If you believe new-age naturopaths, what’s making you fat isn’t eating more calories–it’s having too many toxins in your system.
Luckily, you can flush it out by juicing.
“Many people with high levels of toxins in their body are obese,” says Dr. Alicia Stanton, a leading women’s health and hormone therapy expert. “This is because toxins are stored in the fat cells and as you accumulate more and more toxins in your body, more storage space is needed and your body holds on to the fat cells.”
But is juicing safe? Experts warn that this so-called “natural” diet could actually spell trouble for your health down the road–something naturopaths don’t want you to know about.
What’s Bad About Juicing?
It seems like a dream come true: Juice your favorite fruits and vegetables to get rid of toxins, lose weight, and feel great too.
And while naturopaths claim that juicing could revolutionize your health, other health experts say this diet comes with its own set of dangers.
“I’m not a big supporter of juicing,” says Julie Mellen, an Upstate University Hospital registered dietitian. “I think if it’s a way to get somebody to eat more fruits and vegetables, I think it’s great. But when you juice, a lot of times, you lose a lot of fiber in those products, so unless you’re taking that pulp and putting it back into the juice, you miss out on all of those nutrients.”
In addition, other dietitians warn that juicing condenses the amount of sugar and calories commonly found in fruits and vegetables–meaning you’re actually eating more calories, not less. For instance, a cup of sliced pineapple contains 83 calories, but a cup of pineapple juice contains 120 calories–about a 37 calorie increase. Worse yet, these juices are usually filled with sugar and have less fiber, which can tempt you to drink more, adding more unnecessary calories.
“Consuming your food in liquid form may also leave you feeling less fulfilled, meaning you’ll eat more calories than you would if you simply chewed the food,” says Jennifer Nelson, a Mayo Clinic director of clinical dietetics and nutrition. “You want your diet to be balanced and healthy and to include protein, dairy, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and fats.”
Of course, there’s the scientific aspect of it too–research also shows that there is no necessary medical need to juice as a method of detoxification. Instead, researchers say that your liver and kidneys already aid in the detoxification process, making it unnecessary–harmful, even–to juice to “speed up” the process.
“There is nothing in the medical literature to affirm that the body needs an outside source to cleanse itself,” says Deborah Levy, a registered dietitian.
What You Should Do
If you want to lose weight, juicing certainly is a popular option–but this doesn’t mean it’s necessarily safe or effective. For a better way to lose weight, switch out juicing for a diet high in fresh, raw vegetables and fruits instead. You’ll cut out the excess sugar and calories and still lose weight–a win win!
Readers: Have you tried juicing before?
Sources:
Juicing Pros and Cons – CNN.com
How Toxins Make Us Gain Weight – DrAliciaStanton.com
Health Experts Say Juicing Fruits and Vegetables Isn’t a Great Diet Plan – TWCNews.com
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