I’m new to this blogging thing, so please bear with me ☺

Having just finished my first juice and smoothie 5 day detox, it started me thinking on the benefits (or not) of juicing.  For me…..I’m going back to incorporating a juice or smoothie into my daily meal plan.  As a very infrequent “shock to the system” these detox plans may be useful, but I don’t think it’s for me.  I love juices and smoothies, but I love solid food even more.

What is juicing?  No, I don’t mean not squeezing a few oranges to have with your breakfast, I mean really juicing!!  The combination of fruits and vegetables that most people generally would not incorporate into their daily diets.  Within this blog, I am talking about both juicing and blending, just to make things simple….

Although I have juiced for several years, and extolled the virtues of certain combinations to our RepZ Fitness gym members, as a current NLC student I am learning more and more about the significance and enormous benefits of expanding and varying the quantity, quality and variety of fruit and veg that we consume.

Consuming “fresh” (we’ll come back to that) juices on a daily basis, provides the body with concentrated levels of vitamins and nutrients and increases the rates of absorption.  Blending also ensures that the fruit or vegetables retain all their fibre which aids in digestion. With the hectic lifestyle we all live today, getting your “5 a day” in any shape or form is difficult, I know, I’ve been there.  With juicing, just a little preparation can ensure you can have 2,3 or even more of these in just one serving.   

This brings me back to “fresh”….. I mean home juicing – not shop bought juices or smoothies – yes, some may say “all natural” but most are NOT!!!  Stick to home juicing! Yes, people will still say, some fruits contain more sugar than fizzy drinks, true in a few cases, but I still believe (and this is my opinion – everyone is entitled to one) the high volumes of vitamins and nutrients they provide, totally out way the negatives of “natural” sugars.  Included in a balanced diet I can ensure I maintain healthy Carb/Protein/Fat percentages any day of the week no matter what combination of juice or smoothie I consume!

Another thing to try to bear in mind, not just for juicing, but consumption of any fruit or vegetable, is the quality you purchase and use.  I am exceptionally lucky to live in Spain, where I can obtain virtually anything I need at the local market.  Grown organically, grown locally, can’t beat it.  Most people are not quite as fortunate and relay on supermarket options – always go organic where possible.  Even better, look for locally grown organic – every country has it’s own seasonal produce – use those as your main ingredients. 

If you want to know more about healthy juices and smoothies, a great book to obtain is “Green Juices” by Fern Green.  Or drop me a message and I’ll share some of my favourite combinations.