If you find yourself out and about in need of something healthy, a pressed juice seems like the perfect option. They are now readily available, easy to take on the go, and full of fruits and vegetables – what could be better? As advertisements continue to lure customers in with vibrant colors and vague descriptions of health benefits, we recognize the need to educate you on the pros and cons of consuming pressed juices.
Pros
- High in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants: The process of making pressed juices utilizes a hydraulic press and doesn’t require additional heat or oxygen, which means that no nutrients are lost. All of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables can be obtained through a pressed juice. In fact, the variety of fruits and vegetables packed into one drink can provide more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than a single serving of a fruit or vegetable. These have a variety of benefits, including anti-inflammatory and protective processes.
- Easy to digest: Our bodies use a lot of energy to digest food and utilize their nutrients. Consuming fruits and vegetables in a pressed juice allows this energy to be used elsewhere, such as to repair and regenerate cells. This contributes to benefits to overall body health.
- Efficient way to get in your fruits and vegetables: Although we are constantly made aware of the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables, it can be difficult to work them into meals. Drinking a pressed juice can allow us to get in a larger serving of fruits and vegetables than we typically would, and can be consumed in a short period of time.
Cons
- Lack of fiber: Juicing fruits and vegetables rids them of their fiber content. Fiber slows the digestion process, which allows us to stay satisfied for longer. As a result, drinking fruits and vegetables through pressed juices will not fill us up the same way eating them does.
- Calories and sugar can add up: Pressed juices are packed with several servings of fruits and vegetables. Drinking multiple juices can quickly add up and fill your body with extra calories and sugars without the feeling of fullness.
- Expensive: Pressed juices are by no means a cheap option. They require several expenses such as the hydraulic press, technology used to pasteurize juices to make them last longer, and the large amounts of fresh produce. The cost can range from $7.00- $15.00 a juice, which is significantly more than the produce itself.
