A lot of people nowadays really love vegetable juicing. However, research shows that the practice might possibly have goitrogenic or goiter-inducing effects. So, what does this mean? Should you stop drinking green juice or can you keep juicing to maximize your nutrient and mineral intake?

There were studies revealing that cruciferous vegetables, such as kale, broccoli, and spinach, may have negative side effects on thyroid health. But some studies clarified that this can be avoided by not consuming raw cruciferous vegetables. They should be boiled or steamed, according to experts. Cooking these vegetables longer is better for your health. But what does this mean for those who consume vegetable juice?

Linda Kordich, the wife of Jay Kordich, the well-known health educator and the “Father of Juicing” says that research needs to be considered when it comes to this matter. When it comes to health and wellness, the couple has more than 90 years of combined experience. Linda commented that it’s really strange to hear that in order to avoid any side effects on your thyroid, cruciferous vegetables or goitrogenic foods must be cooked.

The Effect Of Cruciferous Vegetables On The Human Body

A comprehensive study on cabbage juice was conducted in the 1960’s. Dr. Garnett Chaney and Jay were part of it and its amazing results were reported at a British journal, The Lancet. They want to know how the juice can help treat stomach ulcers. Researchers worked with prisoners who had duodenal and peptic stomach ulcers.  According to the data gathered, at least 90 percent of the ulcers were cured after the participants drank fresh cabbage juice daily for 60 to 90 days.

In his book, “Raw Vegetable Juices,” Dr. Norman Walker advocated the consumption of fresh green juices made from cruciferous vegetables. Walker was a Master Teaching on juicing from the 1930’s to the mid-1980 and also was Jay’s mentor. He said that cruciferous greens are “better digested and consumed in juice form.”

According to Linda, even though she and Jay often consume cruciferous vegetables, either through juices or in salads, it’s easier to juice the greens than to eat the same amount of vegetables. She also added that by drinking broccoli juice, it allows them to consume a more concentrated and digestible form of the vegetable.

As a matter of fact, the couple drinks at least 3 to 4 cups of vegetable juice daily. They even combine cruciferous vegetables with other ingredients like cucumber, carrots, celery, and beets. She says that they haven’t experienced any goiter abnormalities even after juicing spinach and other cruciferous greens for several decades.

Linda also shared that they use highly mineralized salts like Celtic or Himalayan salts and consumes a lot of seaweed, which also helps relieve her post-menopausal symptoms. Through this diet, Linda and Jay naturally balance their intake of minerals, particularly iodine.

Iodine is usually found in seafood. It is an essential nutrient needed by the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones that can manage growth, repair damaged cells, and support a healthy metabolism.
One of the common symptoms of iodine deficiency is a goiter. This condition involves swelling in the front of the neck. You can develop a goiter if your thyroid gland grows too big.

How Will You Make And Consume Vegetable Juices?

You should not drink pure kale or broccoli juice straight, according to Linda and Jay. They recommend combining them with other vegetables or greens when juicing cruciferous greens. By doing this, its absorption can be improved as well as the concentrated benefits your body can obtain. For instance, apples contain malic acid that can help draw out calcium in other vegetables.

Some other Master Teachers, like Dr. Walker, Dr. Max Gerson, and John Lust also believed that cruciferous vegetables have healing benefits for the breast area of the body.

Linda warns people to think twice before avoiding certain foods altogether, especially if they come with many health benefits. Wait until more studies discuss the same foods and their effects on the human body. Moreover, see to it to always check if studies are led by credible researchers.

Here’s an easy recipe for a cancer-fighting vegetable juice. It is full of essential nutrients, fibers, and phytochemicals which are all needed by our body. This combination is formulated to stop the formation of potential cancer cells in the body as well as to prevent breast cancer.

First of all, you will need a juicer since the recipe won’t be as effective if you use a blender.

How To Make A Cancer-Fighting Vegetable Juice

Ingredients:

1-inch fresh ginger root
1 cup cauliflower
1 cup or 3 leaves kale
2 cups broccoli
2 apples
8 carrots

Put all the ingredients in a juicer, which will produce at least 4 to 6 ounces of delicious and nutritious juice.