Who doesn’t love their orange juice for breakfast? There are so many store-bought varieties to choose from: regular, pulp-free, premium extra-pulp … but you do know, don’t you, that they take the pulp out of one and add it to the other?
In addition to the variety of fabulous fresh tastes, there are particular health benefits associated with raw fruit juicing. Some of the associations are ancient, or “folk remedies,” while some have been only recently discovered or quantified by researchers.
The nice thing about juicing is that by combining fruits and vegetables that contain specific nutrients, one can target certain concerns, like weight loss, diminishing eyesight, or colon health.
Note: the following list is neither exhaustive, nor claiming to provide medical advice. The intent is to illustrate the wide spectrum of beneficial nutrients believed to be available in fruits and fruit juices.
Let’s review some of the popular fruits that are found in many juice recipes
- Apples – contain soluble fiber that helps to clean the colon, and helps to halt oxidation of LDL cholesterol; also contains elastin and collagen that help keep the skin young
- Blackberries – have rich antioxidants that can help fight degenerative disorders of the eye
- Blueberries – can help improve memory and eyesight, prevent hardening of the arteries and type 2 diabetes, prevent urinary tract infections, and help shed belly fat
- Cantaloupe – has an ingredient that helps reduce migraine headaches
- Cherries – known for fighting the painful symptoms of gout
- Cranberries – contain acids useful in relieving the pain of fibromyalgia, dissolving fat deposits and halting bladder infections
- Figs – good for hypertension (high blood pressure) and lowering cholesterol
- Ginger root – reduces inflammation and helps support liver function
- Grapefruit – loaded with vitamin C, supports the immune cells
- Kiwi (Chinese gooseberry) – magnesium relieves mental fatigue and increases concentration
- Lemons – contain vitamin C helps heal bruises
- Mango – called the “king of fruits,” its vitamin A and rich antioxidants fight against skin aging and restores skin elasticity
- Oranges – rich in vitamin C which improves skin texture, reduces incidence of kidney stones
- Papaya – the seeds kill intestinal parasites
- Passion Fruit – good source of colon-protecting dietary fiber, Vitamin C and vitamin A
- Pears – contain soluble fiber which is good for colon health
- Plums – antioxidants help prevent cardiovascular disease and obesity
- Pomegranate juice – may slow the growth of prostate cancer
- Strawberries – “superfood” that helps lowers cancer death rates, anti-inflammatory
- Watermelon – contains lycopene which minimizes the risks of several diseases developing, and it also contains potassium which helps with blood pressure
Take a look at the colors represented in the list above:
- Red
- Green
- Black/purple
- Blue
- Orange
- Yellow
It seems that Mother Nature has designed such an attractive array of colorful fruits as if to beckon us to try some of each.
So unless you are dealing with a specific medical problem, and are seeking a remedy through juicing and/or raw foods, it looks like enjoying a wide variety of these foods could provide you with natural protection from serious illness.
