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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Juice Therapy >>  The Importance of Freshness

THE IMPORTANCE OF FRESHNESS

As soon as a fruit or vegetable is plucked, it begins to deteriorate. However, if consumed within a reasonable period of time, it retains a sufficient amount of nutrients to provide nutrition to the body. Cooking, on the other hand, almost totally destroys the nutritional factor of a fruit or vegetable. This is why it is so important to partake of them when they are still uncooked.

 The cells of the human body are continuously dying and being replaced by new living cells.

In order for these new cells to grow, the body must receive adequate nourishment in the form of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and fiber. If the body is deprived of these essential food elements, the results are devastating. Lack of food can lead to distended bellies, premature graying of hair, fever, and skin sores. The body becomes vulnerable to a host of diseases such as rickets, beri-beri, and scurvy. Therefore, it is essential that the required dietary allowances of the body be met.

Consuming fruit or vegetable juice is an excellent method of fulfilling most of the dietary requirements of the human body. It is easier to drink the juice rather than to consume copious quantities of fruit and vegetable. Juice being in a liquid form, is also easily digested as compared to solid food. 

Juice therapy is a natural treatment and it takes time to have a curative effect. A little patience is all that is required to allow the goodness of juices to correct nutritional deficiencies in the body in a healthy and natural way.

 

Fresh fruits and vegetables:

Fresh fruits and vegetables are needed everyday in our diet to ensure that our bodies get all the nutrients which are required.  A minimum of 5 kinds of fruits and vegetables are required daily to ensure that we are getting all that our bodies require. This should be a mix of raw and cooked ones as raw vegetables and fruits serve an entirely different purpose. Certain nutrients are destroyed while cooking and this is why some of the vegetables and most of the fruits should be eaten raw and many have more nourishment in the peels. Many people prefer to go in for processed or canned vegetables and fruits but this is not the same as eating them fresh.

Fresh fruit vegetables:

Fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals are essential to build the immune system up, to maintain the metabolic rate and energy levels, and to maintain the sugar levels in the blood. Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants which help get rid of free radicals. Fruits and vegetables of various colors have different nutrients which help to maintain the system. Eating a diet with a combination of the different colors ensures a balanced meal. Fresh fruits and vegetables give a lot more nutrients than a supplement can.

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Non organic fruits and vegetables contain a lot of pesticides which are not there in organic ones. Often the favorite foods contain the most amounts of pesticides and no amount of washing can really get rid of the residue. Getting organic foods for your family is considered a lot safer. Unfortunately organic food is a lot more expensive and difficult to find in the market too. Some of the fruits and vegetables which should be organic are pears, peaches, strawberries, apples, grapes, spinach, bell peppers, celery, potatoes and raspberries as they absorb more of the pesticides. Vegetables and fruits with thicker skins are safer to eat if they are not organic.

Fresh fruit juice:

Fresh fruit juice has its health benefits but not as many as what the whole fruit would have. Though a fresh fruit juice is nutritious there is no fiber in it which is essential for cardio vascular health and also for the digestive system. Eating the complete fruit ensures that there is fiber in your diet and this is required for people with diabetes and other ailments. By drinking only the juice one eliminates this essential ingredient from the fruit.

Fresh vegetable juice:

Fresh vegetable juice can be had as a cocktail mix of several different vegetables. Combining several different fruits or vegetables will give you the benefits of a variety of nutrients. This would be like a salad of vegetables and fruits which is highly nutritious but low in calorie content. Some of the popular vegetables for juices are tomatoes, carrots, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage and several other vegetables. Cooking often diminishes the value of foods and having raw fruit and vegetable juice gives you the full benefit. 

Submitted on January 16, 2014