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Juicing: Sure-Fire And Safe Weight Loss Method? Or Is Something Missing?

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A lot of people looking to lose weight or eat more vegetables have jumped on the juicing bandwagon.

But is drinking your food healthy or just hype?

CBS 2's Emily Smith breaks down the pros and cons.

When it comes to making a meal out of juice, you've got a lot of options

Melvin's Juice Box on West Houston sells what's essentially a salad in a cup.

Registered dietician Alissa Rumsey said while juices are filled with everything you'd put in your salad, the fiber is stripped from them during the process.

"It's not exactly the same. So with juicing, you are taking generally fruits and vegetables and stripping off all the fiber -- so it removes when you get the pulp at the end of the juice – that's removing skins and seeds. You're losing nutritional value," Rumsey said.

Here's the trick: ask for the fiber back.

Dana Ravish said she drinks most of her meals. She says it digests quickly and gives a natural shot of energy.

"It's like the best thing to get the quickest nutrition," Ravish said.

Others agree.

"You're full, but it actually feels good," another added.

Nutritionists say whether juicing for optimal health, or weight loss, you're left with mostly natural sugar and carbohydrates that can slow your metabolism. But by making a few tweaks, like adding nuts and seeds, it can be a balanced meal, customer tested.

It's all nutritionist approved, as long as consumers don't mind spending $30 and up a week for breakfast.

Home juicers range from $30 to about $300. And since homemade juice is unpasteurized, nutritionists advise to drink it as it is made.

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