At a recent gathering, a woman requested our opinion of the juice machines that are skyrocketing in popularity, appearing in every kitchen, specialty store and catalog. She had seen an extended television commercial, demonstrating one machine and suggesting that homemade juice drinks were miracle tonics offering numerous benefits, possibly even curing cancer. The enthusiastic salesperson, who she said looked considerably younger than his stated age, implied that at the very least they were an elixir of youth.
While she recognized the hype, this woman wondered whether there might be some truth behind it. Given the scientific community's increased attention to the potential role of antioxidant nutrients (such as vitamin C and beta carotene) in preventing cancer, freshly made vegetable and juice drinks sound like a good idea. Thus, her real question - and one which many health-conscious readers may share - is, should she go out and buy a juicer?The first point we need to make is that these appliances aren't a new idea, even though the current versions may be fancier than they used to be. Indeed, her inquiry reminded us of a letter we received some years ago from a woman who had purchased a juice machine several months earlier. She had bought it in response to an advertisement claiming that juicers were an efficient way to load up on vitamins and minerals, far more than what you'd get from a regular diet. Her recipes included, among other things, generous amounts of carrots.
Over time she noticed that her skin, particularly on the palms of her hands and soles of her feet, was turning a deep yellow color. Gradually, the color change spread to other parts of her body. "Help," she wrote, "I'm beginning to look like a carrot. What should I do?" The answer was quite obvious: Put away the juice machine, and be patient. Eventually the concentration of beta carotene, which was building up in the fatty tissue under the surface of her skin, would recede, and her skin would return to its normal hue.
Juicers offer the potential benefit of consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables, with their high content of antioxidant nutrients, which may help protect body cells against damage. Evidence does link diets rich in such nutrients to decreased risk of certain types of cancers. That evidence bolsters the argument that our diets should contain plenty of fruits and vegetables. However, it should not be translated into a push to take megadoses of any of them.
A juice machine clearly is not necessary. A balanced diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, can be achieved with or without such equipment.
A second consideration is taste. We take a dim view of vegetable and fruit concoctions, or any other dietary measure, which healthy individuals submit to merely because it's "good for you." If broccoli, strawberry and carrot juice is not to your taste, why drink it, no matter how much beta carotene or vitamin C it contains? The idea that suffering is good for the soul was invented by puritans, not nutritionists.
During the summer months, when fruits are plentiful, affordable, and at the height of flavor, we can argue enthusiastically for a glass of freshly prepared fruit juice. When quite ripe and at peak flavor, a mixture of fruits blended with ice and diluted with water to the consistency you prefer makes a refreshing drink with taste that cannot be equaled by even the most creative manufacturer. If you want to make these drinks, there's no reason to go high-tech; a standard blender is all you need.
Bear in mind that while they taste wonderful, the calories can mount up, so if you're watching your calorie count closely, you may prefer to eat fruits rather than swallow them down quickly in a glass.
Fresh juice may be delicious and healthful, but the suggestion, however vague, that it can cure cancer is irresponsible and cruel.
For someone who is well and healthy, the purchase of a juice machine is unnecessary.
At the other extreme are the cancer patients who from time to time choose juice therapy as an alternative to traditional treatment. In these cases, results can be tragic.
If you already own a juicer or have decided you'd like to buy one, enjoy it, but don't go overboard. Despite what the advertisements may say, it's only a machine, not a miracle-maker.
Washington Post Writers Group