Is it good to juice in the morning?
Juicing in the morning has become a popular health trend, with many touting its benefits for weight loss, detoxification, and increased energy. But is drinking vegetable and fruit juices first thing when you wake up actually good for you? Here we’ll explore the pros and cons of morning juicing and help you decide if it’s right for your lifestyle.
Pros of Morning Juicing
There are some potential advantages to making fresh juices part of your morning routine:
Nutrient Density
Juices extracted from raw fruits and vegetables are extremely nutrient-dense. They provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For example, one cup of spinach juice can provide over 300% of your daily vitamin K needs. Drinking nutrient-packed juices first thing in the morning can be a great way to flood your body with nutrients and energize you for the day ahead.
Hydration
Juice provides an easy way to hydrate your body after going without fluids overnight. Starting your day with the high water content of fruits and veggies can leave you feeling refreshed.
Weight Loss
Some people find that juices help support their weight loss goals. Replacing a higher calorie breakfast with a low-calorie juice can lead to an overall reduction in daily calorie intake. Juices may also help you feel fuller and more satiated in the morning.
Detoxification
The nutrients and plant compounds in juices may help support the body’s natural detoxification processes. Starting your day with a cleansing juice containing ingredients like lemon, ginger, kale, or beetroot can get things moving and prime your system for elimination.
Energy Boost
The natural sugars like glucose and fructose found in fruit juices provide the body with quick energy. This energy hit first thing in the morning can leave you feeling more awake and alert for the hours ahead.
Better Nutrient Absorption
Juicing breaks down fibers and plant cell walls, making digestion easier. Some research suggests nutrients may be better absorbed from juices compared to whole fruits and vegetables. Drinking juice on an empty stomach allows for rapid uptake of these nutrients.
Cons of Morning Juicing
Despite its rise in popularity, morning juicing does come with some drawbacks to consider:
Blood Sugar Spikes
The natural sugars in fruit juices can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose levels. These blood sugar fluctuations can leave you feeling tired, irritable, and hungry again soon after drinking the juice. This is especially true for people with diabetes or prediabetes.
Less Fiber
Juicing strips away the beneficial fiber content of whole fruits and vegetables. This fiber helps slow digestion and control blood sugar response. The lack of fiber may also leave you feeling hungrier later on.
Reduced Satiety
Drinking juice alone provides fewer satiety cues compared to eating whole produce. This means you may end up consuming more calories overall if drinking juice versus eating solid food.
Tooth Decay
Frequent exposure to fruit juice acids can erode tooth enamel over time. Sipping juice throughout the day exposes teeth to these acids leading to an increased risk of cavities.
Not as Filling
The liquid form of juice provides only short-term hunger satisfaction. You may find yourself hungry again much sooner compared to if you ate whole fruits and veggies, which take longer to digest.
Oxidation
Freshly extracted juices begin losing nutrients through oxidation almost immediately. Preparing juice in advance for your morning routine means some nutritional value is lost over time.
High Cost
Purchasing a juicer and buying large quantities of produce to juice at home can get expensive. And bottled juices from shops often come with a hefty price tag too.
Nutrition Comparison: Juice vs. Whole Produce
To better understand the nutritional implications of juicing versus eating solid food, let’s compare the nutrients in 8 ounces of juice to the whole produce used to make it.
Nutrient | Apple Juice (8 oz) | Whole Apple |
---|---|---|
Calories | 114 | 95 |
Sugar | 25 grams | 19 grams |
Fiber | 0.5 grams | 4.4 grams |
Vitamin C | 2 mg | 8.4 mg |
For apple juice, we see that juicing increases the natural sugars. But the final product contains much less fiber and vitamin C compared to eating a whole apple.
Nutrient | Carrot Juice (8 oz) | Whole Carrots |
---|---|---|
Calories | 45 | 30 |
Sugar | 5 grams | 4 grams |
Fiber | 0.8 grams | 2 grams |
Vitamin A | 550 mcg | 428 mcg |
With carrots, juicing again removes most of the fiber. But interestingly, it concentrates certain nutrients like vitamin A.
These comparisons demonstrate why it’s important to continue eating whole fruits and vegetables even if you juice. The fibrous pulp left over after making juice also retains a lot of nutritional value, so consider using it in other recipes.
Should You Juice in the Morning?
Morning juicing can certainly provide a nutritious start to your day. But there are also some drawbacks to consider when deciding if it’s right for you.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
Consider Your Health Goals
If your morning priority is hydration and flooding your body with antioxidants, juice can be a great choice. But pay attention to how juice impacts your energy, hunger, and fullness cues through the rest of the day.
Include Protein and Fat
To help control hunger and blood sugar, balance juices with protein and healthy fats. Add things like nut butter, chia seeds, or Greek yogurt.
Watch the Sugar
Be mindful of juice sugar content, especially if you have blood sugar issues. Limit fruit juice to 4 ounces per serving and fill the rest with low sugar veggies.
Don’t Skip the Fiber
Make sure to also eat whole fruits and vegetables, and consider adding pulp back into your juices to get that important fiber.
Rinse Your Mouth
Swish water in your mouth after drinking juice to rinse away acids and protect your tooth enamel.
Drink Juice With Meals
Consuming juice alongside protein, fat, and fiber at breakfast can allow for a more steady energy release.
The Bottom Line
Morning juicing can kickstart your day with hydration and nutrition. But juices should not completely replace whole fruits and veggies. For balanced energy and fullness, enjoy juices alongside fiber, protein and healthy fats.
Pay attention to how your body feels in response to juicing compared to eating solid meals. You may find juicing works better for you at certain times of day. Some people prefer drinking juices in the afternoon when energy levels dip, for example.
As with any diet change, it’s smart to experiment to see what feels best for your unique metabolism and lifestyle.