Which juice is healthy and drink everyday?

Drinking fruit and vegetable juices can be a tasty way to get your daily dose of nutrients. Fresh juices provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant compounds that can benefit your health. However, not all juices are created equal. Some contain high amounts of sugar and very little fiber, meaning their nutritional value is not as high. When choosing a healthy juice to drink daily, it’s important to consider ingredients as well as preparation methods.

Nutrients in Fresh Juices

Fresh fruit and vegetable juices retain most of the vitamins, minerals and plant nutrients of the whole produce. However, juicing removes the fiber content, which affects nutrient absorption. For example, without fiber to slow digestion, fruit sugars enter the bloodstream rapidly and can spike blood sugar levels. Juices made from vegetables like spinach, kale and carrots contain beneficial antioxidants and nutrients with less of a blood sugar impact.

Most Nutrient-Dense Juice Ingredients

The most nutrient-rich ingredients for fresh juices include:

• Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and chard
• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and bok choy
• Brightly colored fruits like berries, cherries, apples, oranges, kiwis
• Root vegetables like carrots, beets, sweet potatoes
• Citrus fruits like grapefruit, lemons, limes
• Ginger, turmeric, mint, parsley and other fresh herbs

These foods are packed with antioxidants, vitamins like A, C, and K, minerals like potassium and magnesium, and beneficial plant compounds.

Healthiest Juice Combinations

Creating juice combinations using vegetables as the base along with minimal amounts of low-sugar fruits can result in great nutrition and flavor.

1. Mean Green Juice

This savory green vegetable juice gets tanginess from lemons and apples. Use 60% vegetables and 40% fruits.

• 1 cucumber
• 1 celery stalk
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 cup kale leaves
• 1/2 lemon
• 1 green apple

2. Carrot Beet Ginger Juice

Pack a punch of antioxidants with vitamin C-rich orange veggie juices. Use 75% vegetables and 25% fruits.

• 5 carrots
• 1 beetroot
• 1 orange
• 1-inch ginger

3. Green Apple Cucumber Juice

Hydrating cucumber makes up the bulk of this light juice. Use 85% vegetables and 15% fruits.

• 1 cucumber
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 cup spinach
• 1/2 green apple
• 1/2 lemon

Best Fruits to Use in Juices

While vegetables make up the majority of healthy juices, fruits add important nutrients and sweetness. Some of the best fruits to juice include:

Fruit	Key Nutrients	Benefits
Apples	Vitamin C, antioxidants	Boost immunity, heart health
Berries	Vitamin C, antioxidants	Improve brain function
Citrus	Vitamin C, folate	Support immunity
Cherries	Antioxidants	Reduce inflammation
Grapes	Vitamin C, K, antioxidants	Heart and brain health
Kiwis	Vitamin C, potassium	Immunity and heart health

These fruits are lower in sugar than grapes, mangos, bananas and pineapple. They provide important vitamins, minerals and plant compounds with a lower glycemic impact.

Worst Fruits to Use in Juices

Some fruits are best consumed whole or in moderation rather than juiced. These include:

Fruit	Sugar Content	Glycemic Index
Watermelon	9g per 100g	72 (high)
Pineapple	9g per 100g	66 (medium)
Mango	14g per 100g	60 (medium)
Grapes	16g per 100g	53 (medium)
Banana	12g per 100g	51 (medium)

With juicing, the fiber is removed, spiking blood sugar. It’s best to eat these fruits whole and in moderation to reap their nutritional benefits.

Juicing Methods: Cold Press vs Centrifugal

Juicing method impacts the nutrient content of homemade juices. Cold press juicers crush fruits and veggies to squeeze out juice. Centrifugal juicers grind produce at high speeds, exposing juice to heat and oxygen.

Cold Press Juicers

• Retain nutrients better than centrifugal juicers
• Juices can be stored for up to 3 days
• Higher juice yields from produce
• Juices do not get foamy
• Quieter operation

Centrifugal Juicers

• Faster juicing but some nutrients degrade
• Juices oxidize and should be consumed immediately
• Produce less juice yield
• Juices come out frothy
• Louder operation

For maximum nutrition, a slow cold press juicer is ideal. However, centrifugal juicers are more affordable options when starting out.

Tips for Making Healthy Juices at Home

Follow these best practices when making fresh juices at home:

• Wash all produce thoroughly before juicing.
• Aim for around 60-80% vegetables and 20-40% fruits.
• Juice produce with skins and peels when possible to get valuable nutrients.
• Use produce within a few days and store juices up to 3 days.
• If using a fast juicer, drink immediately before oxidation.
• Combine green leafy veggies like kale with sweeter fruits.
• Add fresh herbs like mint, parsley or basil for flavor.
• Include a slice of lemon or lime to help cut bitterness.

Potential Downsides of Juicing

While juices can be nutritious, there are some drawbacks to consider:

• Lower fiber content compared to whole fruits and vegetables
• Phytochemicals interact; juicing alters these plant compounds
• Sugar content spikes when fiber is removed
• Higher calorie intake is easy with juicing
• Important nutrients like protein and healthy fats are missing
• Not as filling as eating whole produce

To get the most out of juicing, rotate it with whole fruits and veggies instead of relying on it exclusively. And limit fruit-heavy juices to keep sugar in check.

The Bottom Line

Drinking fresh juices made primarily from vegetables with some fruits and herbs can provide beneficial vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals. Focus on produce like leafy greens, carrots, beets and citrus fruits. Limit high-sugar fruits like grapes, bananas, mangos or pineapples. And vary your intake by also eating whole fruits and veggies. With a well-balanced approach, enjoying fresh homemade juices can be healthy part of your diet.