You've likely heard all the hype about green juices and seen countless ads for green powders, but why are they suddenly such a big deal?
Well, the rest of the world is catching up to what many of us holistic practitioners have known for decades: Dark green juice is one of the most nourishing and restorative things you can put into your body.
Simply put, green juice is the liquid extracted from a green plant, leaving behind the fiber. Typically it is mixed with other vegetable or fruit juices to make the taste more enjoyable (Because let's face it...Swiss chard juice is not exactly delicious on its own).
Green juice recipes can be made at home in a juicer, purchased from a juice bar, bought from a supermarket shelf, or delivered to your door frozen from a company like Raw Generation.
But What Is The Difference Between All These Types of Green Juice?
Green juice made at home in a juicer
The PRO's: This type of green juice is as fresh and powerful as it gets. If juiced and immediately consumed, all enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients are completely active and bio-available for the body to use.
The CON's: Juicing at home can be time consuming, especially the clean-up. I have yet to find a juicer that is easy to clean, even if it's advertised as such. Making green juice at home can also be very expensive, as it takes a lot of produce (leafy greens, green vegetables, non-green vegetables, and fruits) to make even one or two large glasses of juice.
Green juice purchased from a juice bar
The PRO's: This type of green juice is usually as fresh as juicing at home. All vital nutrition is preserved and the process could not be easier - You just order, pickup, and drink. Tip: If you desire to add wheatgrass juice to your regimen, the ideal place to get this is at a juice bar. To juice it at home requires a special type of juicer, different from the one you would be using to juice everything else.
The CON's: The cost of juice bar juices is usually quite high. You are also subject to the juice tasting only as good as the barista who makes it. I have had very delicious juice bar green juices or nearly undrinkable ones due to overly high amounts of lemon or fresh ginger. One last con is the need to travel to pickup the juice.
Green juice bought from a supermarket shelf
The PRO's: To be honest, I do not feel there are any pros to drinking this type of juice. Even as a source of hydration, pure filtered water would be superior to this type of juice.
The CON's: All supermarket juice (unless it is juiced fresh INSIDE the supermarket) is either high heat pasteurized or HPP'd (High-pressure processed). The room-temp shelf stable juices are heat pasteurized, whereas the refrigerated, often "cold-pressed" green juices are HPP'd. BOTH of these processing methods can significantly degrade the enzymes and nutrition and also the taste of the juice. When I see bottled green juice on a store shelf, I look at it as nothing more than glorified sugar water.
Green juice delivered to your door frozen
The PRO's: This type of green juice is as close to fresh as you can get without doing it yourself or visiting a juice bar. At Raw Generation we flash freeze all juice immediately after it is bottled, thus helping to preserve all enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and of course - the delicious taste. Another benefit here is the ability to store the juice frozen until you are ready to use it, so you will always have healthy options on hand without having to repeatedly drag out the juicer.
The CON's: Frozen juice delivery can be costly, but is far more affordable if subscribed to. Freezer storage is also sometimes an issue if you have a very small unit or have a lot of other things taking up space.
The Health Benefits of Green Juice
The potential health benefits of drinking real, raw green juice are numerous. Dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, Swiss chard, collards, and wheatgrass are among the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.
Green juice may support:
· Immune function - Concentrated vitamins A, C, and K from dark leafy greens may support your immune system.
· Energy levels - The chlorophyll, iron, and B vitamins in greens may help support sustained energy without caffeine.
· Digestive health - The enzymes present in raw juice may support more efficient digestion and nutrient absorption.
· Skin health - Vitamins A and C, along with antioxidants, may support healthier-looking skin.
· Weight management - When your body receives adequate vitamins and minerals from juicing, you may notice reduced cravings for less nutritious foods.
· Hydration - Green juice is naturally hydrating, providing fluids along with electrolytes like potassium and magnesium.
How to Incorporate Green Juice Into Your Routine
· Drink one bottle of green juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
· If you're new to green juice, start with milder flavors like Cool Greens or Sweet Greens.
· For a more intense green experience, try Tarte Greens or Morning Celery.
· Use green juice as a convenient way to boost your daily vegetable intake without the prep work.
Green juice isn't a trend. It's a staple. And it's the easiest way to flood your body with concentrated plant-based nutrition every single day.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new dietary program.
