In the health-food arena, the last few years have seen an influx of cold-pressed juice products.
You can find cold-pressed juice in raw form at juice bars or bottled and sold at farmers’ markets. You might also find it at your local grocery store (though not in true raw form).
While you have likely seen cold-pressed juice before, you may have a few questions, such as:
- What exactly is cold-pressed juice?
- What are the benefits of cold-pressed juice?
- Is drinking cold-pressed juice worth the high price tag?
Get the answers to all these questions in the Pritish Halder article.
Cold presses juice
Simply put, cold-pressed juice refers to the process of extracting juice from fruits and vegetables using a hydraulic press.
The “cold” in cold-pressed refers to the lack of heat generated or used during the juicing and preservation process. Without the use of heat in the production process, cold-pressed juice is touted as having superior nutritional value and flavor when compared to traditional pasteurized juices.
How Is Cold-Pressed Juice Made?
With traditional juicers — including home juicing appliances — fruit and vegetable juice is separated from the flesh of the product using centrifugal force.
- This process generates heat which can destroy enzymes and micronutrients.
- Cold-pressed juice on the other hand is a two-step process that involves a hydraulic press:
- First, fruits and vegetables are shredded into a pulp and placed into filter bags.
- Second, the filter bags are exposed to extreme pressure between two plates in a hydraulic press. The juice from the produce is collected in a tray, leaving the flesh of the fruit in the filter bags.
Consumption
Once the juice is extracted, it can be consumed right away in its raw form. The raw form may also be bottled and consumed within several days. It is important to note that the wholesale distribution of raw cold-pressed juice is not allowed by the FDA — it can only be sold direct-to-consumer, like at your local farmers’ market.
Wholesale cold-pressed juice (which goes through a preservation process required by the FDA) will often last up to 30 days on a store shelf. This explanation brings us to our central question — is drinking cold-pressed juice good for you? For more information please visit Pritish Kumar Halder ‘s page.
Is Cold-Pressed Juice Better For You?
The answer to this question is entirely dependent on your personal nutrition needs.
Let’s review each of these three common juice options and which nutritional goals they may help you meet:
- Cold-pressed juice: Nutrient-rich — A great option if you are getting enough fiber and protein but struggling to consume the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Also great for a detox (if your body needs one) or an immunity boost (if you’re feeling ill).
- Fresh-squeezed juice: An adequate source of fiber — This option often includes some pulp and flesh from the product which provides fiber crucial to a healthy diet.
- Smoothies: Highly customizable — Need protein? Add it. Need healthy fats? Add them. Smoothies allow you to keep the fiber naturally found in produce and add other elements that may be missing in your diet.
If you find yourself out and about in need of something healthy, pressed juice seems like the perfect option. They are now readily available, easy to take on the go, and full of fruits and vegetables – what could be better? As advertisements continue to lure customers in with vibrant colors and vague descriptions of health benefits, we recognize the need to educate you on the pros and cons of consuming pressed juices.
Pros
High in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
The process of making pressed juices utilizes a hydraulic press and doesn’t require additional heat or oxygen, which means that no nutrients are lost. All of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables can be obtained through pressed juice. The variety of fruits and vegetables packed into one drink can provide more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than a single serving of a fruit or vegetable. These have a variety of benefits, including anti-inflammatory and protective processes.
Easy to digest
Our bodies use a lot of energy to digest food and utilize its nutrients. Consuming fruits and vegetables in pressed juice allows this energy to be used elsewhere, such as to repair and regenerate cells. This contributes to benefits to overall body health.
An efficient way to get in your fruits and vegetables
Although we are constantly made aware of the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables, it can be difficult to work them into meals. Drinking pressed juice can allow us to get in a larger serving of fruits and vegetables than we typically would, and can be consumed in a short period.
Cons
Lack of fiber
Juicing fruits and vegetables rids them of their fiber content. Fiber slows the digestion process, which allows us to stay satisfied for longer. As a result, drinking fruits and vegetables through pressed juices will not fill us up the same way eating them does.
Calories and sugar can add up
Pressed juices are packed with several servings of fruits and vegetables. Drinking multiple juices can quickly add up and fill your body with extra calories and sugars without the feeling of fullness.
Expensive
Pressed juices are by no means a cheap option. They require several expenses such as the hydraulic press, technology used to pasteurize juices to make them last longer, and large amounts of fresh produce. The cost can range from $7.00- $15.00 a juice, which is significantly more than the product itself.
Reference
https://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/pros-and-cons-of-drinking-pressed-juices/
https://www.healthieruny.com/resources/is-drinking-cold-pressed-juice-good-for-you
