Vegetable Juicing

Hi All, What are your thoughts on vegetable/fruit juicing?  I would limit the amount of fruit to avoid dumping.  I was reading about detoxing your body of toxins, etc and organic juicing was recommended.  A good way to get all of the vitamins in naturally as well.  Jack LaLanne has a juicer on the market that I have seen.  Has anyone tried this? Thanks, Lori in NH

I love juicing.  I did for years before WLS...and I believe it keeps you younger and healthier. I put it away when I was told by my nut not to juice because raw fruits and veggies were out of the question for several months. I never pulled it back out of the dust.  :) The juices are awesome and totally vitamin packed for certain...but the sugar (even though complex carbs) are somewhat high when you  juice because of the amount of fruits or veggies needed to make a glass. You might not be able to sit and eat 3 carrots and apple and a giant pinch of spinach, two stalks of celery and a wedge of  onion a sprig of parsley and bag of turnip greens...some beats...LOL (All kinds of weird concoctions) My family runs away when they see the juicer out! :)  I love it though....Some are downright gross, but I'd drink them anyway!!!  The only reason you can drink all of that is because a juicer takes all the fiber/bulk out of the food...and we need fiber as well as the vitamins in these fruits and veggies. I'm going to try some neat tonics myself to try to get my vitamins that I am deficient in. But on a small scale...Rather than drink an entire 8-16 oz like I used to...I will only do a 4oz drink or I may not get all my protein and fiber otherwise.  You will certainly feel the benefits from the vitamins if you absorb them this way...and that is what I'm hoping for too...I just don't understand yet how my body works now that it doesn't absorb vits and minerals the same...So I still have research to do...I'd hate to absorb just the sugars and calories and not the vitamins...That would just be empty calories....(The fiber I throw in a bucket of water and put around my plants....It is the BEST fertilizer!  If you compost (which I do) It makes GREAT healthy compost for your flower beds or gardens, trees et****asionally I will use the fiber in a cheese cloth and boil to make vegetable soup stock.  Then throw the fiber out around the garden.  So anyway...That probably wasn't much help, eh?  Just some thoughts from a veteran juicer...I haven't made one drink since surgery 4 years!!!!!! I did just puree some carrots and melon and mixed with protein...It was interesting flavor!  Pretty orange color!  LOL The taste was ....very (thick and earthy. Let's just put it that way.  :) The juicer would make that same drink lighter and less bulky.  Have fun if you decide. The jucier comes with a great recipe book. 

HIJACK... Anita, How are you feeling with everything going on with your iron. I had read your posts last week as my numbers are almost identical to yours. My doc wants to start iron shots but I am hesitant as I read they are extremly painful. So I am working with the nutritionist from the health food store on alternative options.  What did your doctor decide? Jennifer

Hi Jennifer... I have times I feel like my head is in a box or cloudy.  I get moments of just plain sleepiness. I fight it. I took my first afternoon nap in years last sunday...I just could not keep my eyes open (Unexpected company for two days wore me out) ...Slept for three hours and couldn't fall to sleep that night til wee hours of the morning...SO I'll fight the afternoon sleepies next time.  I actually feel quite well.  I keep waiting for it to hit me like a ton of bricks and it's just not. I feel pretty good...just a little tired.  My doc seems to have forgetten about me. I called her, and have been waiting for two days for a return call. I'm still waiting on a B-1 test that was taking a while to come back and a second zinc test too...I've been pumping the iron in me in an "amino-acid chelate" form....rather than the ferrous sulfate she prescribed. I read page after page on iron and found the amino acid form to be the bariatric doctors choice for best absorption in WLS people. And a fumerate?  Or something like that! I haven't found any....so I am sticking to the amino kind I have. My doc knows I am not the kind of person who runs to the doctor for every ache and pain...and actually I am the kind that you have to drag in there bleeding to death before I go in.  So she's pretty much letting me try to fix this my way first. She knows i do a lot of research...and I know if I feel bad...I can call her and she'll get me in immediately. I may request to speak to a blood doc for a second opinion on the anemia.  I am in NO hurry for iron infusions or blood transfusions...No hurry at all.  How are you feeling?  Anita

Thanks for your response. I am tired all the time. It kind of freaked me out that I slept for 9 hours Saturday night then took a nap for two hours at noon Sunday. But on the flip side I am glad I have some answers as to why I never feel good.  I have started the "hema" iron from the nutritionist and take it with vitamin C. I had been taking over the counter iron all along but taking it all wrong (at the same time as all of my other supplements). I know it will take some time to get the numbers up so I have cut back a little on the exercise program and trying to get in more red meat (not my favorite).  I am like you that I never go to the doctor. My PCP has been faxing my blood results to the surgeon for the last four years so this was the first time I had even talked to the surgeon since my one year check up.  I like that he tries to handle most everything over the phone so I do not have to drive 5 hours.

I am glad you are feeling good and not really feeling the effects of the anemia. Hope you are 100% soon.

Jennifer