Juicing? Is it good or bad for you? I have read many mixed reviews so I figured I had to try it for myself and make my own conclusions about one of 2015/2016's hottest trends.
Juicing- thumbs up or down?
The good folks at B Fresh sent me some samples to include juice in my diet and see if I could make myself feel any happier on the inside. I had the choice of #Sweet Greens- Apple, Spinach, Lemon and Kale and #Winter Warmer- Carrot, Apple, Orange and Ginger. No additives or added sugar, just pure cold pressed juice made from both fruits and vegetables that equates to one of your five a day.
As each one only had 90 calories or so, I decided to drink one for breakfast and one as mid-morning snack to give me the best possible start to the day.
I have to say I love pure fruit juice in the mornings- I enjoy the coolness in my mouth after not drinking anything for a few hours. There is nothing like a good thirst quencher to kick start your day- I have high hopes for this fitting in well with my lifestyle and preferences- but could I manage my fruit juice with a few added veggies?
Before
So, how do I feel right now? Tired, sluggish, bloated- all the things one would expect after a Christmas full of indulgences- this could not have come at a more appropriate time.
I have had stomach problems for about two years, with no real explanation or cure so I am keen to find out how it copes with the new regime. What better way to heal myself than though raw fruits and vegetables right?
I have also been vegan now for about a year so I am no stranger to the stuff from the ground however my attempts at making smoothies and juices have all failed miserably. Having them all ready to go makes life ten times easier.
After watching documentaries like Super Juice Me and Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, I became increasingly interested in the concept of juicing. It makes perfect sense too- yes, blending is easy and great for your body but it still contains the fibre- by taking the fibre out- all those vitamins and minerals get to the cells faster, so your body can get going right away without having to do much with what you're consuming.
The people featured in the aforementioned documentaries claim to feel better than they ever have before and they certainly look more refreshed than when they began- it all seems too good to be true. I sincerely hope it isn't.
So here we go…
Day 1
Today I began with a #Winter Warmer- Carrot, Apple, Orange and Ginger. I'm not a huge fan of ginger so I found the taste quite overpowering at first, however as I drank more and more, I got used to the flavours and the spiciness the ginger brought was quite nice in the end. If you are a ginger fan then you will love this product.
Throughout the morning I still felt tired and hungry. This was to be expected as I traded my typical Christmas breakfast of chocolate, stuffing sandwiches and fruit juice for less than 100 calories- my body was bound to be in a bit of shock.
I wasn't expecting miracles after the first day of juicing so we'll see how the next one goes. The first day of any new regime is always the hardest- I know this from doing many a fad diet in the past.
Day 2
This morning I tried the #Sweet Greens- Apple, Spinach, Lemon and Kale. I much preferred the flavours in this one as I didn't need any time to adjust. A much milder juice- I gulped it down in no time- I was really impressed with this one.
I still felt tired, however rather than reaching for the bag of Pear Drops as I did before starting this journey; I drank lots of water instead. Progress!
Day 3
I discovered how great this juice is on the go. I was heading out to Liverpool and so grabbed a couple of juices to take with me on the car journey. They gave me enough sustenance to walk around the city without feeling tired or indeed hungry until dinner time.
Day 4
Today I was cleaning my house so I didn't really have time to stop; consequently I put two of the #SweetGreens juices into a pint glass and drank them before I started. It gave me the energy to do everything I needed and I found that I wasn't hungry until about 3pm, which is very unusual for me. Clearly my body didn't need anything until that time and was satisfied with what I had given it.
Day 5
I felt a world of difference today- this time last week I had to go outside for a walk just to keep myself awake, but today I felt alert and had more mental clarity. Whether this was because it was my second week back to work and my sleeping pattern had reached a more normal rhythm or whether it was the juice, I don't know for certain, but something changed.
Day 6
I ate some very unhealthy convenience food for my evening meal last night and my stomach was feeling sore when I woke. That said, after my first juice of the day, it calmed right down- it felt like it was healing the damage I had did to my body last night.
Conclusion
So what are my thoughts now my juicing days are over? Pre-prepared juices are convenience foods- here's the wake-up call- convenience foods don't have to be bad. I brought a couple of juices in to work with me each day and all I had to do in terms of preparation was reach in to my fridge and pack one in my lunch bag- easy!
If you are on the move- they are great to have on the train, in the car- if someone else is driving(!)- or on the bus.
The flavours are deceptive- they are generally packed with more vegetables than fruit, but there is just the right amount of fruit in there to give it the sweetness many of us crave on a morning- usually from pure fruit juices.
They have a fast response on the body- because your body doesn't have to sort through all the fibre, chemicals, additives and preservatives- it doesn't have to rummage through to find the good stuff. Think of it like a sink- the juice gets drained away fast and doesn't clog up your plughole.
Yes- the juices are slightly pricier than say a bottle of pure fruit juice or a soft drink, however its worth paying that bit extra when you know that what you are putting in your body is actually doing you some good rather than giving you those rollercoaster highs and lows.
Let's look at my favourite- the #Sweet Greens. With just four ingredients there is a possibility you might improve your neurological heath, reduce your risk of dementia, lower high blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol, reduce your risk of stroke, diabetes and breast cancer and minimise inflammation- to name a few. (www.medicalnewstoday)
When you compare this to your usual breakfast- can you honestly say that it covers all these bases? Probably not.
I believe well-proportioned juices are the perfect start to the day. I have deliberated since the last year whether juicing is for me and sampling the B Fresh products has confirmed to me that this is something I want to try long term.
About B Fresh
Clean the big coat, get out the gloves, wrap up warm and don't forget a much needed juice; for a few months only B.Fresh, the cold pressed juice brand is bringing out the perfect drink to get you through the winter with the launch of new #winterwarmer.
Rich in minerals and vitamins, including vitamin A, #winterwarmer is a delicious blend of carrot, apple and ginger, packed full of all the ingredients needed to help keep a cold at bay and keep skin glowing.
Cold weather and darker days can cause havoc with our mood and complexion, making us feel and look tired and dull and the chances of catching a cold is more likely due to infections becoming more prevalent in December. With this is in mind B.Fresh has designed a bottle filled to the brim with goodness to help give you the boost you need throughout the winter season.
Freshly made on its own farm in Shropshire, B.Fresh are salad growers by trade, therefore only grow the best greens and vegetables to go into its fresh juices.
The #winterwarmer will be available from December for a limited time only and can be found at Wholefoods and B.Fresh online www.b-fresh.co.uk with a RRP of £2.50