Examining the Pros and Cons of Juicing with Suja Cold Pressed Juices
Juicing has grown increasingly popular in recent years as more people seek out quick, nutritious drinks packed with vitamins and minerals. Brands like Suja have capitalized on the cold pressed juice trend with their line of organic, non-GMO juices free of preservatives and artificial ingredients.
But is drinking these cold pressed juices actually good for you? While juicing advocates tout the benefits of flooding your body with a concentration of produce-sourced nutrients, some health experts warn there may be downsides as well.
The Convenience of Suja's Cold Pressed Juices
Suja's popularity stems largely from the convenience their products provide. Their juices eliminate the time needed to prep produce and clean up messy juice pulp. Their pre-packaged bottles also make suja juices easy to grab on-the-go when you're pressed for time.
This level of convenience has attracted many fans of juicing to Suja's line of cold pressed options. Their juices require no planning, prep work or clean up, making it easy to add more plant-based nutrition to your daily diet.
Vitamins and Minerals in an Accessible Format
The core benefit of juicing with cold pressed options like Suja is the high concentration of vitamins, minerals and nutrients from fruits and vegetables. By removing the pulp and condensing down produce into liquid form, nutrients become much more bioavailable and digestible for our bodies.
This means the nutrients from greens, roots, citrus and various other ingredients get absorbed and utilized more efficiently when delivered in cold pressed juice form. Many people see a real boost to energy, immunity and overall wellness from taking in so many nutrients from Suja juices and other bottled pressed options.
Weight Loss Claims Remain Unproven
While the convenience and nutrient value of Suja cold pressed juices appeal to many fans of juicing, some critics argue their weight loss benefits remain unproven. Suja and other juice brands often market their products with language touting metabolism, energy, vitality and reduced cravings.
But according to many nutrition and dietary experts, these juices may not promote weight loss for most people. Without the fiber content of whole fruits and vegetables, they note our bodies absorb natural sugars in juice rapidly, leading to quick spikes and crashes in blood sugar.
The Downsides of Rapid Sugar Absorption
That spike and crash of blood glucose levels provides the basis for another key downside of juices like Suja. Nutrition experts note even cold pressed varieties still lack the fibers and compounds needed to slow down the body’s absorption of natural sugars.
This rapid uptake of sugars entering the bloodstream can potentially contribute to food cravings, unstable energy levels, inflammation and other related health issues. Scientists remain engaged in ongoing research around glycemic responses to fruit and vegetable juices.
Examining the Specific Ingredients in Suja Juice Blends
When assessing the potential pros and cons of drinking Suja juices, examining the specific ingredients that go into their juice blends proves important. Breaking down the components in some of Suja's most popular juice products provides more context around their benefits and drawbacks.
Green Supreme - Cucumber, Celery, Lemon, Kale, Spinach, Parsley & Ginger
This vegetable-based green juice lives up to its name, packing highly nutritious greens like spinach and kale that deliver vitamins A, C, E and K. The cucumber and celery provide hydration while lemon adds vitamin C. Cold pressing these ingredients preserves heat-sensitive nutrients.
But without fiber and protein, this juice may not fill you up. Its vitamin K could also pose problems for people on blood thinners. Overall though, most experts consider green juices like this one to be highly nutritious.
Fruit Fusion - Orange, Pineapple, Apple, Banana & Dragonfruit
With three fruits mixed with orange and banana, this Fruit Fusion blend contains lots of beneficial vitamins and antioxidants. But the high glycemic load from its multiple fruit juices may cause spikes and dips in blood sugar.
While delicious and nutritious for some, this juice may prove highly acidic for others. The acidity could potentially contribute to digestive issues in sensitive individuals if consumed regularly.
Beet Lime Love - Beets, Celery, Apple, Lemon & Lime
Many juice fans love options containing beets for their vitamins, minerals and anti-inflammatory properties. However some sensitive people struggle to digest foods high in natural nitrates like beets. For these individuals, beet-based juices may cause temporary GI discomfort.
Another drawback stems from the glyphosate potentially present in non-organic beets. Overexposure to this chemical found in many herbicides directly contradicts the GMO and pesticide-free claims put forth by Suja around their juice blends.
Examining Juice Cleanses and Fasting Programs
Some fans of juicing opt to do extended juice fasts or cleanses with Suja juices and other bottled options. The benefits and drawbacks of this require examination as well when reviewing the pros and cons of drinking cold pressed juices.
The Idea Behind Juice Fasts and Cleanses
Juice cleanses or fasts usually involve cutting out solid foods for days or even weeks while ingesting pressed juices only. Advocates argue this practice gives digestion a rest while flooding the body with wholesome micronutrients.
In theory, taking this break from processed foods and poor habits enables cells to better assimilate vitamins and minerals. Boosted nutrition then promotes improved energy, vitality, immunity and even weight loss results.
Criticisms Around Extended Juice Fasts
Despite those arguments though, many health experts strongly advise against long juice fasts or cleanses. They note these practices provide essentially zero proteins, fiber and beneficial fats needed for sustained energy and health.
Lacking those key macronutrients for days at a time strains bodily systems and depletes stored nutrients. Metabolism slows as the body scrambles to maintain equilibrium without a steady intake of proteins, fats or complex carbs.
These drawbacks tend to undermine any benefits cited by advocates of juice fasting. Most experts argue extended rests from whole foods rarely justify the stress long fasts and cleanses place on our bodies.
Final Assessments on the Pros and Cons of Suja Juices
Given all the points raised around ingredients, sourcing, sustainability, absorption rates and more, what final assessments best summarize the pros and cons around Suja juices?
The Pros
When consumed in moderation as meal supplements or snacks, Suja juices can provide:
- Convenient plant-based nutrition
- High vitamin and mineral content
- Quality cold-pressed processing
- Tasty flavors from organic fruits and vegetables
The Cons
Potential drawbacks to consider around Suja’s products include:
- Spikes in blood sugar from natural sugars
- Lack of protein, fiber and beneficial fats
- Higher cost than whole produce options
- Occasional digestive issues in sensitive people
Like most health and nutrition topics, moderate common sense generally provides the best approach. Drinking the occasional Suja juice likely benefits most people adding more wholesome plant foods to their diet.
But relying on these juices too heavily as meal replacements may cause problems. As part of balanced approach though, Suja juices can be quite healthy and convenient.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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