By Michele Tenney
Michele Tenney
In my professional career I’ve seen a lot of fad things come and go, like toe running, ThighMaster, vibration belts and more. I do feel, however, the diet industry is the most disturbing, especially because they set people up for failure and are generally not good for your health.
I happened to be talking with someone who also works in the fitness industry who asked me if I knew about juicing. My first thought was “Oh no. Not another diet.” But what she was explaining to me got me curious, because I really didn’t know much about juicing. So naturally I did some researching and decided I would give it a try. But before I go on, here are some things to consider.
There is no conclusive scientific evidence that juicing is any healthier than eating whole foods or that juicing is a better way to detox our bodies from toxins. I do believe that vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables are very important to maintaining good health.
To continue: I bought a book and a juicer and I started juicing celery every morning. I didn’t feel any immediate benefit, but after the first week or so I noticed I was more regular and had a decrease in bodily inflammation. Then I upped the ante and started adding more vegetarian meals to my weekly meal plan. This combination was really showing good results with less bloat, better sleep and better energy.
I turned a client onto what I was doing, and she said it was helping her have better mental clarity. Each of us had different but similar results. I’m the type of trainer who will not suggest something to my clients I haven’t tried myself. It’s only fair.
Better digestion, anti-inflammatory response, adding more nutrients to my body and reducing toxins all at the same time is a win-win to me. Now, please hear me when I say no one should use juicing as a sole means of consuming food or as a weight loss option. It can be something good for you to add to an existing healthy way of eating to help boost your nutritional intake. Of course, exercise, sleep and good hydration are included in living a healthy lifestyle as well.
I think for some – especially those who do not like to eat fruits and vegetables – juicing is a solid way to get vital nutrients into the body. Once a week, usually Sunday mornings, I don’t juice. I get up and enjoy a nice cup of coffee with some quiet time to start my day instead of juicing. We need to have balance in all that we do.
I hope you give juicing a try. I believe in you. You got this. Here’s to your health.
Michele Tenney is a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist & Wellness Coach. She is a member of the Orange Board of Health. She can be reached at 203-668-2969 or email at Hmgbrd3@gmail.com.