Skip to main content

To juice or not to juice

By Victor J. Alfonso Jr.
FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service

Nowadays, “juicing” has become the trend among the fitness-focused population.

Juicing is a convenient way of infusing one’s diet with much-needed vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables.

It is also a great way of detoxifying the body, preventing disease and losing weight.

Plus you can brag about your juicing, which makes you look cool and trend.

However, is juicing every daily, okay?

According to the recent 2008 Food Consumption Survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), there was a decrease in the consumption of fruits from 104 grams per day in 1978 to 54 grams per day in 2008. While vegetable consumption of 145 grams per day in 1978 decreased to 110 grams per day 2008. Filipino households seem to overlook the importance of fruits and vegetables in their diet.

Fruits and vegetables are the most significant source of essential vitamins and minerals.

Fruits and vegetables also provide additional health benefits such as fiber and phytochemicals known to lower the risk of heart disease, cancer and micronutrient deficiencies.

Nutrition experts recommend that an average Filipino adult should to consume at least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits.

A serving of vegetables is equivalent to one-half cup or 40 grams (g) of non-leafy and one cup or 25 g of leafy vegetables.

One serving of fruit ranges from 45 to 300 g, and is equivalent to one medium-sized or one slice of a big fruit.

Despite numerous health promotion campaigns to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, reasons like “takes too long to prepare”, “fruits and vegetables are seasonal”,”they spoil quickly”, and “don’t really like eating fruits and vegetables” are still given by many people.

Thus, juicing provides an easier option to consume the daily recommended amounts for fruits and vegetables.

Juicing is an easy way of preparing and consuming fruits and vegetables. It is a practical way of using about-to-spoil produce, which helps reduce food wastage.

Also the water content in fruits and vegetables can help you stay hydrated.

However, having an all-juice diet is not a good idea because you need to have a well-balanced and healthy diet containing protein, carbohydrates and fats.

Also, some foods don’t juice properly, like meat and bread.

In addition, juicing destroys fiber in fruits and vegetables. Fiber helps in regulating blood sugar levels, gastrointestinal regulation, lowering cholesterol level and providing satiety value.

Juicing may help one lose weight in the short term, but can seriously harm the body if left unchecked.

So, the bottom line is, juicing in moderation can help you consume essential nutrients, but sole intake of juices is not advisable as a replacement to a regular healthy balance diet.


For more information on food and nutrition, contact:  Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Telephone/ Fax Nos: 837-2934 or 837-3164; Direct Line:839-1839; DOST Trunk Line: 837-2071-82 local 2296 or 2284; e-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or at mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/FNRI.DOST or follow our Twitter account at twitter.com/FNRI_DOST 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

 Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said.    Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel...

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy.   18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi...