There’s this thing people do called juicing, and no, we aren’t talking about slang for steroid users at the gym.

Juicing, when related to fruits and vegetables, is the process of putting a whole piece of produce into a juicer to get–well–juice. And this nutrient-dense liquid is something everyone should consider adding to their diets.supplements

Juicing is awesome for two main reasons:

  1. It allows you to condense huge amounts of vegetables into smaller servings
  2. Juicing floods the body with phytonutrients (plant chemicals), many of which have been identified as powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.

Now, there are some things you need to know before you go out and buy a juicer.

  1. Don’t juice too many fruits. Fruit juice, even the kind you make yourself, is high in sugar, and a diet heavy with fruit juice can cause dangerous spikes in blood sugar.
  2. Don’t use juice as a meal replacement. Juicing adds nutrients to your diet, but it doesn’t give you the beneficial fiber you get from actually chewing and eating a vegetable.
  3. Juicing is not better than eating whole fruits or vegetables–it simply allows you to concentrate vitamins and minerals into a single-serving beverage.
  4. Don’t make your juice and store it. Make juice when you need it to prevent bacteria growth (unless you’re able to pasteurize your juice at home, then never mind.)

So, if you’re one of the many people out there who aren’t getting enough vegetables everyday, juicing might be a great option for you. Or, if you just hate eating vegetables, consider juicing as a way to get the nutrients you need with half the pain of choking down those awful carrots.

Wondering what the difference is between juicing and making a smoothie? Find the answer HERE.