Explore vegan juicing diets for their benefits
Fruits and veggies are chock full of nutrients and natural sugar, which can all be harnessed in a glass when juiced. Raw food advocates praise uncooked fruits and veggies for their maximized vitamin and mineral content. Natural fruit is still high in sugar, so be sure to include plenty of veggies in the mix when starting a raw vegan juicing diet.
Benefits
Leaning toward a vegan juicing diet steers your diet away from unhealthy fats. The nutrients in vitamins are easily accessible once the fiber is taken from either fruits or vegetables, while a variety of phytochemicals are released into your system. Some juicing advocates insist that the enzymes in fresh produce make digestion easier. One note of warning for those embarking on a juice diet: fruit can be very high in sugar, especially when concentrated away from its natural form and fiber. High in sugar equates to high in calories so be sure to keep portion controls reasonable if aiming to control your weight.
Pre-made or Make Your Own
Tasty juices are widely available, as are juice blends. The Naked Juice company doesn't add any sugar or preservatives to their fruit and veggie blends, while the V8 juice company offers veggie juices in original, spicy hot or combined with tropical fruits. If independently juicing, precut veggies before blending and be sure to use a heavy-duty blender for a smooth consistency.
Variety
Since most juices are vegan, the concern when staring a vegan juicing diet is maximizing nutrients and including a variety of foods. The combinations when juicing are endless. Carrots, lemons and apples can combine for a drink rich in vitamins A and C complemented with phytochemicals. Tomato juice is easy, with 3 cups tomatoes, celery, cucumber, salt and pepper. Pinneaple, grapefruit, lemon, cranberries, mango, oranges and watermelon juices can combine with apples and bananas while leading veggies for juicing are cabbage, carrots, watercress, broccoli, kale, collard greens, parsley, spinach and beet greens. Mix fruits with veggies for sweetness.
Supplemental Ingredients
Beyond the fruits and veggies themselves, plants are often added to vegan juices for an extra nutrient boost. Wheatgrass comes from the Triticum aestivum plant and is rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Protein powder is helpful if vegan juicing is the mainstay of a diet, and is included by the leading natural juice company Naked in their Protein Zone juice. Their juice contains soy protein, safe for vegans, but also contains whey which is based from dairy. Soy protein powder can be purchased and blended into homemade juices. The addition of ground flaxseed offers a great source of intensely healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, with 1/8 cup coming in at 80 calories, 6.5 grams of fat and 3.5 grams of protein.
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