As we’ve become more aware of healthier food & beverage options, soft drink sales have declined and the juicing trend has boomed. Many celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Silverstone, and Ryan Seacrest are also promoting the practice.
Juicing, which is different from blending, involves extracting just the liquid from fruits and vegetables – hence the term “juicing.” The juice helps quench thirst and provides the body with many nutrients, but you may wonder how healthy juicing really is.
The foremost benefit of juicing is that it gives your body a good dose of what it needs: nutrients including enzymes, minerals and antioxidants. At the same time it only gives you a minimal or zero dose of ingredients that your body doesn"t need, such as excess sugar, fructose, artificial sweeteners, fats, and salt, which are common ingredients in nearly all processed beverages.
Weight Loss 
A strict juicing program can help you lose weight within days due to a reduced carbohydrate intake, which translates into fewer calories and less water retention. Many juicing programs, however, are very low in protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats. Jucing instead of eating can result in muscle tissue as well as fat loss, leading to a slower metabolism and decreased energy.
Irony of Juicing
One of the major drawbacks to juicing is that it eliminates the fiber from fruits and vegetables unless you retain the pulp; juicing machines separate the fiber from the juice that you drink, in a bin that is usually discarded. Unfortunately, the chemistry of high carbs (if you juice lots of fruit), low protein and low fiber can spike your blood sugar, causing headache, fatigue and moodiness. Additionally, juicing does not give you a sense of being full the way meals do – much of that signal, called “satiety,” comes from the bulk effect of fiber in the stomach.
Weighing the Evidence 
Juicing is not needed to detox the body, contrary to marketing claims. Your immune system already takes care of removing toxins from your body. Buying a juicer can also be pricey if you’re cost conscious. But juicing can be a significant source of additional nutrients if you tend to favor pre-packaged, non-whole foods: it’s a lot easier to drink a glass of freshly juiced produce than to eat an armful of greens and fruits.
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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