Let’s make one thing very clear on the front end, when I talk about juicing I am talking about vegetables. Sure, a green apple or pear may be added to sweeten the taste to a palatable level, but if you are juicing pineapples, watermelons or oranges, you are missing the big picture. If you want fruit, eat fruit! Taking away the pulp and fiber only speeds up there bodies absorption process, making you fat in less time. I’m going to put myself out on a limb here, but I bet that’s not the result you were envisioning when you bought that expensive juicer. Speaking of expensive juicers, do yourself a favor and do some research. If a nutrient dense juice is what you are searching for, chances are you’ll be better off with a masticating style juicer made by Champion or Omega rather than a centrifugal style sold by brands such as Breville. Check out my comparison video of the two here:

Im not going to pretend to be a nutritionist or even to understand exactly why juicing is so good for you. If you want to do the research on your own, start here and tap into Google for help after that to explore a wealth of great information. Here is what I believe to be true: Vegetables are good for you. Not a lot of people are going to argue that. Sure, some of them have higher concentrations of sugar (carrots and beets) but all (i think) vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that are bodies respond to in a positive manner. Plus, here is a big one, they are alkaline. If you don’t know what that means I will try and give you a Cliff’s Note tutorial. Drinks and foods can either be acidic or alkaline. Our bodies function better and recover from stress quicker in they are more alkaline. Steak and red meat in acidic as well as coffee and liquor. On the other end of the spectrum we have vegetables and green tea, water with lemon and rainbows and butterflies. You get the idea. Here is an important conclusion — it is believed (by whom?) that cancer can not live in an alkaline environment. That it thrives in an acidic setting. That explains all those bald people with so much produce in their carts, right?

Like I said, I am not scientist or nutritionist but not a lot of people are going to argue that vegetables are good for you and if you are anything like my clients, you don’t consume enough of them. I despise talking with my clients about nutrition and diet because it is my experience that everyone lies. Its like, they just weighed in after two weeks and they gained 2 pounds but you’re supposed to believe they’ve been eating kale salad and cans of tuna fish at every meal. Whatever. I hope you’re ready to do extra kettlebell swings… One of my favorite questions when a client walks into my gym is, “What vegetables did you eat today?” Even before their mouth opens I can hear the words, “lettuce onions and tomatoes” and all i want to do is slap them upside the head with s 45-pound plate. That’s a garnish, not vegetables!, I always respond. Next week they will say the same thing. That tells me that we need a better way to consume the vitamins and minerals that we deprive ourself by not eating what grows out of the ground. Juice allows up to consume higher quantities of vitamin & mineral dense vegetables (and one or two small pieces of fruit may be added for flavor).