Do you remember those days in primary school when you used to bring apple juice for your health-conscious parents? Well, they were ahead of the curve because, today, juices have become an essential part of healthy diets and wellness programs. But there are several types of juices available, such as hot juices, cold juices, etc.
Below, we have thoroughly discussed the cold juices. How are cold-pressed juices different from other juices? How can you prepare cold-pressed juice and many more? Let’s begin with the fundamental question: what is cold-pressed juice?
What is cold-pressed juice?
It might appear shocking, but cold pressing removes the fibers from the fruits and vegetables. In simpler terms, it means preparing the juices without using any heat.
Cold-pressed juices take a longer time to prepare. The quantity of juice produced by cold pressing is less than that of regular juice. However, it is believed that the nutritional content in cold-pressed juice is much higher than the other juices.
The term “masticating” refers to a type of machine used to prepare cold-pressed juices. Cold pressing involves squeezing and shredding fruits and vegetables at a very high pressure between two plates.
Cold pressing is a process that extracts the maximum liquid and nutritional content from fruits and vegetables. Unlike pasteurized juices, which use heat to increase their shelf life, cold-pressed juices are prepared without heat, resulting in a shorter shelf life. Despite this, cold-pressed juices are known to retain more nutrients, making them a healthier option.
Due to this reason, you can easily find and store pasteurized juices in any grocery shop, whereas you might not get cold-pressed juices so easily.
Are cold-pressed juices good for you?
As we have discussed above, cold-pressed juices are high in nutritional value as compared to regular juices. But does this imply that the cold-pressed juices are a fair and square clear winner of the war between them and the regular juices?
It’s important to remember that when juice is made, the pulp is removed, which reduces the amount of fiber in the juice. While nutrients are essential for our bodies, we shouldn’t overlook the importance of fiber.
No matter which juice you drink, the sugar level will always be high. If you consume cold-pressed juices, you might drink more juice due to the lack of fiber in it. This can further lead to increased glucose levels in your body.
But this does not mean you must stop drinking cold-pressed drinks, or they will negatively affect you. Try to buy the best cold-pressed juice for yourself. You can try green leafy juices as they have high nutritional value. They will also have a lower sugar value compared to fruit juices.
You can even try juices with raspberries, avocado, blackberries, etc. Because they have high fibrous content, even after cold pressing, some amount of it will slip through in the juices. This can help you fulfill your fiber needs.
The most important thing to remember is that you must always consume it as a complementary juice and not as a replacement juice.
Difference between cold-pressed and regular juice
There are several differences between regular juice and cold-pressed juice:
- Nutrient-Rich: Cold-pressed juice contains significantly more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals compared to regular juices.
- Hydraulic Process: It is prepared through a hydraulic pressing method, involving a two-step process.
- Fiber Content: Regular juices typically retain a good amount of dietary fiber, while cold-pressed juices are devoid of fiber.
- Longer Shelf Life: Due to the absence of heat and air exposure during the cold-pressing process, these juices tend to have a longer shelf life compared to regular juices.
- Better Nutrient Absorption: The absence of fiber in cold-pressed juices may promote faster and more efficient nutrient absorption, as the nutrients are readily available without the hindrance of fiber content.
Are there hot-pressed juicers as well?
Yes, there are hot-pressed juicers, but they are known by a separate name that is Centrifugal juicers. Centrifugal juicers do not directly boil or steam fruits and vegetables to produce juice. Instead, it moves the fruits and juices at a very high speed among the spinning blades to grind the fruits and vegetables. It generally runs on electricity.
The spinning of blades produces a significant amount of heat, and when the juices of Centrifugal juicers are exposed to the air, oxidation takes place. This heat increases the temperature of the juice.
What is the impact of heat on essential nutrients?
Heat can sometimes destroy the essential nutrients and minerals present in fruits and vegetables. For example- Raw broccoli is more nutritious and healthier than cooked broccoli because, in the process of cooking, heating leads to the loss of nutrients in the air.
But certain fruits and vegetables cannot be consumed raw and must be cooked before consumption. One of the most famous examples of this type of fruit and vegetable is potato. You can never have raw potatoes due to chemicals like solanine and chaconine. If you eat raw potatoes, you will for sure fall sick.
A large section of fruits and vegetables need to be cooked before consumption. You know, by heat, the beta carotene increases in carrots. Sometimes, it is important to heat certain fruits and vegetables for more animal proteins.
Many fruits and vegetables require cooking before consumption. For example, heating carrots increases beta-carotene levels. Sometimes, it is essential to heat certain fruits and vegetables for the availability of nutrients or proteins.
Some fruits and vegetables are not directly digestible in their raw form due to their high natural cellulose fiber content. So, it becomes a necessity to cook them.
The dual effects of heat on fruits and vegetables
There are two groups of fruits and vegetables, some of which are affected by heat, resulting in a decline in their nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals. However, there are also some fruits and vegetables that benefit from the positive effect of heat, like carrots, mushrooms, cabbage, and peppers, which help increase carotenoids, ferulic acid, and many other nutrients.
So, it is difficult to say whether heat has a positive impact or a negative impact. However, we should remember that cold-pressed juices also have benefits other than heat reduction.
Is it worth it to spend on cold-pressed juices?
Drinking cold-pressed juice provides higher nutritional value than regular juice if you maintain fiber intake from other sources.
However, it is always advised to consume fruits and veggies as a whole only. The cold-pressed juice is perfect for you if it’s the only source for you in your diet. But if you can spend time and effort, eating salads is always a better option; cold-pressed juices are also quite pricey.
Final Words
Cold-pressed juices are different from regular juices. There are several benefits of consuming cold-pressed juices involving higher juice quantity due to two-step pressing, higher nutritional value due to lack of heat, and many more.
Not only can you experience the difference in taste between cold-pressed and regular juice, but there are also additional benefits to cold-pressed juice.
These days, cold-pressed juices are a popular trend. Have you tried them yet? If so, share your experience in the comments. Was it worth it?
