Why Green Juice Might Be Draining Your Energy, According to Dietitians

Key Points:

• Registered dietitians warn against the "health halo" effect, where one positive attribute like being green or organic leads consumers to assume a product is entirely healthy, especially concerning certain trendy beverages on social media.
• Green juice, often marketed as a healthy drink, can contain high amounts of added sugars and lack sufficient protein, fiber, and calories, which may cause rapid blood sugar spikes followed by energy crashes and fatigue.
• The removal of fiber during juicing causes sugars to enter the bloodstream quickly, potentially leading to afternoon slumps, brain fog, and cravings for quick energy foods, while liquid calories tend to be less satiating than whole foods.
• Green juices often replace balanced meals in restrictive diets, risking undernutrition, slower metabolism, increased fatigue, irritability, and potential weight gain or metabolic issues due to excess sugars and simple carbohydrates.
• Dietitians recommend consuming whole fruits and vegetables or smoothies that retain fiber, and incorporating greens into meals like salads, soups, and grain bowls to maintain stable energy and better nutritional balance.