I love to juice veggies. I used to do fruit too until I found out the PCOS. Dont want to spike my insulin. How does juicing factor into the Zone? I would I calculate it? I like to drink eat with a meal, especially breakfast. Would they take the place of something that I eat? I normally eat oatmeal (steel cut) and two egg subs. Then I like to drink the juice for my drink, followed by a herbal tea.

The problem with juicing is that it increases the surface area of the food being juiced. Therefore, you would be making your veggie less of a favorable choice, as a juiced veggie also will spike your insulin more severely than eating it whole.

Even if the portion sizes are small? Ex 1 stalk of celery, cup broccoli heads. I dont do a lot at once. And I make sure to keep it to about 6 to 8 ounces with protein and fat. They wouldnt make a difference in the insulin spike?

Well, if your portion size is small, it won't have as big of an impact. But, it is still true, anything that you turn into a liquid is going to hit your bloodstream faster, than if it were eaten whole.

Your example with the celery and the broccoli, for instance...

If you ate it raw, it would take you a lot longer, with the chewing and swallowing. That, in itself, slows down the process of digesting it. Then, the stomach has to do its thing.

Now, if you take the same portion and juice it, you will drink it faster than if you had eaten it. Then, since you have already accomplished much of what the stomach would have done by juicing it, you have essentially put it into a form which requires very little digestion in order for the carbs to be available to be released into the bloodstream.

Hi Kira,

Juicing turns the fruit or veggie into unfavorable carb. 6 to 8 ounces of veggie juice isn't considered a little in terms of the Zone. Best thing to do if you really want to drink juice regularly is to try it. Note how you feel 4 hours later, and also see if it has any impact on your overall Zone results.

Thank you both. When I did it before I started the Zone, it didnt bother me. I do know that I drank a cup of V8 and had some apple sauce. A little while later I felt like I had too many carbs at that meal so I said I would scale it back. But with fresh juice Ive never felt that way. But I will try it in see. Thank you for your input :)

Kira,
I wonder what you have discovered about juicing since the last post?

I was going to ask about juicing after I saw on an Oprah show Dr Oz making a "green juice". It had apple, celery, lemon, cucumber, spinach and ginger. Thought this would a good way to get the veggies in. Might try it and see how I feel afterwards.

Margaret, if you want the recipe for Dr. Oz' green drink, here it is (I had it bookmarked):

Green Drink:

2 cups spinach
2 cups cucumber
1 head of celery
1/2 inch or teaspoon ginger root
1 bunch parsley
2 apples
Juice of 1 lime
Juice of 1/2 lemon

After everything is combined in a blender, this recipe makes 28 to 30 ounces—about three to four servings.

thanks Karen. I have it written down at home. Oprah said it tasted "fresh" so I might try it once and see what the reaction is!

Margaret,
I see 2 apples in that drink, along with the veggies. 2 apples is already 4 blocks of carb, plus the carb from the veggies. Are you going to make this drink several servings?

I am not sure if I could get this drink to work with my carb sensitivity. If you try it, let me know how it goes!

Hi CC

I was going to halve the recipe and then share it with my husband. If it still makes a lot I will have it for 2 meals.

Good idea, Margaret! I'm going to try it after I get a blender, but am going to cut the recipe into fourths. That way if I don't like it, I won't have wasted the food ... I'll use it in something else.

Hi Karen

When Oprah tasted it she said Yum and Fresh! So hopefully it will taste good and also keep us in the Zone!