Welcome to Gaia! ::

Okay, I got one! Is it a good idea to drink juice? I don't have it that often, only a few times a week, but still. I'm talking real juice (naked juice, odwalla, etc.), not the stuff with high fructose corn syrup that is just like uncarbonated soda. I guess it would be better to drink water, but I don't usually get 5 servings of fruit per day even with juice.

It is healthier to drink juice than to drink soda pop or Kool-Aid, but watch out, and read the labels. Fruit is good not only because of the vitamins and minerals, but also because of the fiber. You don't get fiber from juice. Fiber makes you feel full, so you're likely to eat less, and it also scrubs out your intestines.

Overweight people who typically keep a low-fiber diet can, JUST by mixing fiber mix-ins into their food, often lose five to ten pounds. Why? Because some of your weight comes from food that gradually begins to stick to your intestines if you don't get enough fiber. Once you get the fiber to scrub that out, two things happen: One, you're not carrying that weight anymore. Two, your intestines' job is to leech nutrients out of your food and bring them into your body. If they're coated with food that you've already eaten but can't get rid of (by pooping, yes), they can't get that nutrition. But your mouth has already digested the sugars and starches because amylase, one of the digestive enzymes, is in the saliva. And your stomach has already processed the fats in your food. Your intestines are supposed to get the nutrients, but if they can't do that, then you've taken in all the sugars and fats, without getting any real benefit from the food. Right. You can be fat and still be malnourished! So your body, sensing that you're malnourished, sends you a signal: "Give me more nutrition." What's the signal? Hunger. You can eat either healthily or unhealthily, a lot or a little, and you'll still be hungry, until you get some fiber in your regular diet and clean out your intestines so they can do their job.

So really, eat your fruit. Drinking it is better than nothing, but if you can manage to get two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables each day, you'll be much healthier. And thinner.

Everyone has made very good points!

If you don't really like eating whole fruit, but still want to get the nutritional benefits-- you should try eating Dried fruits!

I personally LOOOVE Sunsweet Prunes, but I also like dried apricots.

People think prunes are gross, but they're actually just dried plums! So, they're very sweet and INCREDIBLY nutritious. They have tons of potassium and other vitamins, and a LOT of fiber. (They're better for you than eating bananas or blueberries, for example.)

They're filling since they're so high in fiber and they're sweet enough to satisfy a craving. (At least for me)

The one thing you don't get is the juice, of course.. you usually get a lot of water when you eat a fresh fruit. As long as you're drinking the recommended amount of water, it's fine.

PS: If you decide to try prunes or apricots.. take it easy on the amount. I don't recommend eating more than 2 or 3 at once. xd Why? Uhm.. they're PACKED with fiber. Meaning you will probably have to go to the bathroom after you eat them, when you start eating them. When you get used to eating them, you won't be affected as much.

Im always wondering if things i eat are healthy.

is pizza healthy?

I'm not sure on the nonfat cheese thing, but nonfat milk is perfectly healthy. smile They just filter all the cream out, and lots of milks add vitamin D or things like that. It's recommended to drink nonfat milk if you're dieting. (Or light Soy milk.) Though if you can't stand the taste or texture of skim milk, try 2% for a while. People who are used to whole milk usually don't like the fat-free kind.

Bump! o.x

Anyone know whether curry in general is healthy/fatty/whatever? It's hard to find nutrition facts for it.

edit: god i just noticed how old this thread is lol ninja