5 Things You Need to Know About the Juice Diet

1. Get a Juicy Start

A juice diet is one type of fasting, but it differs from a strict water fast. Although a water fast may result in a faster weight loss, a juice diet or juice fast allows the body to receive some nutrients and calories. The lack of solids in a juice diet allows the digestive system to rest and repair because it doesn't have to divert resources to the digestion process. On a juice fast, the body avoids malnourishment from the nutrients in fruit and vegetable juices.

2. Just Juice

Drinking fresh juices is important when you're on a juice diet, so invest in a high-quality juicer. Bottled juices aren't as healthy and don't taste as good. Just consider how long it has been since the fruit or vegetables were harvested, juiced, bottled and transported to your supermarket. Buy organic fruits and vegetables if available, and use a variety. If you don't enjoy the taste of carrot juice by itself, combine carrot juice with mango, pineapple or apple juice for a tasty juice blend. Be certain that you follow the manufacturer's instructions for operating the juicer. This is important for both your safety and protecting your juicer from premature wear and tear.

3. Starvation Not Required

One of the advantages of a juice diet is that the body avoids starvation because you introduce a steady stream of calories into the body. Therefore, people on a juice fast won't feel hungry all of the time. Another benefit is that weight loss could be as high as 1 pound a day. Although a lot of this weight is excess water weight that will return on when the fast has ended, a good portion of the weight is fat and will stay off for good.

4. Health Considerations

Before beginning such an extreme and limiting diet, consult your doctor if you have serious health issues such as diabetes or kidney disease or are on prescription medications. Grapefruit and other citrus juices interfere with certain medications, including both over-the-counter and prescription, and can intensify the medicine's effect. You'll definitely need medical clearance if you want to juice fast, so see your doctor first.

5. Ease In and Out

It is important to prepare your body for a juice fast by eating light for a few days beforehand. It is best to eat foods that are high in fiber because you will not be getting fiber while you are on the juice fast as most of the fiber gets separated out while juicing. Also, avoid heavy, high fat foods such as meat and dairy products. When you've completed your juice fast, slowly reintroduce foods.