nutrient. So much so, that it will decide on not to use it. Yes, all of these fortified juices aren't giving you the vitamins and minerals you need to have. You must acquire these from natural sources like real fruits and vegetables (i.e. real food).
So if you’re a juice lover like lots of people are or have fallen for the “juice is healthy” trap, here are a some strategies to help you to get your juice fix while simultaneously following a wholesome eating plan.
1. Buy a good juicer and make your own juice. There are several diverse delicious and nutritious juices you can make in a juicer that will give you a super boost of vitamins/minerals and super nutrition. One of my preferred is carrot, apple and ginger. Be cautious though! If you’re anything like me and sensitive to a high amount of sugar at once, I would suggest having a serving of 4 oz or less or mixing your 4 oz with some water. I would also recommend juicing primarily vegetables and not as many fruits. This is a terrific way to get in some really serious nutrition without having to eat vegetables all day long (a great option for teens). I would also combine your fresh juice with a protein and healthy fat to keep your blood sugar balanced.
It is most effective to drink freshly made juice on the spot, as the longer it is saved, the more it will diminish in nutrition. You can put your juice in a glass jar with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. There should be a minimal amount of air in the jar as the oxygen in air (air is about 20 percent oxygen) will “oxidize” and damage the juice. Wrap the jar with aluminum foil to block out all light. Light damages the juice.
2. Make my favorite “tea juice“. If you haven’t seen this recipe in the Diet Solution Recipe Guide, here it is once again:
5-6 bags caffeine-free herbal tea (e.g., peach, mint, chamomile, or fruit tea)
3 quarts boiling water
Stevia powder (or liquid) to taste
Pour water above the tea bags in a large pot. Add stevia while tea is hot. (Adjust amount
according to the desired sweetness.)
Let the tea cool, remove tea bags, transfer tea to a serving pitcher or individual water bottles, and refrigerate.
3. Make your own dsp approved lemonade. Mix the juice from half a lemon, 5 drops of liquid stevia and 12oz of water in a large cup. Add more stevia or lemon based on your taste. This drink is a great alternative to people who need a bit more flavor than plain water all day.
So now that you have seen why juice is not good for you and how you can make your own healthy drink alternatives, why not learn more about which foods will cause you to lose fat?
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