Spring-Cleaning Your Diet: The Pros and Cons of a Juice Cleanse
Are you looking to spring-clean your diet with a juice cleanse? While it may sound like a good idea, you should know that there is little scientific evidence to support the idea that a juice cleanse will help you detox your body or lose weight.[0] However, if you want to give it a try, there are some healthy, minimally processed foods you may want to include in your cleanse, as well as some fat-, protein-, and fiber-rich additions in your juices that will give them some additional staying power.
It’s important to note that if you do decide to eat on your juice cleanse, it’s recommended that your meals contain some protein, fat, and carbs to help you complete the cleanse effectively. It is unlikely that a juice cleanse will have much effect on achieving your goals, apart from possibly hindering weight loss.[1]
Juice cleanses typically involve fresh juice as a substitute for solid foods, and while they may provide the body with an array of nutrients, many experts believe that cleanses may be unnecessary, if not detrimental.[0] Whole foods can be just as pure and unprocessed as fresh juice, with the added bonus of increased satiety and more fiber. Additionally, there’s an explanation as to why juice cleanses can make you feel less bloated — there aren’t solids coming in, so you’re not feeling as distended.[2]
Before starting a juice cleanse, it’s important to speak with your healthcare professional or a registered dietitian.[1] Some people with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, kidney or liver disease, eating disorders, or any other underlying medical conditions should proceed with caution and discuss it with their health team before doing a cleanse.[2]
And remember, any good plan with or without a juice cleanse can be helpful for achieving your personal health goals.[1] So if you enjoy juicing and juice cleanses, that’s great, but if you want to eat, don’t ever think you have to white-knuckle your way through a cleanse without food.
0. “Is Juicing Really As Healthy As It Claims To Be?” W Magazine, 13 Jan. 2023, https://www.glam.com/1162345/is-juicing-really-as-healthy-as-it-claims-to-be/
1. “Yes, You Can Eat on a Juice Cleanse: Here's the Lowdown” EBONY, 13 Jan. 2023, https://greatist.com/eat/can-you-eat-on-a-juice-cleanse
2. “Looking at a juice cleanse? Here's what you need to know about it.” WPRI.com, 25 Aug. 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/04/18/looking-juice-cleanse-heres-what-you-need-know-about-it/
