What is a Juice Cleanse? 6 Things to Know Before Starting One
So you were on Instagram the other day, and one of the social media influencers you follow made a post where she was raving about a juice cleanse she just completed. You’ve heard mixed reviews about juice cleanses and other “quick fix” diets on weight loss, but on the other hand, it would be so nice to have a body like hers this summer. She has tons of followers, a slim figure, clear skin, great style, and an otherwise “perfect” life, so it’s tempting to follow her example and do the same juice cleanse. However, before you prepare to only drink juice for a week, do some research. Juice cleanses remain controversial among doctors and nutritionists, but they could possibly be effective for some people. If you’re thinking about taking part in a cleanse, here are a few things to know before you start:
1) It takes preparation
An important thing about starting a juice cleanse is the fact that you shouldn’t just jump into one. Depending on your current eating habits and lifestyle, there are certain steps that you should take to prepare your body for a cleanse. Some of these steps include drinking more water, eating more fruits and veggies, and eliminating processed food items from your diet. The “juice cleanser” should also give themselves a couple of days to prepare before trying their new diet.
2) A juice cleanse will help to cleanse you of toxins … which is what your body does anyway
The purpose of a juice cleanse is to help your body remove toxins from your system. Luckily, most of us already have well-functioning organs, like the liver and kidneys, to do that already. So is a juice cleanse really necessary? That is the question that nutritionists, doctors, and consumers fail to disagree on and have many people wondering how beneficial a juice cleanse really is. Those who are for juice cleanses say that ridding your body of solid foods for a short amount of time will help to provide a smoother toxin-ridding process. Those against the diet say that healthy eating is sufficient for a normal toxin-ridding process. So what is the real truth?
3) Juicing and smoothies are not the same thing
You’ve heard about juice cleanses and smoothie diets, and they often start to sound like they are the same thing. Well I am here to tell you that they are actually very different. A smoothie diet, such as Shakeology, requires a person to drink their solid foods instead of eating them. Although blended, you will still consume the entire food item. A juice cleanse will remove the fiber and some protein from foods and have you consuming only their nutrients and sugar.
4) There is no guarantee that you’ll lose weight
The overall goal of most people who take part in a juice cleanse is to shed a few pounds. While weight may shift while you’re on a juice cleanse, nutritionists and doctors say that it is not necessarily a long-term change. Water weight will be lost when consuming a low-calorie diet, thanks to the using-up of glycogen stores in the muscles. However, that water weight can come back once you return to a normal diet with solid foods.
5) Your mood will probably be affected
Most of us have experienced a “hangry” mood whenever we’ve gone too long without food. Now imagine feeling like that for days or weeks at a time. With a juice cleanse, you will be consuming parts of food instead of their entire build-up, so you’ll most likely be taking in way less calories than you’re used to. The low intake of calories and not having the feeling of chewing your food could cause irritability and make you feel like you’re not getting any “real” food in your system.
6) All cleanses are not the same
So you’ve made the decision to try out a juice cleanse for a bit. Now how do you pick the right one? Unfortunately, there are tons of juice cleanse programs out there, and they are not always beneficial or even safe. Before taking on your juice cleanse, do lots of research to make sure that you won’t get ripped off or hurt. Read reviews, testimonials, and consult a doctor or nutritionist before deciding on a program.