Juicing for Weight Loss

There are lots of ideas for a quick weight loss diet and weight loss nutrition today. But one of the most common questions seems to be about juices. To juice or not to juice? Read what Isabel De Los Rios, a certified nutritionist and exercise specialist, says about juicing for weight loss.

Juice is one of those drinks that many people perceive as healthy, especially when it’s labeled natural or organic and it says it is made from all natural ingredients. Let me clear this up right now.. Juicing for weight loss is NOT part of a healthy eating plan, unless you are freshly squeezing it right in your kitchen, with your own hands or through a juicer.

"But Isabel. My juice says its organic, natural, 100% juice with no sugar added. Is that ok?"
Well, I spent a significant amount of time reading the label of almost every single juice container, juice box, and juice product and they all came up the same.. with tons of SUGAR. Read the label clearly and you will see that every gram of carbohydrate in the juice directly comes from sugar.

"But Isabel. All the carbs from fruit are from sugar too right?"
Yes, fruits are almost entirely sugar (coming from fructose), but a whole fruit also contains plenty of fiber and vitamins that are lost when you make a juice, bottle it and store it for any amount of time.

"But Isabel. My juice is fortified with calcium, Vit D and iron (or whatever they are fortifying juice with these days)."
When you "fortify" any food or drink with a vitamin and/or a mineral, your body is smart enough to know that this is not the real version of this particular nutrient. So much so, that it will choose not to use it. Yes, all of these fortified products are not giving you the vitamins and minerals you need. You must obtain these from natural sources like real fruits and vegetables (i.e. real food).

So if you’re a juice lover like many people are, or have fallen for the "juice is healthy" trap, here are a few juicing for weight loss strategies to help you get your juice fix, while simultaneously following a healthy eating plan.

1. Buy a quality juicer and make your own juice. There are so many different delicious and nutritious juices you can make in a juicer, that will give you a super boost of vitamins/minerals and super nutrition. One of my favorite is carrot, apple and ginger. Be careful though! If you’re anything like me and sensitive to too much sugar at once, I would suggest having a serving of 4 oz or less, or mixing your 4 oz with some water. I would also suggest juicing primarily vegetables and not as many fruits. This is a great way to get in some serious nutrition without having to eat vegetables all day long (a great option for children). I would also combine your fresh juice with a protein and healthy fat to keep your blood sugar balanced.
It is best to drink freshly made juice right away, as the longer it is stored, the more it will decline in nutrition. You can put your juice in a glass jar with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. There should be a minimal amount of air in the jar as the oxygen in air (air is about 20 percent oxygen) will "oxidize" and damage the juice. Wrap the jar with aluminum foil to block out all light. Light damages the juice.

2. Make my favorite "tea juice". If you haven’t seen this recipe in the Diet Solution Recipe Guide, here it is again:
5-6 bags caffeine-free herbal tea (e.g., peach, mint, chamomile, or fruit tea)
3 quarts boiling water
Stevia powder (or liquid) to taste
Pour water over tea bags in a large pot. Add stevia while tea is hot. (Adjust amount according to the desired sweetness.)
Let the tea cool, remove tea bags, transfer tea to a serving pitcher or individual water bottles, and refrigerate.

3. Make your own DSP approved lemonade. Mix the juice from half a lemon, 5 drops of liquid stevia and 12oz of water in a large cup. Add more stevia or lemon based on your taste. This drink is a great alternative to people who need a bit more flavor than plain water all day, and is a great way to be juicing for weight loss (be careful if you’re sensitive to citrus or too much lemon.)