Most of us have all the food we want to eat. Modern food technologies are providing more food choices and greater availability than ever before. Unlike many other areas of the world that suffer from nutritional deficiencies caused by a scarcity of food, Westerners most often suffer from diseases of excess food consumption. We tend to over-consume meats, dairy products, fats, sugars, and highly processed items, to name a few. This results in under consumption of whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, which contain protective factors that help prevent the development of degenerative diseases. Some of the diseases now associated with the standard Western diet are heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, adult onset diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, and colon diseases.
One way to improve your diet is to eat less meat and dairy products and add more fresh fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. One of the easiest and most nutritious ways to add them is in the form of juices. Because juices are chock-full of nutrients, low in calories, and virtually free of substances that contribute to many diseases (such as saturated fat), they are excellent supplements to the diet. For people of all ages, from children to the elderly, they make excellent vitamin/mineral supplements because they are easily absorbed. And an added bonus is that they taste delicious!
You may be asking the question, "How do I begin to add juices to my diet?" You can start immediately by using juices as replacements for non-nutritious beverages such as sodas, coffee or alcohol.

Here are a few other suggestions:

• When you come home from work and want to reach for a cold beer or cocktail, make a refreshing glass of juice instead.
• On a Saturday afternoon when you're thirsty for a fizzy drink, make your own "pop" by juicing your favourite fruits and adding sparkling mineral water.
• Prepare energizing fruit drinks in the morning when you first get up, and break your fast the proper way, with a food easy to digest.
• For your mid-morning coffee break, avoid coffee or tea (except herbal tea) which stress the body. Instead, take your favourite juice combination to work in a thermos and have a juice "pick-me-up" break.
• For your bedtime snack, instead of milk and cookies, add a tranquillising glass of juice like celery and carrot that will help you sleep and won't put pounds on while your dreaming.
• Drink carrot juice with your meals for a great way to add pro-vitamin A (beta-carotene) and carotenoids to your diet.
• Kale and broccoli juice, mixed with apple or carrot, is an excellent source of calcium, as good as, if not better than, milk.
• Fresh orange and citrus juices are potent sources vitamin C and bioflavenoids.
• Apple juice is a good source of potassium and other soluble fibre, and pectin, a fantastic diuretic (water absorber).
• Try some of the breakfast drinks that incorporate fruit juices.
• Vegetable juices make a nice addition to soup stock.
• Juices can make healthful sauce bases.
• Fresh fruit juices can be made into a number of gelatine and pudding desserts.

Above all, make sure your juicer doesn't sit on the shelf and collect dust while your arteries collect plaque. Form the habit of juicing right away. It's the most economical, nutritious way to supplement your diet with extra nutrients.
Get Creative! You may come up with a prized recipe. But more importantly, you will benefit with award-wining health and natural beauty.