Author Archives: mojo

14 Mar

Grape Juice Side Effects – Can You Drink Too Much Of It?

Drinking too much grape juice can cause mild side effects mostly pertaining to bowel movements. For example, some grape juice side effects include an upset stomach, indigestion and diarrhea.

Other possible but rare side effects of drinking too much grape juice are nausea and vomiting. More serious grape juice side effects could include infections and muscular problems. Other side effects experienced from drinking too much grape juice include dry mouth, coughing, sore throat and headaches. For those who are allergic to grapes, drinking grape juice will – obviously – cause an allergic reaction.

Finally, drinking large amounts of grape juice could result in an iron-deficiency and lead to anemia.

Grape juice side effects

Enhanced by Zemanta
14 Mar

Best Blackcurrants For Blackcurrant Juice And How To Choose Them

Blackcurrants are packed with Vitamin C and the juice has many medical advantages, which is why many juicers love them. They can pose some difficulties during juicing, however, as they can easily clog the mechanism of some machines. It’s best to juice blackcurrants at a low speed or use a manual juicer.

What are the Best Blackcurrants for Juicing?

Blackcurrants are a summer berry that somewhat resembles a dark cherry. They become available in mid June. The most common varieties for juicing are the Ben Avon and Ben Dorain. These hybrids have a higher concentration of Vitamin C than other varieties, making them some of the best blackcurrants for juicing.

Blackcurrants are not as easily accessible in a grocery store as many other types of fruit, so you may need to visit a health food store or find someone who grows them locally. They are more common in England than America, but they are fairly easy to grow and it’s possible to grow your own in the US.

Most commercial blackcurrants are grown in New York, Connecticut and Oregon, so they are easiest to obtain in those states. As they gain in popularity for their health benefits, they may become more popular in markets across the country.

Best blackcurrants for juicing

How to Choose Blackcurrants at Market

If you’re picking off the vine, the easiest way to test the ripeness of a blackcurrant is to taste it. They sweeten as they ripen, so once the fruit is sweet enough it can be harvested. Blackcurrants are harvested in bunches, with each branch of the shrub being cut away to trim the plant and harvest the berries. All berries on a single branch should be roughly equal in ripeness to each other.

If you’re shopping in the market, you should look for firm fruits without soft spots or blemishes. They should be very dark in color; a light berry will not be sweet enough and was picked immaturely. The berry should not be too soft for the touch. If you’re buying it in a package and cannot test its firmness, base your purchase on the berry’s color and lack of any visible blemishes.

13 Mar

Gooseberry Juice Side Effects – Can You Drink Too Much of It?

Gooseberry juice provides a number of benefits when consumed in moderation. The beverage is considered safe for most people to consume, and there are not any well-known gooseberry juice side effects. This kind of juice is generally used occasionally, but consumption is higher in people who attempt to treat certain health conditions, such as diabetes and high cholesterol. In such cases, the best way to avoid any gooseberry juice side effects is to only drink the recommended amount as indicated on the product label.

Pregnant women should take extra precautions when drinking lots of this juice, preferably consulting a doctor first. Gooseberry juice side effects have not been evaluated in pregnant or breastfeeding women, so any adverse reactions are unknown.

Gooseberry juice side effects

12 Mar

Fig Juice Side Effects: Can You Drink Too Much?

The fig fruit is well known for its powers as a laxative. The consumption of fig juice in large quantities is linked to loose stools. Those interested in consuming large quantities of fig juice for the many benefits or simply for the taste should build up to the desired amount. Otherwise, it is possible to suffer from abdominal cramping, pain, and diarrhea. Young children should particularly be watched closely if a great deal of fig juice is consumed. Normal amounts of fig juice should be safe for anyone.

Women who are pregnant or who suspect they may be pregnant should discuss fig juice side effects with their physician prior to consuming large quantities. There are no known fig juice side effects if consumed in smaller quantities.

Fig juice side effects

12 Mar

Best Watermelons For Watermelon Juice And How To Choose Them

Watermelon can pose a special challenge to a juicer because of the rind and seeds. To avoid this problem, you can choose a seedless watermelon variety and do a little prep-work to remove most of the rind before juicing. If your juicer can handle it, the watermelon rind is actually full of nutrients and can provide an extra dimension to your juice.

What Are the Best Watermelons for Juicing?

Watermelons are available year-round in most areas, but grocery stores usually stock them in the highest quantities during the summer months. In July and August, Watermelon is easy to find on sale, making even large quantities very affordable.

Seedless varieties are the best choice for juicing, but many juicers are able to work with whole seeded fruits very easily. Be sure to check your machine to see if there are any limitations to seeds or rinds before juicing your product.

Watermelon varieties vary in size from small five-pound melons to massive fruits of 30 pounds or more. Depending on how much juice you want, you may want to buy a smaller melon; watermelon doesn’t keep very well once it’s been cut as the flesh will dry out and become grainy fairly quickly.

Small seedless melons include Extazy, Mickylee and Pixie. Other popular varieties for juicing include the Starbrite and Sweet Favorite. Any watermelon in the market will be good for juicing, however, so pick whatever looks freshest.

best watermelons for juicing

How to Choose a Watermelon at the Market

The process of choosing a watermelon for juicing is very similar to choosing one for eating. Once you get the hang of it, picking the best watermelon variety is very easy.

Most grocery stores provide whole watermelons as well as pre-cut slices. Whole melons are the best for juicing. They have a better texture and are often sweeter and fresher-tasting than melons that have been already prepared. If you do opt for sliced melon, be sure to choose one with dark-colored flesh and no white streaking.

The best watermelons for juicing will have firm, unblemished skin that is neither too dull nor too shiny. It should feel heavy for its size and if you tap on it, it will sound slightly hollow. Watermelons that are not fully ripe will have a duller response to being tapped.

Fresh watermelon should also have one side that is paler in color to the others. This area may be cream, yellow or pale green. This is the part of the fruit that touched the ground while ripening, and shows that the watermelon was allowed to mature on the vine before picking. Watermelons without this will not be as sweet as those that ripened on the vine and will not produce as much juice.

11 Mar

Orange Juice Side Effects:Can You Drink Too Much Orange Juice?

Consuming too much of anything can have negative effects on the body, even something like orange juice, which is always touted as being so good for you. So many people begin their day with a glass of orange juice, but drinking too much can produce a number of orange juice side effects.

Too Much Vitamin C

Most people who drink orange juice do it for the vitamin C, which in the right quantities is very beneficial. However, 100-200 milligrams of vitamin C each day is considered to be all that the body requires and amounts of 500 mg or higher can be harmful. Too much vitamin C can cause damage to the white blood cells, which protect the body against infection.

Levels of Blood Sugar

Many orange juice products available have sugar or other sweeteners in them. Plus, the carbohydrates in a small serving of orange juice can slowly elevate blood sugar levels. So people who drink large servings of orange juice or several servings throughout the day may see their blood sugar climb rapidly. This is especially risky for people who are diabetic or pre-diabetic.

Energy Levels

Having energy levels that are inconsistent through the day is another orange juice side effect when too much is consumed. Drinking a large glass can make you feel full of energy soon after drinking it, but that energy can drop quickly as your blood sugar drops.

Weight Gain

Large glasses of orange juice that can so quickly elevate the blood sugar are big contributors to weight gain and even obesity. Since orange juice contains no fiber it is not very satisfying and causes the blood sugar to drop. This can result in craving carbohydrates and eating more.

orange juice side effects

Miscellaneous Orange Juice Side Effects

There are a number of minor side effects to drinking too much orange juice, which include:

· Indigestion
· Diarrhea
· Heartburn
· Ulcers in the mouth
· Upset stomach
· Increased stress level
· Bloating and gas
· Strong smelling urine

If you drink enough orange juice to consume over 6000 mg of vitamin C there can be some major orange juice side effects:

· Insomnia
· Back pain
· Vitamin B12 deficiency
· Cavities
· Copper Deficiency
· Jaundice

10 Mar

Elderberry Juice Side Effects – Can You Drink Too Much Of It?

Checking for the safety recommendations and possible side effects of any juice is important before drinking large quantities. Elderberry juice has a few special characteristics that its users should know about.

Parts of the Elderberry Plant

Some parts of the elderberry plant, such as the stems, roots and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides. These are substances that release the poison commonly known as cyanide. While these parts of the plant are not safe to consume, the berries themselves can be eaten raw or cooked. Elderberry juice that is prepared from cooked berries is generally safe and free of side effects. No standard safety level for use has been established.

Uncooked Berries and Gastrointestinal Effects

Uncooked berries can be used to make juice, but its use may lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Elderberry juice side effects are particularly pronounced with the use of unripe fruit.

Elderberry juice side effects - be careful if you use raw berries

Diuretic Effects Is One Of Possible Elderberry Juice Side Effects

Because of their tendency to promote the loss of excess fluid, elderberries could potentially cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. This is probably only a risk if used for long periods and in large amounts.

Hypoglycemia

Since it is known to reduce blood glucose levels, elderberry juice should be used with caution by those who are at risk of experiencing low blood sugar. This includes diabetics who use oral medications or insulin to control their glucose levels.

Neurological Effects

Uncooked berries may cause numbness and altered sensation. When used as a laxative, raw elderberry juice side effects can include dizziness, light-headedness and stupor.

Special Considerations

Elderberry is known to boost immune system function. People who suffer with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis should avoid using it as it could make symptoms worse. It is not clear whether elderberry juice is safe during pregnancy and breast feeding. For safety, its use is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women. Long-term consumption of the juice has not been studied. It is believed to be safe when used for up to five days.

09 Mar

Durian Juice Side Effects – Can You Drink Too Much Of It?

Durian juice, which is extracted from durian fruit, has an odor that is quite offensive to some, being described as similar to smelling rotten onions, rotten fruit, road kill, moldy clothing, sewage or turpentine. Durian juice side effects are, therefore, experienced by individuals who dislike the odor.

These persons also tend to report a strong aftertaste of turpentine or alcohol. Sometimes, this taste is re-experienced throughout the day when people burp. Due to the strong odor, the fruit is banned from many public places, and could bring an offensive, lingering smell into the home.

When considering Durian juice side effects, one should be aware that uncooked durian seeds should not be processed into the juice, as they contain cyclopropene fatty acids, which are toxic.

Those restricting the intake of high glycemic foods should avoid drinking a lot of durian juice, which has a high glycemic content.

Durian juice side effects

 

08 Mar

Carrot Juice Side Effects – Can You Drink Too Much Of It?

While drinking carrot juice in moderation has significant health benefits, drinking too much can have side effects. Carrot juice is high in beta carotene, which converts to Vitamin A in the body. Consuming a lot of carrot juice can affect the color of the skin. Carrot juice is also high in sugar and calories, so people with diabetes should be mindful of this.

Carotenemia Is One Of The Carrot Juice Side Effects

A change in the color of the skin is one of the carrot juice side effects. Due to the high level of beta-carotene in carrot juice, drinking more than three glasses per day can result in an orange hue to the skin. The orange coloring is most likely to be seen on hands, feet and around the mouth. This condition is called carotenemia and is not dangerous. It disappears without treatment as soon as consumption is lowered or stopped.

Carrot juice side effects - too much beta-carotene

High glucose content

Carrots are naturally sweet (lots of sugar). This sweetness is the reason many people use carrots for their juice, but too much glucose can be dangerous to diabetics. Another of the carrot juice side effects applies to people with diabetes. Small amounts of carrot juice are okay and can even be good for a person with diabetes. The glycemic index of an eight ounce glass of carrot juice is about 45, with about 22 grams of carbohydrates.

High sodium content

Carrots are also quite rich with sodium. Too much sodium in your diet can lead to all sorts of problems. The main one is that lots of sodium (salt) can lead to Hypertension (HTN) or high blood pressure. Hypertension is then a cause of all sorts of heart and health related problems. But you would probably turn yellow from carotenemia and stop drinking carrot juice before this sodium carrot juice side effect would start to show. As with all the natural juice side effects juices are safe and very beneficial to our bodies as long as we don’t exaggerate when drinking them.

08 Mar

Blueberry Juice Side Effects – Can You Drink Too Much Of It?

While its classification leaves it considered as something that is likely safe for most people, there are a few different blueberry juice side effects that have the potential to affect you. You should familiarize yourself with these possible risks before eating the fruit or drinking its juice.

Salicylate

Raw blueberries and blueberry juice have relatively high levels of salicylate, which is similar in nature to aspirin and comes from salicylic acid. Much like aspirin, salicylate is known to cause stomach irritation and upset in some individuals. However, even if you are prone to salicylate-induced stomach irritation, you will likely find that small amounts of the fruit and its juice are still enjoyable without noticeable ill effects.

Blueberry juice side effects

Diabetes

Most types of blueberries will not have a negative effect on blood sugar levels. However, there are a few types that can lower your blood sugar levels, and even interfere with diabetes medication and insulin if you are an individual with diabetes. It is recommended that you carefully monitor your blood sugar if you have diabetes and plan on consuming blueberries or blueberry juice.

Tannins

Blueberries contain relatively small amounts of tannins – the same chemical compound that gives coffee its bitter taste – and can cause stomach upset in sensitive individuals. If you consume large amounts of tannins, you are also at a greater risk of liver or kidney damage.

Surgery

Because blueberries and blueberry juice can affect blood sugar levels, this can create difficulty in moderating proper blood sugar levels throughout and after surgery. If you have a surgery planned, it is recommended that you avoid blueberries for at least two weeks beforehand.

Although there are several possible blueberry juice side effects that have negative repercussions, it is still generally considered that blueberries are a safe and healthy fruit. As with all foods, pay attention to your body’s reactions to fruits you digest, and you will likely have nothing to worry about.