New Yorkers are a thirsty bunch of people. As popular as coffee-based drinks are, our drink of choice may have transitioned to a fruit and/or vegetable blend, often with added protein. The juicing craze has exploded over the past year. Millions of people are drinking concoctions that can provide vitamins and minerals along with few or a lot of calories.
Are these types of juices good for you?
Juicing particularly benefits people who don’t regularly eat fruits and vegetables. Assuming the ingredients used are fresh and wholesome, the drink provides many of the nutrients that a lot of people miss in their daily diets. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering this type of beverage:
• A vegetable-based juice drink is low in calories, but lacks protein.
• As fruit is added, the calorie count increases.
• A scoop of protein powder (whey or soy) can add 20 grams of protein and 100 calories.
Is a drink like this suitable for meal replacement?
It is certainly reasonable to consume a fruit and vegetable blend with protein as a meal replacement. If you do so, be sure it includes the fruit and vegetable pulp, because a strained juice lacks fiber.
What about going on a juice-only diet?
One should proceed with caution before starting a juice-only diet, especially if the intent is to lose weight or “detox” or to “cure” a medical condition. A diet consisting of only vegetables lacks protein and is not an adequate source of calories. Several days of consuming a “detox” drink can leave one feeling fatigued or can cause gastrointestinal upset.
The bottom line is to enjoy a glass of a fruit and vegetable beverage, but don’t give up on the whole food. Some research suggests that liquid-only calories are not as satisfying and may leave you wanting to grab a not-so-healthy snack.
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