Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Juice Cleanse

A juice cleanse is also sometimes referred to as a juice fast. It is a period during which a person consumes only vegetable or fruit juices. 

There are many different types of juice cleansers and recommendations regarding how to juice cleanse.

 For example, juice cleanse lengths vary. Some juice cleanse participants opt for 24-hour juice cleanses. Others who are more experienced participate in three, five, or seven-day cleanses. 

Before you try any type of juice cleanse, it is important to know what to expect. Here are some of the common pros and cons of a juice cleanse.

Pro and Con: A Juice Cleanse Flushes Out Toxins, But Toxin Flushing Also Occurs Naturally

Toxins often build up in the bloodstream. They also collect in certain organs, especially the kidneys and the liver. 

When you do a juice cleanse, it is in some ways akin to oiling your system. It helps move those toxins through and out of your body. You can even get rid of excess cholesterol by juice cleansing.

Despite the apparent toxin removal benefit, it is important to understand your body already has a toxin removal system. Toxins are automatically flushed through your body, through your liver and kidneys. 

Therefore, a juice cleanse isn’t usually necessary for toxin removal. Although, a short juice cleanse also usually doesn’t hurt and can have some other health benefits.

Pro: A Juice Cleanse Can Help Eliminate Sugar Cravings

You may struggle to lose weight or get healthy because you have a so-called sweet tooth. If you cannot resist a sugary snack, a juice cleanse may help you.

In addition to cleansing your body, it can also help cleanse your palette. As you develop a liking for fruit and vegetable juices, your sugary snack cravings may occur less often. That can make a juice cleanse a potentially useful first step of any new diet plan, even if the goal is not necessarily to lose weight.

Pro: A Juice Cleanse May Encourage You to Try New Foods

Variety is key to a successful juice cleansing. Drinking the same juice multiple times for up to one week can easily get boring. 

Therefore, to juice cleanse properly, you need to use multiple fruit and vegetable combinations. Doing so provides you with an opportunity to try fruits and vegetables you might otherwise avoid. 

You may even find you enjoy some of them so much that you continue eating them long after your cleansing is over. Here are some popular fruits and vegetables to try in your juice cleanse:

• Carrots
• Beets
• Apples
• Lemons
• Cucumbers
• Kale

Pro: You Can be Less Picky About Produce Selection

When you eat fruits or vegetables, you usually want them to look appealing. When you use them in a juice cleanse, their initial appearance does not matter.

 You do not need to buy a perfect looking apple every time. You also do not need to throw out produce the second it starts to age a little. Reduced physical waste also means less financial waste.

Pro: Juice Helps Your Body Absorb Nutrients Quickly

Juicing removes insoluble fiber from fruits and vegetables. When that fiber is removed, digestion speeds up. Nutrients and minerals can be absorbed much faster and more efficiently. 

Therefore, you can get an immediate energy and vitamin boost during a juice cleanse. That boost may serve as a springboard to help you kick off a new healthier lifestyle.

Con: A Juice Cleanse May Not be Useful for Weight Loss

It is a common misconception that a juice cleanse can assist with permanent weight loss directly. That misconception probably stems from the immediate temporary weight loss that tends to occur during a juice cleanse. 

The reason you may lose weight when you participate in a juice cleanse is you are temporarily reducing your intake of solid foods and certain substances, such as fiber and protein. However, you are likely to regain the weight as soon as your cleansing period is over.

Con: A Juice Cleanse Can Cause Dangerous Blood Sugar Fluctuations

Fruit juice is quite high in natural sugar. Therefore, a juice cleanse can cause large swings in blood sugar levels. 

For a healthy person, a temporary juice cleanse may not cause too many problems. However, a person who has diabetes or is pre-diabetic can experience complications during the cleansing process. Those complications may include:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Blurry vision
• Confusion

Con: A Juice Cleanse May Deprive the Body of Needed Fiber

Fiber is an important dietary component. It helps to regulate digestion. It is also one of the components necessary for the body’s own natural detoxification process. 

Since a juice cleanse involves removing fiber from fruits and vegetables and then consuming them, it can create problems when done over a prolonged period. If you are going to do a juice cleanse, you may want to do a short one to avoid the long-term ill effects of a low-fiber diet.

Con: A Juice Cleanse is Often Expensive

There are two ways to do a juice cleanse. The first is to sign up for a juice cleanse program. When you do, you may receive a juice cleanse kit with instructions, recipes, and more. 

The second option is to do your own juice cleansing from scratch. Doing so allows you to customize juice recipes the way you want. In either case, prepare to spend more than you do when you eat a regular diet. 

However, it takes a lot of fruit and vegetables to make one glass of juice. Cleansing program kits are also typically expensive.

Con: Long-Term Juice Cleansing May Cause Eating Disorders

The process of juice cleansing can become addictive for some cleansers. When that happens, it can lead to unhealthy food associations. 

Chronic cleansers may cease to see the value of eating balanced meals or eating solid foods at all. Those unhealthy thoughts may cause long-term eating disorders and serious health problems. 

If you plan to do a juice cleanse, you need to do so responsibly. Adhere to your doctor’s recommendations regarding the length of the cleanse and types of juices to consume.