Juice Cleanses are popular, but are they a good idea?

Whether it’s January and you’re making a new years resolution to lose weight, or summer is approaching and you want to get bikini ready, juice cleanses are often a recommended “go-to” solution. Many companies exist solely for that purpose, offering only juices and cleanses.

Typically the goal is weight loss but others are interested in a detoxification goal.

What is a juice cleanse?

Juice cleanses involve consuming only pressed juices for a few days up to a few weeks. While juice cleanses can be a good source of various vitamins, they are deficient in many of the nutrients your body needs to function. And therein lies the major problem with juice cleanses; they’re just not healthy.

There are several reasons you shouldn’t start a juice cleanse 

Juice cleanses lack protein

Juice cleanses have virtually no protein in them. Protein plays an essential role in maintaining and repairing cells, the production of antibodies needed for immune function, and creating hormones and neurotransmitters.

It’s also particularly important when you’re trying to lose weight. A juice cleanse may cause weight loss simply because you’ve lost muscle mass after restricting protein intake.

Cleanses don’t help you truly detoxify

Adequate protein intake is also essential to maintain ideal levels of glutathione, the body’s master detoxification enzyme. Ironically, most juice cleanses are appealing because they claim to “support detoxification in the body”. In reality, they’re doing quite the opposite and limiting the intake of nutrients our bodies need to perform detoxification.

Juice lacks healthy fiber

Juice cleanses are devoid of fiber. When you juice fruits and veggies, you remove all of the healthy fiber in them. Fiber plays an important role in regulating blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and promoting satiety.

The average American consumes less than 50% of the RDA for fiber, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that a diet rich in fiber and plant foods actually does support the body’s detoxification process.

Try a healthy smoothie instead

Instead of paying a hefty price for a juice with no fiber, why not opt for a smoothie instead? Here’s one of my favorite smoothies recipes: Green berry breakfast smoothie.

Does juice cleanses really deliver on weight-loss promises?

Plenty of cleanses promise weight loss, however, the majority of weight loss that occurs is in fact water weight and therefore only temporary weight loss.

Here’s a quick explanation of water weight: Excess carbohydrates are stored in the body in the form of glycogen. Glycogen is stored in the body alongside the water. Whenever your body enters a calorie deficit, like during a cleanse, the glycogen (stored energy) will be broken down to be used as fuel, and the water bound to the glycogen will be excreted. Your weight will drop, but within a few days of returning to a normal eating pattern, your body will return to its normal weight.

Are you ready to get healthy?

Getting to the root cause of why you’re experiencing your symptoms is truly critical to enjoying optimal health.

If you are suffering from less than ideal health, please reach out. That’s why we’re here.

We specialize in identifying the underlying reason why you have the symptoms which are bothering you.

We have great tools to really get the answers of not only “why” but what can be done about it.

You deserve to enjoy great health; please give me a call if you want some help.