To regain energy and lose weight, I decided to do a fruit and vegetable juice treatment. A falsely good idea, according to the conclusions of a new study. We explain why..
The fruit and vegetable juice treatment may not be as beneficial as you might think. The results of a new study conducted by Northwestern University (USA) have shown that a diet consisting only of fruit and vegetable juices may lead to changes in gut and oral bacteria associated with inflammation and cognitive decline. What is even more alarming is that these changes can occur even after just three days of cleansing the body by consuming fruit and vegetable juices.
Microbiota disrupted
According to the results published in the journal Nutrients, the participants were divided into three groups:
The first consumed only fruit juices,
The second drank juices with whole foods,
And the third ate only whole plant foods.
All changes were analyzed using saliva, cheek and stool samples.
Results? The different samples collected allowed the researchers to observe that individuals who consumed only juices showed the greatest increase in bacteria associated with inflammation. Conversely, those who ate whole plant foods had more favorable microbiome changes. “These findings suggest that consuming juice without fiber may lead to microbiome imbalances, which could have long-term health consequences,” the study’s press release said.
The importance of fiber
“Most people think of fruit juice as a detoxifying agent, but this study gives us a reality check,” said lead author Melinda Ring, Ph.D., director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Northwestern Medicine. “Drinking large amounts of juice with little fiber can lead to microbiome imbalances, which can lead to negative consequences, such as inflammation and decreased gut health.”
According to the study’s authors, drinking fruit and vegetable juices doesn’t allow you to benefit from the dietary fiber found in whole fruits and vegetables. Fiber is what feeds beneficial bacteria that produce anti-inflammatory compounds like butyrate. Without fiber, sugar-loving bacteria can proliferate. The presence of sugar in juices contributes to the promotion of these harmful bacteria, which disrupts the gut microbiome and the oral microbiome.
Scientist Tip: “If you like juicing, consider blending fruits and vegetables to keep the fiber intact, or combine your juice with whole foods to balance the impact on your microbiome,” recommends Dr. Melinda Ring.
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