Question of the Day

One reader recently got a juicer and drinks mix out of fresh juice with carrots, half a broccoli, orange, a red beet and some pomegranate every day. They say it tastes great but worry about blood sugars and calories. Will this be a problem with losing weight?
That is a good question.

In general, I don't believe having juice is a problem, especially fresh juice. Does it provide calories? Absolutely. But is it also a great way to add nutrients, including fiber, to your diet? Yes!

Depending on the type of juicer, you may or may not receive the fiber and pulp. Some juicers strain this. However, I don't think too many people will argue that fresh juice is richer in antioxidants and nutrients than other products.

As for blood sugar and calories, a glass of fresh juice is likely to be lower on the glycemic index than most processed foods and probably is a lot lower calories than, say, a can of Coke. Having said that, there is always the possibility of going overboard.

I believe one or even two glasses of fresh juice can only help. In fact, this is something I intend to do more of. I have a busy schedule and don't always have a nice bowl of fruit salad or take the time to prepare a nice vegetable dish. The fruit is a good compromise ... not as good as the raw, fresh fruit or vegetable, but certainly better than something you can buy on the store shelf. It's only overboard if you are drinking these nonstop in addition to normal foods. I also caution people against the belief that this is a good replacement for a quality multivitamin. It certainly helps add to the pool of nutrients your body receives, but doesn't replace a good, quality multivitamin.

If you're curious about whether or not those fruits and vegetables should be organic, read What a "Muscle Head" Thinks about Organic Food.

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