Juice detox has gained great popularity in recent years among supporters of natural body cleansing. What is worth knowing before starting a juice diet and what rules should be kept in mind?
Juice diet, also called juice detox, consists in temporary resignation from solid food in favour of juices (as the name suggests). Drinks can be prepared from fruits and vegetables in various combinations. Other liquids such as water, lemonade, herbal and fruit teas also supplement the juice diet
What is the purpose of introducing liquid meals to the menu? Most people who go on a juice diet want to cleanse their body of toxic substances. Since juices are usually very low in calories – some people opt for a juice detox to lose weight and improve the appearance of their figure. However, this is not a good way to lose weight. Drastically limiting calorie intake can lead to metabolic dysregulation – even if we lose weight quickly, we are likely to suffer from the yoyo effect.
You should start each day with a glass of water with lemon. During the juice diet you should not drink:
During the juice detox vegetable juices should dominate (due to the higher sugar content in fruits). The drinks should be prepared from fresh products, preferably in a slow juicer. It is worth enriching juices with spices and herbs, such as turmeric, nutmeg, mint
A juice detox can have a positive effect on our digestive system and help the body cleanse itself of various harmful substances. A juice diet of several days also improves mood, adds energy and hydrates perfectly. Fruit and vegetable juices can also positively influence the diversity of our bacterial flora, improve the condition of hair and nails. What are the downsides of a juice detox?
Improperly conducted juice diet or its too long use can lead to nutritional deficiencies in the body (it provides the body with a maximum of 800 – 1000 calories). Besides, juices are mainly a source of carbohydrates, they lack protein and fat. If a juice detox is used for a long time, there may be a loss of muscle mass and slower metabolism. Because of the few calories, there may be a yo-yo effect once the juice diet ends and you return to your standard way of eating. Other downsides of juice detox include:
The main factors excluding from the possibility of using a juice detox include chronic diseases such as diabetes. The juice diet is also not recommended for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Other contraindications are hypoglycemia and doing heavy physical work. Drinking only juices will not be a good idea for malnourished people and senior citizens.
Remember to contact a nutritionist before switching to a juice diet. It is very likely that the specialist will order us to do some basic research. It may turn out that such nutritional radicalism will do more harm than good to our body.
