Nutrition difference between green juice and fresh greens?

[GuavaGirl]

I'm supposed to eat a certain amount of green leafy vegetables everyday. I was thinking of eating them juiced, but was wondering how much nutrition I'd be losing (other than the fiber). Probably not much, unless some of vitamins are within the fiber???? What do you think? Does green juice count as a green leafy serving?

[Ruthla]

I'd say yes. And it's probably easier to get in more greens this way (since it's less filling without the fiber) so you're getting more protein, B vitamins, etc.

[laohaire]

To minimize nutrition loss in juicing:

1) drink right away
2) consider using a vitamix instead of a juicer

But certainly, I would think juicing greens would meet your nutritional needs very nicely!

Depending on what nutrients you need from greens, you may also be interested to know that greens are more easily digested with fat. Hence putting salad dressing on your salad is a GOOD idea (as long as the salad dressing isn't full of chemical junk and sugar of course!) despite what the diet folks tell you

[Quirky]

I personally am not a big fan of juicing any more as I feel that you lose so much with the fiber, etc. and get a huge rush of liquids/sugars that don't fill you up.

One very cool way to get raw greens down to a manageable amount is to chiffonade them and then massage them with salt for a couple of minutes, a la Massaged Kale Salad. This reduces the bulk amazingly and also gets some of the bitterness tamed without cooking.

I also loved cooked greens, and these reduce in bulk amazingly well, so my dh and I will often finish four bunches of cooked greens in a single sitting.

[Llyra]

Another option besides juicing is pureeing. I frequently will lightly steam greens (usually kale, broccoli, spinach, or collards), then throw them in the blender and puree, and then add the puree to different foods-- a sauce, a gravy, a yogurt smoothie, etc. I don't strain it, so you do get some leafy bits, but it does get them down easier when you're tired of eating them in other ways. We love greens, but we often have WAY more in the house than anybody wants to eat, since we can winter them over in the garden.

[Sailor]

I'm a fan of juicing. I use a Vitamix, though. I drink about a quart of green juice a day. I get my fiber from many other sources, so it's not an issue for me. I actually love that I can get all the nutrients, but without the fiber or bulk that fills me up.

As long as you get enough calories and fiber in general, juicing is a good way to get your nutrients. And, yes, according to my ND green juice does count as your "green, leafy veggie" serving.

I usually have my green juice in the morning, right after exercising. I drink it while eating breakfast.

[laohaire]

Sailor, does Vitamix have a juicer these days? I hadn't heard of that!

[Sailor]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Sailor, does Vitamix have a juicer these days? I hadn't heard of that!

No, sorry for the confusion. I have a separate juicer, not the Vitamix. When my dp makes green juices, he uses the juicer. However, I just use the Vitamix and call it green juice. It's so good at really making everything smooth and melded together that it's not much of a difference to me.