Benefits of wheatgrass and cane juice

What do you reach for when you crave something sweet and refreshing? I would say, the usual fruit juices or fruit shakes. Most of us have grown up thinking that fruit juice is one of the healthiest things for us. We may, however, need to reconsider this as most fruit juices are not even 100% fruit juice. Some are loaded with sugar to make them more appealing especially to school age children who consume them as “baon.”  I’m not saying all juices are bad as most are loaded in vitamins in minerals but are the benefits being surpassed by the quantities of sugar in them? The main ingredients are usually water and some type of sugar, such as high-fructose corn syrup. Nutritionally, these drinks are similar to most soft drinks — rich in sugar and calories, but low in nutrients.

Fruits are meant to be eaten in their raw state rather than juiced. Dieticians say a great alternative to guzzling fruit juice is to eat the whole fruit. This provides fiber and additional nutrients from the flesh and pulp. Unlike juice, fresh berries or orange wedges also help control hunger.

Fruits have up to eight tablespoons of natural sugar, called fructose, in an eight ounce glass. If I were to choose between the bottled orange juice I buy at Fruit Magic inside Fitness First Manila and having to go all the way down to the fruit kiosk at the ground floor to buy the extracted orange juice they sell for Php70, I won’t mind the extra trip as what I am drinking is 100% orange, no sugar added.

Cane juice with crushed ice is a refreshing drink and is 100% natural

But if you find yourself tired of the usual juices and shakes, why not go for cane juice or even wheatgrass-laced juices. I call them novelty juices as they have only been recently catching on with health buffs at the gym.

Take wheatgrass juice for instance, which tastes like “siniguelas” to me. It takes quite awhile to get used to the taste and smell; the green color is in itself unappetizing. But try it I did. The health benefits alone will win you over:

- it contains 70% chlorophyll and can be taken orally as a colon implant without toxic side effects
- cleanses the body as it provides supplemental nutrition and cures certain diseases
- washes drug deposits and neutralizes toxins in the body
- aids in blood purification, liver detox and colon cleansing
- stimulates digestion, cures constipation, deodorizes and removes unpleasant odors in the body
- cures acne and removes scars after it has been ingested for 7-8 months
I recently tried iced cane juice and found it very delicious with a few drops of calamansi. I recall the times when sugar cane or “tubo” became such a hit among us grade school kids that almost everyone come recess time was munching on it. We bought sugarcane from the vendor at the school’s entrance gate until the sisters banned the vendors.Chewing sugar cane is bad for the teeth by the way but with modern juice extractors such as what Canefusion uses (they have recently opened a branch in SM Manila), we reap the full health benefits of sugarcane. What are these?

- it possesses healing properties used to treat various wounds
- hydrates the body quickly when exposed to prolonged heat and physical activity
- has low glycemic index and does not contain any simple sugar, thus can be enjoyed by diabetics
- detoxifies the body, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides
- helps fight breast and prostrate cancer due to its alkaline nature
- strengthens the heart, stomach, kidneys, lived, brain and over-all immune system
Cane juice is not a commonly allergenic food and is in fact a good source of riboflavin. It is quite popular in Asian countries and India.

Other juices that are not as popular yet very healthy are:

Pomegranate Juice
High in sugar and calories but has an abundant dose of antioxidants that fight prostrate cancer.

Cranberry Juice
A known cure for urinary tract infection, boosts the immune system because of its high Vitamin C content.

Blueberry Juice
Keeps the brain healthy and help protect against age-related conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Red Grape Juice
We’ve all heard that red wine, in moderation, can be good for the heart. The same is true of red grape juice. The key is that wine and juice are made with the entire grape – seeds, skin, and all. When you eat fresh grapes, you miss out on nutrients hiding in the seeds.

Prune Juice
A relief for constipation because it’s extremely high in fiber and contains a natural laxative called sorbitol. But the benefits of prune juice don’t stop there. The juice is also packed with antioxidants, iron and potassium.