To Juice or Not To Juice

Many people feel that it is essential to juice their foods but there are some serious considerations that we would like to share with those that are considering this idea.

One concern is the effect juicing has on the teeth. The old phrase "use it or loose it" applies to the teeth as well as other parts of the body. Teeth are strengthened by exercise. We feel that for strong healthy teeth they need the resistance of whole foods. Apples, nuts and other firm foods well chewed will keep the teeth strong.

Second consideration is the bowels and the need for their health. The same lack of resistance and fiber has the same effect on the bowels that there is with the teeth. The bowels become weak when foods are juiced. If juices have been consumed for a length of time and then regular foods are ingested the digestive organs have difficulty: gas and feelings of discomfort are felt and it is thought that the problem is the whole foods but in actuality the problem is the consumption of juices that has produced weak digestive muscles.

Third consideration is the unrealistic amount of some nutriants at the expence of others. The amount of sugars and other nutriants are greatly increased without the necessary fiber and fiber bound nutriants are thrown away. Also, some nutriants are destroyed in the juicing process. They are often subjected to heat and sit on the shelf and break down before the juice is consumed.

Fourth consideration is that little if any saliva is mixed with the nutriants to help them be digested. Saliva is important in breaking down the sugars and making the vitamins and minerals digestable.

Our position is that the best way to get a balanced amount of vitamins and minerals is to make sure that the food is well chewed and broken down. Eat slowly and chew well until the food is a creamy consistancy. By chewing whole foods we can strengthen our teeth,  increase the amount of dietary fiber (needed for weight loss) and increasing the availability of nutrition in the food.