This Week in the HSI Forum "The good, the bad and the messy." That's how a member named 62Gidget opens her comments in an HSI Forum thread titled "Juicing," which provides a detailed look at the pros and cons facing those who juice fruits and vegetables at home. All juicing machines are somewhat messy and require a cleanup after every use. And then there's the wide price range of juicers to consider: some quite expensive, and others a bargain. But some are noisy, some are hard to clean, and some create too much heat, which can harm nutrients. On the plus-side, help with weight loss is one of the advantages of juicing, according to a member named Randy who writes, "I juice for a two week period, about twice a year while doing a colon cleanse and liver flush. It takes me about 30 minutes from start to clean-up. I lost about five pounds… and have increased energy. The choice of juicer can be the difference. I found one that is easy to clean and simple to use." A member named Joseph confirms that purchasing a good juicer is the key to juicing success: "The problem with most juicers is that they do such a poor job breaking down the food item being juiced, they leave behind a pile of debris you must clean up and throw away. The pulp and what-have-you can't be drunk." 62Gidget says that her VitaMix juicer (an expensive, top-of-the-line juicer) has lasted for 22 years and creates "no pulp waste…to speak of." And "no pulp waste" means that more fiber remains in the juice, which is an important consideration. In Thursday's e-Alert about carbohydrates (see below), HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., makes this specific comment about fruit juice: "It's better to eat your fruit, with clean edible skins. That way you've lowered the amount of sugar taken in, along with the fact that the natural fiber is still on board and the sugars are not as concentrated as they would be otherwise." On the subject of fruit juice vs. vegetable juice, several members mention osteopathic physician Dr. Joseph Mercola, who makes a strong case for avoiding fruit juice because it's loaded with fructose that prompts an insulin jump. On the other hand, many vegetable juices don't raise insulin levels. The exceptions are beet juice, carrot juice and most vegetables that grow underground, such as potatoes. So if you're thinking of buying a juicer, the "Juicing" thread is a perfect place to pick up tips on what to consider when shopping for a juicer, as well as important considerations about what juicing ingredients to shop for. Other entries on the HSI Forum this week include discussions about what to expect when you have a colonoscopy; natural alternatives to rheumatoid arthritis drugs; and the proper way to read c-reactive protein levels. To join in with these and other conversations about natural health care alternatives, log on to our web site at www.hsibaltimore.com. | 
