Fruit and vegetable juices do not aid digestion and can instead cause constipation
[Introduction] Nowadays, most office-working women are troubled by constipation, and a major reason for this is a diet that is too refined, leading to insufficient fiber intake. This refined diet is evident not only in grains but also in beverages. It is particularly inadvisable to replace whole fruits and vegetables with fruit and vegetable juices.
Sheng Jianqiu, Chief Physician of the Gastroenterology Department at the General Hospital of the Beijing Military Command, states that drinking fruit and vegetable juices not only fails to aid digestion but can also lead to constipation.
Why is this? Sheng Jianqiu explains that the juicing process of fruits and vegetables results in the loss of much of the essential dietary fiber for the human body. The insoluble fiber in them can prevent diseases of the gastrointestinal system, has the effect of stimulating intestinal peristalsis and promoting bowel movements. Furthermore, dietary fiber can also affect blood sugar levels, reducing the reliance on medication for diabetic patients, and it also has other benefits such as preventing excess calories, controlling obesity, preventing gallstones, and lowering blood lipids.
"This situation is most common in the elderly, especially those with poor teeth. In fact, a large part of the cause of constipation is due to a diet that is too refined, leading to insufficient fiber intake. This refined diet is evident not only in grains but also in beverages. It is particularly inadvisable to replace whole fruits and vegetables with fruit and vegetable juices," Sheng Jianqiu warns.