It was late, getting close to midnight on a Sunday night. It’s time to settle in for the night. But, night owl that I am. “I’ll just watch a little television before I drift off to blissful slumber”, or so I thought. I couldn’t switch off. I was compelled. Here was a story about an extraordinary mission by one man to lose weight and get healthy.
A sabbatical took this Aussie guy away from his home, friends and free-wheeling lifestyle to journey across America with not much more than a Juicer, a cameraman, a lot of fruit and vegetables and a big mission.
The guy? Joe Cross. The film? Sick, Fat and Nearly Dead. Maybe you’ve already heard of him after all his documentary has been seen by over 20 million of us. Some would say it was Joe who started the green juice revolution.
Even if you’ve never heard of Joe, these days, you can’t look sideways without seeing someone with a jar filled with green juice. For many, a juice detox is about losing a few pounds and gathering around the middle. Is it just another fad? Or is there something to all this juicing?
After viewing the documentary, my sister and I jumped on this healthy bandwagon. Not long before, the best juicer on the market with all the attachments (to make sure we were doing it right) made its way into our lives. But for me, there was a little voice in the back of my head. Juicing at home starts with a bang but never lasts. I’d been here before. I even had a juicer stored away somewhere.
It’s just too messy and too time-consuming. That little voice in my head also told me, what about all the pulp? That seems like pretty good stuff we’re throwing away. All that healthy fibre. But, despite my internal dialogue, I was convinced this was a brilliant idea for getting healthy. But alas, my sister’s juicer began to see the light of day less and less.
You need the whole fruit and nothing but the fruit.
Yes, you need the whole fruit; you also need the whole vegetable and added fat. Never leaving these things to chance, I’ve researched this whole juice caper and here’s what I know.
It’s not just about the juice: We need the whole food, not just the juice. Our body needs the fibre that most juicers discard. It’s about blending, not juicing.
Seven servings of vegetables daily: It’s not always easy to achieve. Blending some of those servings into a smoothie is a great way to ensure we get all the necessary nutrients.
The right blender: Sometimes, getting ready for the big day is half the problem. I’ve been caught up in finding the best blender on the market, usually the most expensive. It’s not necessary. A nutribullet will do the job.
Include a little fat: A small amount of fat in every smoothie ensures that fat-soluble vitamins like A, E, D and K are absorbed by the body. Adding full-fat yoghurt or a spoonful of coconut oil is an excellent way to add fat. This is necessary.
This is not a diet: Most diets do not work. Most of us have, at some point, discovered this fact. We lose, and then we gain again. Even Joe, the juice guy, has a body weight that fluctuates.
Juicing is not a detox: If you have a healthy diet and remember to move daily, your lymphatic system will move toxins out of your body.
It’s green, smooth and interesting: Blended smoothies are a nutritiously dense, excellent solution for the inner you, and amazing for your skin!!
A healthy microbiome: Whether you blend vegetables and low-sugar fruits is up to you, but if you struggle to eat a variety of vegetables in a single meal, this blended juice or smoothie is a great way to consume more nutrients.
If losing weight is your goal?
Some say one of the reasons we have difficulty losing a few pounds is not just because we are consuming more calories than our body needs but that our body is hanging on to fat as a way of grappling for any shortfalls in much-needed nutrients.
We might need much more nutrition than our normal diet allows. Blended smoothies could be the answer to this. Not only nutrient-dense, blended smoothies are quite filling, but they can curb your appetite at mealtime.
One last thing.
If you can, make your blended juices at home; just keep in mind the goodness and nutrition of your smoothie are beginning to oxidise the moment it is blended, so it’s best to drink your smoothies within 30 minutes.
A takeaway blended juice is great if you’re on the go, but the throw-away container is not great for our environment. So, if you can, do your bit and bring-your-own juice receptacle.
If you are concerned about getting enough nutrients in your diet, blended juice is an excellent idea, but remember, I’m not a healthcare professional. Always check with your doctor if you are concerned about your health.
See you next time,
