Fruit and vegetable juice or whole fruits and vegetables, which is better for you

Who has time in this fast paced world we live in to peel, eat and perhaps cook the raw item?  Cooking and preparing the raw item takes time and energy that most of us (let’s be honest now) don’t have; nor do we even want to because a quick visit to the store or cooler gives us that boost and the benefit without all the hassle.  Juicers are more popular than ever; they are carried on the shelves of nearly every store out there.  And health food professionals are constantly toting “If you can’t get your fruits and/or vegetables any other way, then juice them.”  But have you read the labels?  Have you done the research?  If you juice them at home, do you know what you might be missing?

Malic acid is found naturally in all fruits and many vegetables.  It is often added to fruit juices, candies and wine to enhance the flavor with sour overtones.  Although this acid is a natural acid, it can, and usually does, cause excess tooth decay by breaking down the enamel of your teeth.  Often, juice companies who claim their juice is “100% Natural” add malic acid to make the juice flavor more intense.  Excess malic acid in your diet can cause mouth irritation and/or excess stomach acid while breaking down your enamel which cannot be regrown. 

I don't blame you; but I also see you racing to the store to purchase a juicer so that the juices you and your family drink are completely natural without any added chemicals.  But are you still serving the best thing to your family?  While juices, especially those you make at home, are still loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals, they have lost the one thing that makes fruits and vegetables more healthy than the juice---FIBER! 

Yes, fiber. Natural fruits and vegetables contain large amounts of fiber that slow down your body’s absorption rate because it needs the natural calories immediately to break down and use the fiber.  This means that less sugars, and calories, chemicals, fats and acids are being absorbed and stored in your body.  Also, by taking the time to prepare the fruits and vegetables you are also burning calories; calories you wouldn’t be burning if you grabbed up a juice and drank it on the go.  Another reason to eat your fruits and vegetables rather than juice them is this:  the natural sugars are more concentrated in the juice and are absorbed too quickly giving you a sugar high that doesn’t last and leaves you tired and run down.