Juice it!

Alternative or complementary therapy is becoming more and more accepted in western society with many therapies now mainstream forms of healing.

There are others that are maybe not so well known however and Juice Therapy no doubt falls into that category, although we are all aware of how vitamins can sustain us and that fresh juices are beneficial.

Raw juice therapy is a method of treatment of disease through an exclusive diet of juices of fruits and vegetables. It is also known as juice fasting and is considered by some to be the most effective way to restore health and rejuvenate the body.
Fresh fruit and vegetable juices have been shown to possess remarkable health-promoting properties and have in actual fact been used for centuries by naturopaths to help treat a range of ailments.

Lime juice was, for example, found to be an effective cure for scurvy in the sixteenth century and this saved thousands of sailors’ lives on their long voyages around the world. In more recent times, scientists have identified the nutritional and biochemical properties of freshly-prepared fruit and vegetable juices which account for their use in helping treat so many health problems.

However, it is important to note that by ‘juice’ the therapists are not referring to those that are purchased in tins or cartons. Commercially prepared juices are often so processed that the nutritional content is largely lost and the healthy enzymes are killed by heat sterilisation. In fact, vitamins often have to be added to the juices. These commercial juices may make for a refreshing drink but they do not have the same health benefits as freshly squeezed juices made from a home juice extractor.
Freshly squeezed juices contain naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and enzymes which are far better than synthetic tablets. The nutrients are easily absorbed into the bloodstream and within ten minutes they are nourishing your body’s cells.

Alternative practitioners say that natural fruit and vegetables juices are natural tonics, offering a safe, inexpensive way to stimulate digestion, bolster the immune system and encourage the elimination of toxins.

Fresh juices are also believed to be a potent weapon against disease with studies showing that juices can speed the healing of infections and can even help cure stomach ulcers. And when used in conjunction with other natural techniques, such as herbs, homeopathy and nutritional therapy, fresh juices can create an optimal nutritional foundation to bolster the body’s innate healing abilities.

Why not just eat fruits and vegetables?

The reason is simple; solid foods have to go through the body’s digestive tract and this can take several hours and requires a healthy digestive system. Juice, on the other hand, is assimilated and absorbed very quickly into the blood stream without taxing the digestive system. By juicing fruits and vegetables you lose only the fibre, but this means that a much higher quantity of nutrients is available in the juices.

What ailments can be treated with juice therapy?

All fruit and vegetables have incrediable curative properties and offer a natural way to good health but here are some specifics:

• High blood pressure antidotes: Papaya,orange,lemon,pomegranate
  
• Skin disease preventives: Apple, carrot,watermelon,lemon.
  
• Asthma prophylactics: Amla,carrot, pomegranate.
  
• Constipation regulators: Guava, mosambi, apple.
  
• Digestion aid: Spinach (palak).
  
• Diabetic control: Bitter gourd (karela).
  
• Acidity: Grapes, orange, mosambi, carrot and spinach.
• Acne control: Grapes, pear, plum, tomato, cucumber, carrot, potato and spinach.
  
• Arthritis alleviation: Sour cherry, pineapple, sour apple, lemon, grapefruit, cucumber, beet, carrot, lettuce and spinach.
  
• Cold cures: Lemon, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, carrot, onion, celery and spinach.
  
• Colitis: Apple, apricot, pear, peach, pineapple, papaya, carrot, beet, cucumber and spinach.
  
• Menstrual Disorders: Grapes, prunes, cherry, spinach, lettuce turnips and beet.
  
• Piles: Lemon, orange, papaya, pineapple, carrot, spinach, turnip and watercress.
  
• Stomach Ulcers: Apricot, grapes, cabbage and carrot.
  
• Sinus Trouble: Apricot, lemon, tomato, carrot, onion and radish.
  
• Sore Throat: Apricot, grapes, lemon, pineapple, prune, tomato, carrot and parsley.

According to nutritionists, if you fast for 24 hours once a week, taking fresh fruit and vegetable juices every two to three hours, you will detoxify your body and help rid it of disease. It is advisable however to consult a doctor before embarking on this treatment, particularly if pregnant or on medication.

Of course, you don’t have to fast to enjoy fresh juice and feel the benefit. Just get a juice extractor and start juicing. There are certain ‘rules’ to follow if you plan to try juice therapy and it is therefore best to consult a therapist to find out what juices work best with others.

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