Juice cleanses have become a popular diet trend. Some claim that a juice cleans will clean your body of toxins, or help you lose weight. But are these claims actually true? Here is everything you need to know about juice cleanses: what they are, their potential risks and benefits, and how to decide if you should do one yourself.
What Is A Juice Cleanse?
During a juice cleanse, a person normally consumes fruit and vegetable juice for a period of 1-3 days. In most cases, the juice is the only thing the person consumes. Some people embark on a juice cleanse as part of a larger weeklong regimen, where they gradually phase out foods such as coffee, sugar, meat, or dairy and then add these elements back into their diet slowly. Some people continue to consume gluten-free whole foods as well as nut milks during the process.
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Are Juice Cleanses Bad For You?
Doing a juice cleanse will leave you without certain nutrients that you need. Proteins, fats and certain vitamins cannot be found in fruit and vegetable juice, which are necessary for your body. Over time, a lack of these nutrients. will lead to muscle and bone loss. In addition, the most beneficial part of eating fruits and vegetables, fiber, is not present in juices.
As far as detoxification, a cleanse isn’t really necessary to get rid of unnecessary materials — your body has plenty of mechanisms to do this on its own. You may lose weight during a cleanse like this, but you are likely to gain it back once you resume your regular diet. As a result, there are no proven benefits to doing a juice cleanse, and a fair few risk factors.
Alternatives To Juice Cleanses
While it’s not as exciting or easy to implement as a cleanse, the best way to maintain your health is through a well-balanced diet. However, you can still implement elements of a juice cleanse into this kind of diet. Rather than drinking juice, you can take advantage of the fiber benefits of fruits and vegetables by making a smoothie. It’s equally delicious, and makes a nice supplement to your meals. Or, you can simply eat them whole. As long as your fruits and vegetables are complemented with foods from each major food group, you’re good to go.
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