Is Juicing Worth The Extra Time And Money?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's hard to argue against the benefits of eating your fruits and vegetables. But what about drinking them?

Juicing, the process of extracting juice from plant tissues, is a nutritional trend that's growing in popularity.

Each glass contains somewhere between 4 to 6 servings of fruits and veggies. The goal per day is between 5 to 9 servings.

Natalie Nyhus spoke with a registered dietitian to find out if there really are benefits to drinking your fruits and veggies or if juicing is just a fad.

Christina Meyer-Jax said there are many benefits to juicing and really no negatives.

One of the myths she said that revolves around juicing is that removing the fiber destroys the whole purpose behind eating fruits and vegetables.

"One of the benefits of juicing is that you condense the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that have disease-fighting power to them," Meyer-Jax said. "Fiber is awesome, so eating whole fruits and veggies should be a part of your diets as well."

She said it's important to not just juice, but to also keep consuming real foods. With a number of "juice cleanses" out there, you should make sure to consult with your doctor before doing one.

"Also, don't do it for an extended period of time. You are missing out on key nutrients, most importantly protein if you are exclusively juicing for an extended period of time," she said.

Meyer-Jax said to always wash your fruits and vegetables before juicing them.

Natalie Nyhus shared a recipe she used to give the WCCO This Morning team a taste test:

4 large carrots
4 large kale leaves
2 apples
Thumb-sized chunk of raw ginger
Squeeze of lemon juice