5 Tips To Choosing A Healthy Green Juice

Last updated on : June 23 2021

Leafy Green Juice

To choose a healthy green juice, you need to make sure it has all the healthy ingredients in the right amount. Check out this article to learn more about it.

Green juice has become very popular these days because more and more people are becoming health conscious.  

The trend of green juices first started with homemade, healthy ingredients. But now, it is being mass-produced and comes at affordable prices. 

However, a failure of mass production is that often big companies fail to maintain the quality of their beverages. Since green juice is sold as a healthy choice, it should have healthy ingredients.

In this article, we will be talking about how to choose healthy green juices. But before that, let's check out whether authentic green juices actually live up to the hype.

What Is Green Juice?

As the name suggests, green juice is made from healthy green vegetables. There is no definitive recipe for creating green juices, but the most common ingredients are celery, spinach, kale, wheatgrass, cucumber, mint, and parsley.

Using just these items can make this healthy treat slightly bitter. To make it more flavorful, you can add some common fruits like apples, lemons, berries, oranges, kiwifruits, and grapefruits. The fruits you add do not necessarily have to be "green." Whatever ingredient you use, it should be fresh and healthy.

Is Green Juice Really That Healthy?

If you make green juice at home with minimal yet fresh ingredients, it can be a very healthy and refreshing drink.

The veggies and fruits we talked about are high-quality sources of vitamins, plant compounds, minerals, and other healthy materials. For instance, wheatgrass contains vitamin C, kale is packed with vitamin A and green veggies, in general, help reduce inflammation.

Fresh, green juice can also act as probiotics. Regular consumption of probiotics can enhance your immune system, help reduce weight, prevent constipation, and improve digestion.

The store-bought green juices can provide the same health benefits if they use all the right ingredients in the right amount. 

However, to make this healthy beverage more flavorful, manufacturers might add sugar or preservatives to provide a longer shelf life. So before you buy, check the label for additives that might detract from the drink's health. 

Sugar makes the juice taste good but takes away some of the vital effects the juice is supposed to have on our bodies. But as we said earlier, not all commercial green juice is unhealthy. 

Some manufacturers add supplements to make the juice healthier. For instance, a particular green juice from 'Organifi' is gluten-free, dairy-free, and 100% organic. You can check out this full review on Organifi's green juice to learn more about it.

5 Tips to Choosing the Right Green Juice

You have to look for a few things to ensure that the green juice you buy from the store has fresh and healthy ingredients. Look out for the following things:

1. It Should Not Have Added Sugar

Green juices are supposed to be packed with vitamins and nutrients. So having added sugar is a big no-no. Before purchasing, take a look at the label and see if they have used anything related to sugar.

This includes corn syrup, evaporated cane juice, fructose, different types of sweeteners, or concentrated fruit juice. All these are sources of added sugar. You can check the label to see if your green juice has any of it. If it does, then the juice is not worth the money. 

Remember, if your green juice has any other item except fruits and vegetables, then it should not be there in the first place.

Also, if you have to take one with sugar, then make sure the amount is low. For instance, 12 grams of sugar for a 300-gram juice is considered safe. Having 10 grams of sugar per serving is also a safe option - although it is still two teaspoons, so not ideal.

Read More - Glycation - How Eating Sugar Ages Your Skin

2. Choose The One With The Most Greens

Since it is a green juice, it should contain plenty of veggies and fruits. As you browse through different green juice products, compare and find out which one has the most amount of green ingredients.

Green juices should contain more veggies than fruits. Fruits are there to make it a bit more naturally sweet and flavorful. But the main healthy features come from green vegetables. Leafy greens should be the primary item of your green juice.

Leafy vegetables like celery, spinach, kale, wheatgrass, cucumber, collard greens, beet greens, arugula, mint, and parsley should be high on the nutrition facts label. If it has more fruits than vegetables, then it is basically a fruit juice with a little bit of spinach or kale.

3. Be Aware Of Other Healthy Ingredients

Some green juices can have vitamin extracts or other health supplements. This boosts the healthy aspects of your green juice. Carefully read the nutrition facts label. If you find anything that you do not know about, ask a professional health care provider or google it to know exactly what it is.

4. Choose Cold-Pressed Juices

Cold-pressed juices are created by using a high-pressure processing system. This makes sure the flavor, taste, and nutrients stay intact for a long time. 

If you buy cold-pressed green juices and taste them, you will feel much more refreshed because it retains the flavor till it is opened.

You will not get the same fresh taste from juices that are processed using heat or pasteurization. The heat cannot confine all the nutrients and flavor of the juice, which might make it taste different.

Cold-pressed green juices are a bit more expensive than pasteurized ones, but if you can afford the higher price tag, then definitely go for it.

5. Fiber Is A Bonus

First, you have to look at whether the juice has added sugar, then look for the leafy greens. Finally, if it has a few grams of fiber, then even better.

Fiber will make the juice digest slower and make you feel fuller for longer. This helps when you want to lose weight.

Five Refreshing Green Juice Recipes

If you want to be completely safe from fake, store-bought green juices, then you can make them at home. They are fairly easy to make, and about anyone can do it. 

Here are our favorite five recipes you can try at home. 

1. Green Juice Mixed with Lemon 

The primary items for this green juice are kale, spinach, and romaine. These are your source of nutrients. Please put them in a blender and create your juice. To make it appetizing, mix it with carrots, cucumber and top it off with some lemon juice. 

2. Refreshing Leafy Green Smoothie

You can use any leafy greens as your main ingredients. Use celery, kale, lime, or cucumber and mix it with some fresh yogurt to get some extra protein and a smoothie-like consistency.

3. Orangey Green Juice

Your main ingredients are parsley, spinach, celery cucumber, orange juice, and some green bell peppers. For the orange juice, it would be best if you have it freshly squeezed.

Put all your leafy greens in a blender or juicer and make the green juice. Then, pour in your orange juice and give it a second whirl. Once it is finished, you will have a refreshing and citrusy green juice ready to be served.

4. Green Smoothie With Pineapples

You can make your healthy green smoothie into a tropical delight by adding some pineapple. The pineapple is not just for show. It contains vitamin C and fiber and is known to be a natural anti-inflammatory agent. The process is similar to the orangey green juice. To further enhance its nutrients and flavor, you can add some hemp seeds, nuts, or chia seeds.

5. The Detox Green Juice

For your leafy greens, use 2 cups of chopped baby spinach and baby kales, 2 ribs of celery, and 1 apple.

As for detoxing, use 1 cup of frozen sliced banana, 1 cup of almond milk, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, and 1tablespoon of grated ginger to top it off.

Effective Juicing Tips

Making green juices is very simple and straightforward, but to make things easier, follow these tips-

● Buy a powerful blender or a high-quality juicer. Be sure to check for reviews online before making any purchase. 

● Always buy completely organic products, thoroughly wash them, and gently peel off their skins.

● Cut or chop your ingredients into nice, small pieces. Do not jam your blender by forcefully adding too many veggies. You could end up stressing the juicer and damaging the motor.

● Try to drink your juice immediately or within the first 24 hours. You can preserve green juice in the fridge if it is sealed airtight. However, it is best to drink it immediately.

● If you have leftover pulps, then don't throw them away. Use it later in cakes, biscuits, or bread.

Final Thoughts

Green juice has plenty of health benefits, but it is not a replacement for a good diet. The juice is a good way to stay hydrated and maintain nutrients when you are on the go. Make sure to heed our advice and try our recipes, and you'll be enjoying refreshing, healthy green juices in no time.

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