Juicing for Weight Loss

In the raw food world, juicing for weight loss has become something of a movement. Thousands of people around the world claim to have experienced dramatic weight loss as a result of adopting fruit and vegetable juice into their diets.

They claim that the results are derived from the concentrated nutrients contained within fresh fruit and vegetable juice. It's no surprise either, given that the government recommends five to thirteen servings of fruits and vegetables a day, depending on one's caloric intake.

Many people are quick to point out that fruits and vegetables are not all created equal. For example, fruits generally contain more sugar than vegetables, which makes them less effective when it comes to juicing for weight loss.

In a recent study, 81 participants (mostly women) with weight problems were encouraged to follow a diet high in fruits and vegetables. In addition, they were randomly told to drink 0, 1 or 2 cups of low sodium, high potassium vegetable juice every day, for a duration of 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the people who drank vegetable juice daily lost more weight than those who didn't. The study concluded that vegetable juice may reduce a person's appetite, discouraging them from eating unhealthy foods.

Let's take a look at some of the best fruits and vegetables for people wishing to lose weight with juicing.

1. Celery. One stalk of celery contains roughly 10 calories. Drinking celery juice tends to eliminate cravings for sweets, which will have a positive effect on weight loss if consumed regularly. Also, due to the tiny caloric load, a person can drink as much as they like without worrying about gaining weight.
2. Beetroot. Beetroot is low in fat and low in calories, making it well-suited to juicing for weight loss. It also helps to stabilize blood sugar levels due to its low glycaemic index.
3. Broccoli. With no fat, broccoli is a strong contender as far as good vegetables for weight loss go. The carbohydrates in broccoli are complex, meaning that the energy is released slowly. Rather than the energy being stored as fat (as happens with high glycaemic index foods), it is expended gradually as you require it.
4. Spinach. Spinach tends to be popular in vegetarian diets geared to weight loss. It contains high amounts of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins A, C, E, K, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, copper and manganese. Also, with a high fiber content spinach minimizes water retention.
5. Grapefruit. A study in 2004 at the Scripps Clinic in California found that consuming grapefruit before a meal helps people to lose weight. While the mechanism isn't completely understood, the results speak for themselves. Grapefruit is also extremely low on calories with an average of only 39 per serving.

How to Get Started

Juicing fruits and vegetables is a relatively simple process, with just two main things needed: a juicer and the fruits and vegetables to be juiced. While there are many juicing recipes online, they are generally not necessary to get started. Experimentation is key; however, juicing for weight loss aficionados tend to recommend focusing on the fruits and vegetables listed above.

About the Author: John McIntyre runs a popular juicing website where you can learn more about the benefits of juicing.

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