Juice/Life Balance

Juicing seems to be very popular at the moment; both to increase the nutrient-density of our diets and as a means of losing weight.  It’s something I like to do; I enjoy creating colourful combinations and feel great benefit from the explosion of nutrients they contain.  I think it’s important to point out, that although the juice will perhaps contain many more fruits & vegetables than we could possibly eat in one sitting or even perhaps in one day, we must aim to actually have days when we try to “eat” our 5-a-day as oppose to consuming them in juice, to ensure we benefit from the insoluble fibre they contain.

The juice below, made this morning, contains 2 apples, 3 carrots, 2 sticks of celery, large piece of cucumber, half an orange pepper and a large piece of fresh ginger and tasted delicious; the picture also shows the skin and peel of the fruit/veg removed from the juicer afterwards. 

 

Insoluble fibre is often termed as “roughage”, derived from the cellular structure of plants; it will not dissolve in water and is not digested or absorbed.  However, its vital function is to keep the gastrointestinal tract clean and works by drawing in and binding with water, swelling and stimulating peristalsis (normal rhythmic movement of the gut) thereby preventing bloating and constipation.  Research also shows that fibre is one of the most important factors in the prevention of colorectal cancer; fermentation of the fibre within the gut is able to affect the pH of the bowel which, in turn, promotes the balance of healthy bacteria in your intestines.

Good health is about moderation & balance x