Benefits of Green Juice: Is It Good For You?

If you’ve recently visited any trendy cafe or juice bar, chances are you’ve seen green juice on the menu. It’s become one of the biggest health trends of the past decade and people boast about its health benefits. So we thought we’d take a look at the benefits of green juice. 

For those wondering what green juice is, there’s a simple explanation. Green juice is a beverage made using the juices of green vegetables, which allows a ton of flexibility to tailor it to your own tastes. Vegetables that are often used include: celery, kale, Swiss chard, cucumber, spinach, wheatgrass, romaine lettuce, and herbs like mint, parsley or basil. Some people also like to extend that to include green fruit like limes, pears, apples, and kiwis to help mask the bitter taste associated with leafy greens.

6 Benefits of Green Juice

Supporters of this green juice health trend love to tout the numerous benefits achieved by drinking it regularly, but what exactly are the benefits of the beverage?

1. It’s a great way for people who don’t like vegetables to incorporate them into their diet as it provides fast and easy absorption of nutrients.
2. May naturally boost the immune system due to high levels of vitamin C.
3. Depending on the ingredients used, green juice can be a rich source of vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C and K, potassium and iron. Ingesting the proper amount of vitamins and minerals can have energy boosting effects.
4. May aid weight loss when combined with a balanced diet.
5. Consumption of leafy greens is associated with reduced inflammation, better brain function, and a lower risk of heart disease.
6. Green vegetables can help keep the pH balance of our bodies in check. The human body operate best with a pH level of 7.4, and even slight changes in that can have noticeable effects.

Potential Drawbacks

Naturally, as with any health trend, there are also some downsides that are worth noting.

1. Using a juicer removes the beneficial fiber that helps keep you full and that acts as a prebiotic that feeds the good bacteria.
2. Leafy greens are contain oxalates which can be harmful to kidney health if consumed in high doses. A typical diet doesn’t put you at risk of high oxalate levels, but green juices tend to have high concentrations of leafy greens.
3. It’s easy to take in excess sugar if you’re trying to make some of the bitter green vegetables by adding too much fruit. Many store bought green juices are made from concentrates or powders, which don’t have the same benefits, and contain added sugars.
4. Green juice may actually end up raising blood sugar levels because fiber and protein (which green juice lacks) help to maintain blood sugar levels.

Summary

Green juice doesn’t actually provide any more benefits than eating a well balanced diet including plenty of fresh produce. However, they are a great way to boost those vitamin and mineral reserves. Just be sure to keep an eye on the ingredients you use, and how often you’re drinking them. They shouldn’t be used as a meal replacement or as a detox, but rather consumed as a part of a healthy and balanced diet.

Green Juice Recipe

Skip the sugar-laden store bought green juices and try making your own. Not only will it be much cheaper, you’ll also know the exact quantities of ingredients used. For a healthy green juice that packs quite the punch in terms of vitamins, use the following recipe.

Ingredients

• 5 celery stalks
• 1 bunch of kale
• 1 Granny Smith apple
• ½ a large cucumber
• 1 piece of peeled ginger (approx. 1 inch)
• handful of fresh basil leaves

Instructions

1. Wash and cut up your vegetables into large chunks (if using a juicer) or smaller chunks (if using a blender).
2. Put the vegetables through the juicer or blend them on the highest setting.
3. Enjoy your juice!

Tip: using a blender ensures you get the beneficial fiber from the vegetables!

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