Carbs in green juice

[Gudrun]

I bought myself a juicer and have been making green juice (using spinach, kale, broccoli, cucumber, apple, orange, lemon, etc.). I quite like these juices and wonder what the carb content would be once vegetables (and a few fruit) are juiced. Does anybody know the answer to this?

Gudrun

 

[forge]

Fruit is high in sugar and fructose is the bad sugar. With these juicers they tend to consume more than normal or at least that is what my brother said when he realised how much he was making and drinking.

 

[dawnmc]

Not sure really, think you would have to weigh the veg and work it out from that. Personally I don't use apples or orange, I use berries - just a small amount, I also add half an avocado and walnuts because they fill you up.

 

[DeejayR]

Hello there. I have a juicer which I used to use a lot. I would say put yours at the back of the cupboard until you've read what people on this forum have to say. I stopped using mine because I realised how much sugar was going into even the "healthiest" juices & smoothies. Pure veggie ones tasted horrid and I also started to doubt the point of smashing up good veggies which are much nicer eaten cooked whole with butter, cream & cheese. Also cleaning it properly takes ages and uses too much water.
But that's just me.

 

[AnnieC]

I bought myself a juicer and have been making green juice (using spinach, kale, broccoli, cucumber, apple, orange, lemon, etc.). I quite like these juices and wonder what the carb content would be once vegetables (and a few fruit) are juiced. Does anybody know the answer to this?

Gudrun

What is your juicer is it one that juices but leaves the rest of the fruit.. the pulp.. in the machine. They say the best ones use all of the veg and fruit like the peel pips and core they process down everything to a drink and are said to be healthier

 

[DeejayR]

What is your juicer is it one that juices but leaves the rest of the fruit.. the pulp.. in the machine. They say the best ones use all of the veg and fruit like the peel pips and core they process down everything to a drink and are said to be healthier

Yes, that sounds better. Mine leaves the pulped flesh & peel. I tried making a cake/pudding with apple pulp (before I was diagnosed T2) and it was awful.
I kn ow you're not Type 2 but have a look at this thread http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/thr...ype-2-and-taking-metformin.31685/#post-404561

 

[Brunneria]

Good to see you again, @Gudrun !

I think it will be difficult to calc the carbs in juice, because the pulp, and some juice will be left behind.

Personally, I would be tempted to just use the whole carb content of the fruit, and not subtract anything -erring on the side of caution!

Without the fruit pulp what carbs there are will arrive in the bloodstream faster than if you were eating the whole fruit/veg and chewing it as part of a meal.

They key to it working could be to test rigorously, before and then every 15 mins until you know how fast it hits the bloodstream, and how high you go. I definitely wouldn't rely on a 2 hr post prandial reading for juicing.

If you go too high, then you can make a few adjustments
Less fruit
Change to less sweet fruit
More veg
Stir some of the pulp back in to the juice
Add psyllium husks
Drink it slowly, over a couple of hours

My preference is for green smoothies (see link in my sig) because they are slower release, but I've done some reading on juicing, and there are some success stories out there, so you should be able to make it work with some tweaking.

 

[Gudrun]

Yes, that sounds better. Mine leaves the pulped flesh & peel. I tried making a cake/pudding with apple pulp (before I was diagnosed T2) and it was awful.
I kn ow you're not Type 2 but have a look at this thread http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/thr...ype-2-and-taking-metformin.31685/#post-404561

Thanks, DeejayR. I looked at the thread and it does not sound very encouraging. I will have to weigh and measure the vegetables/fruit I use and then check my blood before and after (1h, 2h, 3h interval) and figure out what is best to use. I had hoped that I could incorporate it as a meal replacement (for one meal each day) as my weight has gone up again and I need to lose nearly 50kg. But I have to play around a bit, I think.

Next week I have my first appointment with the X-Pert Diabetes education. Was on the waiting list since April last year. It will be interesting to see what they suggest.

 

[Gudrun]

Good to see you again, @Gudrun !

I think it will be difficult to calc the carbs in juice, because the pulp, and some juice will be left behind.

Personally, I would be tempted to just use the whole carb content of the fruit, and not subtract anything -erring on the side of caution!

Without the fruit pulp what carbs there are will arrive in the bloodstream faster than if you were eating the whole fruit/veg and chewing it as part of a meal.

They key to it working could be to test rigorously, before and then every 15 mins until you know how fast it hits the bloodstream, and how high you go. I definitely wouldn't rely on a 2 hr post prandial reading for juicing.

If you go too high, then you can make a few adjustments
Less fruit
Change to less sweet fruit
More veg
Stir some of the pulp back in to the juice
Add psyllium husks
Drink it slowly, over a couple of hours

My preference is for green smoothies (see link in my sig) because they are slower release, but I've done some reading on juicing, and there are some success stories out there, so you should be able to make it work with some tweaking.

Thanks, Brunneria. I have been ill for the last few weeks and can't seem to shake this cold/flu or whatever it is. I feel rough and have given up low carbing for the time being. Comfort food is what I need. Still checking my morning BS levels, though...

I don't like to eat a lot of vegetables, really, but feel that I don't want to miss out on the nutrients. That's why I thought of juicing spinach, kale, broccoli, etc. with a small apple or some other fruit added. I don't mind a few peas, or small portions of cauliflower or broccoli, but not the amounts we are recommended to eat. I had hoped that I could perhaps half the carbs found in whatever vegetables/fruit I use (half for the pulp, and half for the juice). But I agree with you, Brunneria. I will have to weigh it all and work out the total carb content.

Before I fell ill with this blasted cold I was on less than 50 carbs a day and managed quite well on that. Even if I were to find out that my green juice would be 30-50 carbs I expect it would still be ok as I only plan to juice every other day. It'll be the only way I get celery down...

Will be tweaking results until I am happy with results. Thanks for your encouragement, as always.

 

[DeejayR]

A cold or other infection always upsets my concentration. Perhaps you could give the brainwork a rest and concentrate on being kind to yourself until you feel better.

 

[beardie]

Fruit is high in sugar and fructose is the bad sugar. With these juicers they tend to consume more than normal or at least that is what my brother said when he realised how much he was making and drinking.

Why is fructose the bad sugar? I did not know this. I thought glucose was the worst.

 

[DeejayR]

Why is fructose the bad sugar? I did not know this. I thought glucose was the worst.

Have you read this?
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...ctose-corn-syrup-alters-human-metabolism.aspx
I may have got the link from this forum, I can't remember.

 

[beardie]

The headline is Sugar May Be Bad, But This Sweetener Called Fructose Is Far More Deadly. Fructose is sugar. didn't watch any more.

 

[forge]

Why is fructose the bad sugar? I did not know this. I thought glucose was the worst.

My neice who is a BA SC and has always specialised in food technology and now lectures at Uni told me it is the main sugar in lollies and the worst sugar, I am sure it will come up with a search.

 

[dvd]

I bought the nutribullet for my green veg drinks.. put about 4 different greens in, 2 strawberries, few blue berries, half avacado, some almonds, tea spoon chia seeds then water .. it makes a lovely thick creamy drink..would not score many points on the taste but its pleasant for breakfast .. getting my monitor tomorrow so watch this space for results ..