Juicing for Weight Loss and Fat

 

Juicing for weight loss is about giving your body the right nutrients to fight the two biggest fat making hormones in our body; insulin and leptin. We gain weight when the food we eat changes the way our body deals with food, ultimately making us fat. Find out how juicing can help us fight fat and lose weight…

Weight loss is one of the most common reasons people decide to juice. Not only does it help us fight conditions that could be the main culprits in weight gain, but juicing for weight loss can also give us the right nutrients to fight the flab. Juicing can help us keep our metabolism going and reduce the body’s ability to store fat without the need for strenuous exercise or weight loss tablets.

We all know that excessive fat on the body can possess as a serious health risk. It can cause type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, strokes, kidney and liver disease, sleeping problems, breathing trouble and even cancer. Large amounts of fat around your middle can cause cardiovascular problems and metabolic disease. None of these justify the pleasure we get from fatty unhealthy foods.

Weight loss is about reducing the amount of stored fat in our body, not about putting fewer calories in. Eating less won’t burn body fat either.

The body can only burn fat when there is no glucose (sugar in the blood) available. Calories themselves are not really the culprits, it’s the insulin that the body produces because of certain foods. Insulin stores unused glucose in the body as fat.

Juicing for weight loss means we can focus on nutrients that actually help lower insulin levels, therefore stopping as much glucose being stored as fat. Eating too much protein and too much fat along with too many carbs will affect our weight and how we carry it around out bodies.

How and Why Fat is Stored

In order to understand how to lose weight, we need to understand how the body actually gains weight and what causes it. When our body creates fat it’s called lipogenesis. This process uses protein, fat and carbohydrates to produce amino acids, fatty acids and glucose. Fat and protein can both be converted into glucose if necessary through a process called gluconeogenesis.

Insulin is a hormone that’s created in the pancreas and is responsible for day to day energy production. It helps our body absorb glucose from the blood. It is stored in the body’s muscles and liver as glycogen and stops the body from burning fat as a source of energy.

When the body needs energy it will convert the glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. Once the storage of glycogen is depleted it will turn to the body’s storage of fat and convert adipose triacylglycerol’s (fatty tissue) back into fatty acids. Our liver plays an important role in the regulation of insulin. It is responsible for reducing the emission of glucose in the presence of insulin.

The right amount of insulin in the body will ensure your cells receive necessary sugar in the blood (glucose) for energy to carry out day to day bodily functions. However, eating too many carbs, fats and proteins will result in weight gain. This is because the body only needs a small amount of insulin and if the body produces too much, it will turn the rest into stubborn body fat.

Leptin is a hormone that tells the body when it’s had enough food or when it needs more. It is an important hormone that helps us balance the amount we are eating and when. Leptin is directly tied to insulin levels and is produced by fatty acids. Resistance to this hormone means a lowered metabolism and increased hunger. Leptin resistance occurs when the body’s metabolism has been damaged and reversing its effects require more than just a calorie controlled diet.

Carbohydrates, Fats and Proteins

Carbohydrates turn into glucose in the body and its main role is to provide an energy source. Carbs are important to our diet, however, the type of carbs we put into our body that have an effect on our weight and insulin levels. Slow releasing carbs, such as non-starchy vegetables allow us to eat less and maintain energy levels in our body for longer. Fast releasing carbs, such as bread, pasta and white rice burn up quicker, meaning you will need to eat more to top up your energy levels quicker, which will raise your insulin levels.

Protein is made up of amino acids, and is vital for tissue growth and enzyme production. Once our body gets the nutrients it needs from protein, it will convert the rest into glucose. If the body doesn’t need energy, I will convert the rest into fatty acids. It’s important to remember that protein is not meant to be the main energy source for our body, but instead a builder for cells and muscles.

Don’t fall into the hype of believing all fat is bad. Eating fat does not make you fat, instead it’s the body’s ability to store excess amounts that could lead to weight gain. Fat is made up of essential fatty acids that are necessary for brain functioning and absorbing fat-soluble nutrients. However, if there are more fatty acids around than we currently need, especially saturated fats, they are sent off to be stored as body fat (adipose triacylglycerol’s).

Unknown Weight Gain

Sometimes weight gain is not because of a large consumption of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. If you’re doing everything right and you’re still tipping the scales in the wrong direction, then it’s worth looking at what else might be going on.

Stress

Stress is a very common reason people put on weight. Stress releases the hormone cortisol from the adrenal glands. This hormone is responsible for the “flight or fight” response that we get when we are in danger by regulation blood pressure and blood sugar. Cortisol in the short term is perfectly harmless, however, when stressed and you are releasing cortisol in your body over a long period of time, it could play a massive role in weight gain. It affects the body’s ability to convert sugars into energy, and the production of insulin. Study after study shows just how bad stress is for the body and abdominal fat. Even those who are naturally slim, suffer from weight gain when cortisol affects insulin levels. Juicing for stress will allow you to control your cortisol levels with certain nutrients.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Oestrogen Dominance

PCOS and oestrogen dominance is a hormonal imbalance that affects women who are of childbearing age. It can directly affect insulin resistance and the liver. It is quite common and has numerous side effects such as excess body hair, acne, weight gain and irregular periods. Woman with PCOS grow cysts on the ovaries which can make it difficult to have children. These hormone imbalances cause woman to grow resistant to insulin, often leading to weight gain, particularly around the abdomen.

It can be caused from either growth hormones and toxic pesticides present in our diet or environmental influences such as excess copper in the water. Large amounts of stress have also been proven to play a role. Excess oestrogen and PCOS is linked to weight gain, bloating and the storage of toxic fat within the body. One of the common reasons woman suffer from these hormone conditions is liver damage and insulin resistance. If the liver is unable to excrete toxins it will cause these hormones to build up within the body.

Controlling Insulin and Leptin Levels with Juicing

Juicing for weight loss is about getting the right kind of nutrients into our body that can significantly reduce fat storage and help control insulin and leptin hormones. There are certain nutrients we can focus on when juicing that will help us lose weight. Consuming foods listed in the low glycemic index can help keep insulin levels under control. A diet based on these recommended foods can help the body to regulate glucose levels and insulin production.

Have a look at our juicing calculator to see which ingredients have the nutrients you need. Insulin can be reduced by supplementing yourself with the right amount of nutrients contained in certain foods. A deficiency in these nutrients have been linked to weight gain:

Vitamin C

Vitamin C increases the metabolism and aids digestive absorption of fatty molecules.People who suffer from a vitamin C deficiency are more likely to be overweight and will generally have more fat on the stomach than those who are not suffering from a deficiency.

Top Vitamin C Foods:

• Papaya
• Bell Peppers
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Strawberries
• Pineapple
• Oranges
• Kiwifruit
• Cantaloupe
• Cauliflower

B Vitamins

B vitamins help you look after your liver, therefore helping you excrete toxins from the body. A deficiency in B vitamins could hinder insulin sensitivity, leptin sensitivity and the production of cortisol. B vitamins help activate enzymes that control digestion, absorption, and the utilization of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the body.

Top Vitamin B Foods:

• Spinach
• Beet Greens
• Asparagus
• Sweet Potato

Magnesium

Magnesium has been directly linked to cortisol and plays a big role in insulin and leptin sensitivity. This nutrient helps the body digest, absorb, and utilize proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and is necessary for insulin to open cell membranes for glucose. Magnesium also helps prevent obesity genes from expressing themselves. A deficiency causes improper use of energy from the food we eat, leading to symptoms such as anxiety and obesity.

Top Magnesium Foods:

• Spinach
• Swiss Chard
• Beet Greens

Zinc, vitamin D and Omega 3 Essential fatty acids are also essential nutrients you will need to include in your diet to help aid weight loss.

Weight Loss Spices for Juicing

Juicing allows us to add spices that will enhance the flavor and add to the health benefits. Here are a few that are worth adding to your recipes to boost the effectiveness of your weight loss efforts:

• Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a sweet pungent spice that can be added to your juicing recipes to help control your leptin and insulin levels. A study has shown that daily intake of just 1 grams of cinnamon was shown to reduce insulin sensitivity.

• Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper is spicy and will add a delightful kick to your juice. Its main weight loss component is capsaicin, which allows the body to burn more calories. It is also effective in reducing craving and increasing the metabolism.

Here are some juicing recipes for weight loss for you to get started on:

Enjoy!