Ten years ago, a bottle of green juice was the hottest accessory in town. It was part of a new wave of wellness that had It-girls, Victoria’s Secret models, and everyone else guzzling cold-pressed juices daily. Like all trends, however, the furor for squeezed kale and cucumber eventually waned. These days, the healthy beverage of choice is more likely to be a protein-and-collagen smoothie or a matcha latte whipped with some sort of non-dairy milk.
That’s not to say that green juice isn’t still a quintessential part of many people’s regular wellness regimens—and, in fact, the culture at large. As recently as 2023, Louis Vuitton’s Pacific Chill perfume, which features fresh notes of carrot and lemon, was inspired by Los Angeles’ enduring juice culture. And, according to a 2024 consumer report, the market for at-home juicing appliances was valued at $2.8 billion last year, and is projected to reach $5.6 billion by 2034. “The rising consumer inclination toward healthier lifestyles, coupled with the growing awareness of the benefits of fresh, natural juices, is driving market expansion,” the reports theorizes.
But is the practice of pressing vegetables, fruits, and seeds into juice actually healthy? According to many wellness experts, it certainly can be. “Green juices may help people achieve a healthier and fuller life as part of a clean, toxin-free diet and lifestyle,” advocates Carla Quijano, a health coach certified by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). “It has many benefits, including strengthening our immune system and hydrating at the cellular level.”
What are the benefits of green juice?
Because green juice is made from fresh vegetables and fruit, it contains a host of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. “It takes a significant amount of vegetables to produce 8 to 10 ounces of juice, and with that you are able to take in a high concentration of nutrients,” explains functional nutritionist and therapist Bridgette Becker of We Care Spa, a California detox resort that’s long been a go-to for celebrities and fashion industry veterans.
Furthermore, drinking green juice can be beneficial for the gut. “It helps the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which is indispensable for good gastrointestinal health and overall good health,” Quijano says. “Drinking one, two, or three green juices every day is an excellent way to start on the road to improving our health and well-being,” she notes.
The right ingredients
When it comes to getting the most benefits from green juice, ingredients really do matter. “A green juice that is made entirely from greens, with a little lemon, lime, or ginger is great,” says Becker. However, she adds, “a green juice that is made with more sweet fruit will actually impact blood sugar in an undesirable way.”
