Green juice questions

[Mr. Fuzzums]

Hey everyone! So I have a question(s). My juicer arrived the other day (much faster than expected) and I have been going crazy trying different things. Up until now I have pretty much never eaten vegetables so I was all excited at the idea of making green juices and also just eating veggies raw in general. Anyhow lol, already I'm having a lot of trouble with the taste aspect of it. I tried kale and nearly gagged on it. Same with cucumber. Spinach was tolerable, etc. So what I have been doing is basically making fruit juice and putting little bits of spinach and stuff in it to mask the taste. Sorry for that big intro there but now for my question!....

Food combining issues aside, and also assuming that I successfully cut out soda and junk food and all unhealthy sugary food, is it ok to be eating so much fruit??? I have been doing a big glass of fruit juice in the mornings and a 75% fruit/25% vegetable juice at night. That's definitely a lot of sugar right?? I figure it should balance with the idea that I am stopping soda and stuff but still, diabetes runs in my family and I want to try to reverse any damage I've done with all the candy and what-not. So thats the question delivered in my long-winded way lol: Is it bad to eat so much fruit sugar.

Also, on a side-note, is it possible to like...train your taste buds to like certain things??? Probably a silly question but can't hurt to ask. Thanks for reading!

[ambidestrian]

Here are some ideas that may help:

-Drinking soda, eating candy, eating salty food, sour food, etc., will all desensitize your taste buds. A brief fast drinking only water (You might try skipping breakfast and lunch unless you have blood sugar regulation problems) will re-invigorate your taste buds. (That's how I trained my taste buds to love vegetables)

-Some toothpastes alter your sense of taste - most contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and/or Saccharin. Avoid both. One brand that contains neither is called Biotene.

-Fruit juice is much better, nutritionally, than sugary beverages because it contains nutrients and phytochemicals in addition to the sugar. Do note, however, that juicing a fruit reduces its glycemic index - the sugar is absorbed faster. Balance and moderation are key and you will want to keep that in mind as you prepare your juices.

A note about water fasting: It is difficult at first but your body can adapt. It's probably something to do after you've increased your overall level of health.

Note: It is advisable to consult a medical professional before any diet, especially fasting of any kind.

[Revvell]

You need to get a book on juicing to make it palatable and answer your questions. I recommend Norman W. Walker's book. It'll save you time and money.

[Mr. Fuzzums]

Thanks Ambidestrian. I think I will do the water fast, don't have health insurance so I won't bother with a doctor, I'm poor as it is lol. You think 2 days would be a good length of time?? I'll definitely have to do it on my days off, I imagine it would suck to work while on a water fast.

Revell: Thanks, I never heard of this guy before, and was just researching him on amazon for a while now. I found a book of his called "Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices", based on the title/description and all the reviews it seems like it is perfect! It's $4.08 including shipping, pretty good deal I'd say.

[ambidestrian]

Mr. Fuzzums:

I'll share with you my own experience with water fasting and let you make your own decision.

When I began water fasting, I would get very hungry and weak after about 12 hours, and spent most of the fasting time lying down and being introspective - the process seems to heal on a mental and physical level. As I paid more attention to my body, I noticed how drinking a glass of water would bring a sense of rejuvenation.

I repeated the fasting experiment a few times, for about 24 hours each time, and then decided to do it weekly. As I began weekly fasting, I noticed it became easier and easier, and I would be able to function mostly normally while fasting. I had more energy and cleaned my living space more often.

I decided to try fasts longer than 24 hours and was met with a real challenge there - I have very low body fat, so I don't think it was healthy for me to fast longer than 24 hours.

Unpleasant symptoms I have experienced while water fasting include nausea to the point of vomiting, dizziness, hot and cold feelings, various aches and pains, and severe psychological malaise.

Benefits I have experienced from fasting include heightened perceptual awareness in the fasted state, euphoria in the fasted state, totally eliminated cravings for sweet and salty foods, improved concentration, and improved willpower.

Neutral phenomena included strange body aromas, tastes, weird thoughts, and alterations in urination - specifically, I would seem to retain water after 12-18 hours of fasting, even when drinking a glass of purified water every couple of hours, then after eating I would urinate about every 30 minutes copious quantities of clear urine.

Once I was so weak that I thought my blood sugar was too low, so I ate a small amount of honey with some water for its glucose content. For the most part, I looked at it as an excercise of conscious will over visceral impulse, so rather than self-betrayal, it felt like a logical thing to do.

When breaking a fast, I would usually carefully prepare a light meal, refraining from tasting until it was all plated then I would sit down and eat it slowly.

If you have any other questions about my experiences water fasting, let me know.

[Revvell]

Revell: Thanks, I never heard of this guy before, and was just researching him on amazon for a while now. I found a book of his called "Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices", based on the title/description and all the reviews it seems like it is perfect! It's $4.08 including shipping, pretty good deal I'd say.

It's a great deal and I'm thinking you'll love the book. I've had his books for about 25 years or so now. Still worthwhile.