Juices To Help Lose Weight On A Juice Fast

Juicing, which involves using a juicer to extract juice from fruits and vegetables, isn't any healthier than consuming fruits and vegetables whole, according to Jennifer K. Nelson, a Mayo Clinic nutritionist. However, proponents of juicing maintain that it provides several benefits, such as providing more nutrients than regular juices, allowing for easier digestion, and helping promote detoxification to enhance weight loss. Some juices may be more beneficial than others on your fast to lose weight.

Vegetable Juice

When juicing, you have to use several fruits or vegetables to obtain just 1 cup of juice. As a result, the carbohydrate content of the juice is much higher than regular juices. This can cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to surge and inhibit weight loss. Vegetables, especially the non-starchy variety, contain less sugar than fruits so they are a better option if you're juicing to lose weight.

Juices Rich in Vitamin C

Although they have a higher sugar content, some fruit juices can still be part of your juice fast to lose weight. For instance, cranberry and lemon juices are rich in vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. This nutrient improves your liver's ability to break down fats, according to Ann Louise Gittleman, a certified nutrition specialist and author of "The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet." Vitamin C also increases levels of glutathione, the key antioxidant the liver relies on during detoxification, a process that some health professionals such as Gittleman indicate enhances weight loss.

Watermelon Juice

Watermelon juice contains high levels of the amino acid L-citrulline, which is an effective precursor of another amino acid, L-arginine, which has been shown to decrease fat mass and lower blood sugar level, according to a rat study published in the "Journal of Nutrition" in December 2007. High blood glucose increases the levels of insulin, a hormone that promote fat storage in the body, especially around the abdominal area. However, taking large oral doses of L-arginine causes symptoms such as nausea, gastrointestinal problems and diarrhea. In the study, the team of U.S. researchers found that dietary supplementation with watermelon pomace juice boosted levels of arginine in rats and helped prevent fat build-up and lower blood glucose levels.

Considerations

If you have a medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease, consult your doctor before trying a juice fast. Also, do not stay on your juice fast for longer than three days, recommends Brenda Watson, a certified nutritional consultant and author of "The Detox Strategy." During a juice fast you miss out on essential nutrients from other foods such as meat, dairy products and whole grains. A prolonged juice fast can lead to serious complications such as malnutrition, candida overgrowth and related side effects such as fatigue and allergies, notes Watson. Finally, MayoClinic.com recommends drinking fresh juice right away as bacteria can build up in them quickly.