A juice diet is a type of detox diet that people may undergo to lose weight or detoxify the body. Many detox diets recommend the use of juice or other liquids to increase the delivery of nutrients to the body, but not all detox diets involve consuming juice exclusively. Consult a medical professional before attempting any sort of detox diet or juice fast. Detox diets aren't for everyone and may result in negative side effects.
Purpose
People often undergo juice diets or detox diets to lose weight, but be cautious of any diet or fast that promises rapid weight loss, as it may lead to nutritional deficiencies. Although medical evidence supporting the benefit of detox diets is limited, some holistic health experts believe these diets can help rid the body of health problems caused by the accumulation of toxins. According to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, these conditions may include fatigue, headaches, depression, muscle aches, digestive disorders, heartburn, frequent colds or infections, bad breath and body odor.
Detoxing Safely
A safe detox or juice diet should reduce your body's exposure to toxins while also providing adequate nutrition to support your body's own detoxification process, according to Dr. Frank Lipman, founder and director of the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in New York City. Reducing your body's exposure to toxins involves eliminating potentially toxic foods and drinks from your diet, as well as limiting your exposure to chemicals, including common household cleaning products. Lipman recommends reducing or eliminating your intake of foods such as wheat, dairy, red meat, caffeine and refined sugar.
Benefits of Juicing
Advocates of juicing diets claim that juicing fresh fruits and vegetables allows the nutrients to enter the bloodstream more quickly and to preserve nutrients that may otherwise be lost during the digestive process. For the highest nutritional content, the authors of "The Gerson Therapy" recommend using a two-step juicer that first grinds the produce and then presses out the liquid. Other types of home juicers may not provide adequate nutrition.
In addition to providing the body with higher levels of vitamins and nutrients, juicing may deliver other benefits, writes Dr. Alejandro Junger, author of "Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself." The Clean program involves consuming two liquid meals a day to reduce the burden placed on your body's digestive system. According to Junger, this allows your body to conserve energy for the detoxification process.
Proper Nutrition
Providing your body with adequate nutrition means consuming large quantities of fruits and vegetables. The University of Wisconsin recommends using organic foods as much as possible. Undergoing a juice detox would involve making your own juices from fresh produce. Prepared juices are not recommended, as they typically contain high levels of sugar, preservatives and sodium. On the Clean program, participants are allowed to eat one solid meal of allowed foods per day, preferably at lunch.
Considerations
Do not attempt a juice fast or a detox diet if you are pregnant or nursing or suffer from health conditions such as diabetes, low blood sugar, kidney disease, liver disease or other chronic conditions that require regular medication. Detox diets and juice diets may affect the way your body reacts to prescription drugs. Possible side effects of a juice diet or detox diet include headaches, digestive problems, body aches, fatigue, lightheadedness and bloating.
References
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health: A Seven Day Program to Aid Digestion, Elimination, Detoxification and Cleansing
- Frank Lipman MD: How Do You Do a Detox?
- "The Gerson Therapy: The Proven Nutritional Program for Cancer and Other Illnesses"; Charlotte Gerson and Morton Walker, D.P.M.; 2001
- "Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself"; Dr. Alejandro Junger; 2009
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