Key points:
- Green juice is a popular health trend that’s claimed to have many health benefits, such as being rich in vitamins and minerals, improving the immune system, helping with digestion, and keeping you hydrated. You can also get all of these benefits from eating whole vegetables and fruit.
- Green juice is typically made with a combination of different green vegetables, leafy greens, and herbs. Some recipes also suggest adding fruits to sweeten the drink.
- Green juice also has some downsides and is not suitable for everyone. Drinking a lot of green juice can be harsh on the kidneys and liver, and it’s not recommended for people with kidney disease. Store-bought green juices can also be high in sugar, which is why it’s recommended to check the labels.
- Remember that while green juice does provide some vitamins and minerals, it cannot substitute for a meal or a balanced diet. Green juice is simply an addition to your healthy diet to help you stay on top of your nutrient intake.
- FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks are a sugar-free green juice alternative that offers all the essential vitamins and minerals but is also easy on your kidneys. These drinks deliver all the benefits of spirulina as well as give you the satisfaction of enjoying a carbonated drink without hurting your health.
Green juice is one of the most popular trends among health-conscious people, with many influencers and celebrities recommending drinking it every day. While green juice has now become almost the definition of “healthy”, many experts are still debating whether it’s that beneficial in the end. Green juice is believed to have many health benefits if consumed thoughtfully, but it also has some downsides that not many people talk about. In this article, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of drinking green juice to help you decide whether this health trend is for you.
What Is Green Juice?
Green juice is not a particular type of juice, instead, it's a beverage made by combining the juices of different green vegetables. That means that there are various types of green juice, and some are more beneficial for your health than others. Nutritionists say that the healthiest green juices contain more green vegetables and herbs than fruits. It’s recommended to opt for low-sugar and antioxidant-rich options. The best produce to include in your green juice is spinach, leafy greens, kale, parsley, mint, celery, broccoli, swiss chard, cucumber, cilantro, and wheatgrass. To make green juice taste better, some recipes include fruits such as apples, kiwis, oranges, or berries. Not all ingredients should be green, but in the end, you should get a greenish-looking beverage, and that’s why it’s called green juice.
Green Juice Health Benefits
First of all, what you need to understand is that green juice is not a substitute for a balanced meal but rather an addition to a healthy diet. Green vegetables are loaded with essential minerals and vitamins, as well as antioxidants and chlorophyll. For example, leafy greens contain phytonutrients and chlorophyll, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps to detoxify your body. Kale and swiss chard contain vitamins A and K, and wheatgrass is a storehouse of vitamin C and iron.
Research shows that including leafy green vegetables in your daily diet can reduce inflammation and lower the risk of heart disease risk and age-related mental decline. Drinking green juice also increases cellular hydration, as it’s a perfect combination of water and minerals that keeps your body hydrated. Plus, proper hydration is vital for glowing skin.
Studies also suggest that some compounds in green juice act like prebiotics that promote the growth of gut-friendly bacteria. Prebiotics offer numerous health benefits, such as boosting the immune system and preventing constipation. Plus, green juice is the easiest way to stay on track with your nutrients if you don’t like eating your vegetables. It’s also easier to digest and absorb, and drinking green juice is a common practice during recovery after surgeries. Consumption of green leafy vegetable juice is linked with a reduced risk of diabetes and may improve cholesterol levels too.
The Downsides of Drinking Green Juice
Green juice can deliver many health benefits, but you need to keep in mind that many store-bought juices contain more sugar than homemade ones. It’s recommended not to drink too much green juice, as its cleansing properties may be harsh on our kidneys. People with kidney disease should be mindful when drinking green juice and keep its consumption to a minimum. This is because certain foods like beets and spinach contain a lot of oxalates, natural compounds that can worsen existing kidney problems. This is also the reason why juice fasting is not the best idea, as it not only increases the level of oxalates in your body but also stresses your liver.
A lot of nutritionists recommend eating vegetables instead of drinking them, as green juice contains way less fiber than whole veggies. But if you know that you’re getting enough fiber from your meals, then green juice is the perfect option for you to get a vitamin and mineral boost. You can also alternate it with a green smoothie for higher fiber intake. Fibre is crucial for a healthy diet, as it controls blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, as well as supports a healthy gut.
Many commercial green juices are pasteurized, which means that many heat-sensitive nutrients and plant compounds are destroyed. You should always check the labels of the store-bought juices, as some of them may be high in sugar, especially those that contain fruits. To mitigate this effect, pair your green juice with a meal or snack.
FUL® Drink - a Sugar-Free Green Juice Alternative
As we mentioned, green juices are not suitable for everyone, and they still cannot substitute actual vegetables in your diet. If you want to increase your intake of vitamins and minerals, FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks are an excellent green juice alternative.
Spirulina is the most nutrient-rich food on the planet, and it will provide your body with B-group vitamins, vitamin A, and minerals like copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. It’s also loaded with powerful antioxidants and beneficial omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Spirulina has been used for its health properties for centuries, and many people include it in their green smoothies and juices. Unlike spirulina powder that is added to green juices, FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks contain no trace of spirulina’s natural taste and smell (which, if you tried it, you know is unpleasant). This is because the beverages are made with 100% natural spirulina extract. Thus, FUL® drinks are delicious, and they come in convenient packaging so that you can get your nutrients on the go.
FAQ
What does green juice do to the body?
Drinking green juice is believed to have many health benefits. Vegetables are powerhouses of vitamins and minerals, as well as chlorophyll, which is a powerful antioxidant. Green juice can improve your immune system, help control inflammation, and keep you hydrated.
Does green juice actually work?
While green juice is a popular health trend, it may actually be overrated. It provides no more nutrients than you can get from eating a well-balanced meal, and it also has some downsides. Drinking too much green juice can exacerbate kidney problems, which is why it’s not recommended for people with kidney diseases. Commercially available green juices can also contain extra sugar, which is something you want to avoid.
Is juicing greens as healthy as eating them?
Vegetable juice can be a little less beneficial than whole vegetables. Green juices contain no fiber, unlike whole veggies, and some types of green juices are higher in sugar than the actual vegetables.
