May 19, 2012. Bill Szydlowski
Usually, when one thinks of embarking on a weight loss program, the idea of going all-natural comes to mind. This means avoiding junk food and other products which contain too much sugar, sodium and artificial preservatives and flavorings.
It also involves avoiding foods which have a high fat and cholesterol content. As such, the most viable types of food are usually whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Since people going on diets usually try to avoid sodas, the usual alternative is fresh fruit juice. This is a much better option, of course, but it may be too easy to overdo it. That’s right. Drinking too much fruit juice while trying to lose weight may make it harder for some people to lose weight quickly, because fruits still contain a certain amount of sugar. Since sugar from fruit juice is quickly absorbed into the system, it is still possible to get a similar kind of sugar high as one does when drinking other sweetened beverages. Of course, after the high comes the crash.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that one should completely shy away from consuming fruit juice. This is still a great way to refresh oneself while taking advantage of the nutrition that fruits can give. However, a few tweaks can be made in order to get more benefit and minimize the negative effect that fruit juices may have.
One thing that can be done is combining fresh fruit juice with fresh vegetable juice. Celery, cucumber, and carrot combinations are great for mixing with apples, oranges, and practically any other type of fruit. This not only lessens the amount of sugar in the glass, but also provides even more nutrients. It is just as refreshing, too, and may taste even better because it isn’t so sweet. A juicer makes it easy to decide how much of what is going into your own juice, and some machines can double as a wheat or barley grass juicer, too.
Another alternative to juicing fruit is turning it into a smoothie. By doing so, one is able to benefit from the fiber from the fruit. This allows the body to absorb the drink more slowly and therefore prevents one from getting a sugar high and crashing right after. Best of all, one does not have to miss out on the delicious goodness of fruit!
Updated May 19, 2012. Published February 5, 2011. Bill Szydlowski
