College of MedicineBest Practices: Nutrition and the Program of Study?

There are a lack of studies on the benefit of nutrition in the program of study for medical students.

Current research indicates that nutrients are beneficial to the healing process.

This training module discusses the benefits of nutrition as well as the process of juicing to help students become acquainted with the juicing method for health purposes.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?

Nutritional HealingTeaching Medical Students

Nutrition is essential to the healing process. Scientific evidence increasingly indicates that micronutrients and phytonutrients are essential for the growth and healing at the cellular level.

Even though current research points to nutrition as a proponent in the healing process, nutritional classes are rarely included in the medical students course of study.

Nutritional TherapyJuicing and Blending for Health

Nutritional therapies such as Gerson Therapy use juicing to benefit patients who are suffering from health conditions such as cancer.

Although not recognized scientifically, there is evidence that nutritional and juice therapy can work in tandem with the traditional practice of medicine to benefit the patient.

Aging individuals and those with medical conditions may have some difficulty processing whole fruits and vegetables, so juicing may be a healthy alternative that will allow them to reap the health benefits of absorbing the nutrients from large amounts of fruits and vegetables.

Nutrition as therapy

Nutrition and HealthBrain, Body, Aging and Disease

National institutes of Health (NIH) studies suggest that polyphenols in certain fruits may help protect the brain from the effects of aging and disease.

Juicing allows polyphenols to be absorbed by the cells more efficiently due to the ability to bypass the digestive process.

Oxidative stress associated with aging can also be addressed through the use of enhanced nutrition.

The United States Department of Agriculture has a Nutrition Evidence Library with dozens of studies that indicate the health benefits of nutrition for both brain and body health.

Juicing 101Why and How to Juice

Robin McDaniel

Why Juice? Do you eat this everyday? Well you should!

Gre

at Q

uest

ion!

!! The Centers for Disease Control say that individuals can lower their cholesterol and risk of disease by eating more raw vegetables.

How much you might ask? Well, the recommendations are from 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups per day, but the more you eat, the healthier we will be!

Note: Unfortunately the USDA food pyramid has been replaced by the food plate which recommends almost equal amounts of veggies, fruits and grains. This does not necessarily reflect current research that advocates raw vegetables and fruits should make up 80% of our diet (National Institutes of Health-NIH). .

Juicing Benefits

● Gives your digestive system a break● Increased nutrition means faster healing● Delivers essential phytonutrients to your cells

efficiently● You can easily eat the required 6-8 servings

of veggies per day● You can add a wide range of foods you may

not normally eat● Immune system boost● Weight loss● According to the National Cancer Institute,

one cup of carrot or celery juice provides the same nutrients as 5 cups of the same vegetables PIctured: The Jack La Lanne centrifugal juicer

What You NeedJuicing Starter Guide

For starters, you will need a juicer and some really great veggies.

Some other items Include:

➢ Vinegar➢ Large Bowls or Containers➢ Medium to Large Pitcher or Jug➢ Vegetable Brush➢ Chopping Knife➢ Strainer (Medium for pitcher)➢ Plastic Bags

Picking a Juice Extractor

Centrifugal JuicersCons: Loss of NutrientsPros:Less expensive

Masticating JuicersCons:More expensivePros:Less Nutrient Loss

Press the nutrients out of the juice without cutting, thereby reducing nutrient loss.

Somtetimes easier to clean.

Priced into the hundreds and often have smaller chutes.

Cut the food to extract the juice which results in nutrient loss.

Oftentimes are made up of multiple pieces and can be hard to clean.

Inexpensive. Can be found for less than $100.

Wash your Fruits and Veggies

Unfortunately, the fruits and vegetables you get are likely to be covered in pesticides, and it is imperative that you wash them before juicing.

You can either use clean containers or a sanitized sink to soak your vegetables in cool water; and then give a vinegar bath and rinse again to remove all pesticide residue.

Wash organic vegetables separately in a vinegar bath and then rinse with cool water.

Consume as soon as possible after washing to avoid bacterial contamination. Colorado State has a terrific guide for safely

washing fruits and vegetables!

Produce SafetyAccording to the Environmental Working Group (EWG)

Dirt

y D

ozen

-Buy

org

anic

, w

ash

wel

l or

peel

The Dirty Dozen

ApplesCelery

Cherry TomatoesCucumbers

GrapesHot PeppersNectarinesPeachesPotatoesSpinach

StrawberriesSweet Bell PeppersKale/Collard Greens

Summer Squash

The Clean 15Asparagus, Avocado, Cabbage,

Cantalope, Sweet Corn, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Mangoes,

Mushrooms, Onions, Papays, Pineapples, Sweet Peas, Sweet

Potatoes

Cle

an 1

5-T

hey’

re s

afer

to

eat,

but

st

ill n

eed

to b

e w

ashe

d.

A Word about PesticidesAccording to the Environmental Working Group (EWG)

The

re a

re c

urre

ntly

no

labe

ling

requ

irem

ent

for

GM

O f

oods

in t

he

Uni

ted

Sta

tes.

Pesticides accumulate in an effect called “toxic loading” according to the Pesticide Action Network (PAN). Studies indicate that 93% of Americans tested positive for neurotoxins and 99% were positive for DDT.

They may look appetizing, but some vegetables have up to 50 different pesticides on them, so beware the source.

Buy local or organic if possible

Note: Although I do recommend washing your food prior to juicing, it may not be enough.

Systemic pesticides invade the plant throughout and cannot be removed. Many plants are genetically modified GMO as well. GMO’s are banned in Europe due to studies that indicate serious associated health problems.

The Juicing ProcessWashing, cutting, juicing, cleaning

➢ Put pitcher on counter with strainer on top➢ Wash and cut the fruits and veggies➢ Put a bag in the pulp catcher➢ Turn on the juicer➢ Add cut food to the chute a little at a time➢ Store in covered container.

Tips: Do not push too hard on veggies and fruit; if you get the juicer to do the work you will get more juice.

If pulp begins to come out of the juice end, turn off juicer, take apart and clean, then put back together and keep juicing.

Drink immediately to obtain the most nutrients

Clean Up

The big clean up is one of the reasons people cite for not juicing, and it is definitely true that juicers are difficult to clean; but it is worth the trouble!

You should clean the juicer right after you use it or it will be hard to get the pulp off the parts.

Either wash in the sink using dish soap, hot water, dish sponge and a brush or rinse and pop into the dishwasher.

Dry and put back together until you are ready to juice again!

Using the Pulp

There are usually a few cups of pulp leftover

Put sweet pulp such as carrots, apples and sweet potatoes into muffins and bread recipes. Also add to the base juice in a blender for a fibrous drink

Bake greens into quiches and casseroles

Reduce liquids in recipe when adding pulp

Homemade whole wheat blueberry muffinsPhoto Credit: Sean Breslin

Juice Recipes

Makes (2-4 glasses)Green Drink★ 2 bushels kale★ 2 cucumbers★ 2 cups spinach★ 1 bag celery

Carrot Juice★ One bag of organic carrots★ 2 to 4 organic apples★ 1 sweet potato

Tip: Drink fresh for best tasteAdd ice for a more palatable juice drink

Photo Credit: Google Free Images

Drink Up!!

With the right ingredients, homemade juice can be as appetizing as a milkshake, but when you think about how great it will make you look and feel, you will begin to enjoy it for the health benefits alone!.

Add some blueberries, strawberries, apples or bananas into a blender with some of your vegetable drink as a base, and it willl still be healthy, but have a sweet,fruity taste both kids and adults will love!

Photo Credit: Google Free Images

Teaching Nutrition and Juicing

Nutrition methods, including juicing, can be added to the curriculum at medical colleges to ensure students are able to fully incorporate these methods into their practice.

Trained medical students will be able to educate their patients on the importance of nutrition in the healing process, as well as how nutrition can be used to prevent many diseases associated with aging.