Excess consumption of foods and poor nutrition results in many health conditions, which include hypertension, heart disease, allergies, diabetes, cancer and obesity. Fasting can act as a preventative for many of these conditions as well as aid in weight loss efforts. A juice fast can help you switch from abusive habits to a more healthy lifestyle. Fasting is not meant to treat any of these conditions, however, so speak with your primary physician before starting a juice fast.
Significance
Fasting is defined as the avoidance of solid foods and intake of liquids only. In a three day juice fast, you will be drinking juices of fresh fruits and vegetables. The fast will allow drinking purified water and herbal teas as well. A pure liquid diet will generate detoxification and the elimination of accumulated toxins in the body. Juice fasting is especially useful in cleansing. The fresh juices you will be drinking will require minimum digestion. This supplies the body with many nutrients while stimulating the body to eliminate waste and lose weight in the process.
Function for Weight Loss
A juice fast is a temporary approach to remedy weight gain. A short three day juice fast motivates people to make dietary changes and commit to better eating habits. A juice fast generally supplies the vitamins and minerals the body needs for energy. At the same time, the intake of calories is low to aid in weight loss. While on the low-calorie juice diet, it is best to include exercise to accelerate weight loss.
Benefits
A number of metabolic changes and shared experiences will result after fasting. A three day juice fast breaks down stored chemicals and toxins to be eliminated. According to "The 3 - Day Cleanse," fasting reduces caloric intake to the point where the liver can convert stored glucose, body fat and fatty acids into energy. Protein breakdown also occurs so that it becomes amino acids to be used as energy.
Symptoms
During the first day or two of fasting, you will experience frequent headaches and migraines. Hunger is also usually present as your body adjusts to fewer calories, Fatigue or irritability may be included in your systems, as well as dizziness. Common sounds such as the telephone ringing, music or the hum of your refrigerator may irritate you easily. Your tongue may develop a white or yellow coating that can scraped off as your liver detoxes from a juice cleanse. Some people also experience nausea and vomiting.
Specific Juices
Some juices work better for certain conditions such as weight loss. In general, raw organic fruits and vegetables are the best. Avoid canned, frozen and bottled juices. Juices helpful for weight loss include grapefruit, cucumber, lemon, lettuce, spinach and parsley because they are low in calories. The juices of oranges, carrots, apples and grapes are higher in calories and are beneficial during a three day juice cleanse.
References
- "The 3-Day Cleanse: Drink Fresh Juice, Eat Real Food, and Get Back into Your Skinny Jeans"; Zoe Sakoutis, Erica Huss; 2010
- "21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox"; Roni Deluz, James Hester, Hilary Beard; 2008
- "The 3-Day Energy Fast: Cleanse Your Body, Clear Your Mind, and Claim Your Spirit"; Pamela Serure; 1997
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