Guide to Juice Cleansing

Though people have been using juice cleanses and fasts for centuries to improve health, they’ve never gotten quite the attention they have in recent years. From celebrities doing the Master Cleanse to lose weight for movie roles to celebrity doctors singing the praises of the latest cleanse or cleanse products; knowing how to go about a cleanse and which one is right for you can be difficult. This guide to juice cleansing is meant to help you get started on the right foot.

Why A Juice Cleanse?

Though weight loss seems to be the biggest motivator for trying a juice cleanse, there are far better reasons to do it. Sure, dropping a few pounds is a nice perk, but the point of a juice cleanse is, after all, to “cleanse” your body of toxins and get your body functioning and feeling better.

It’s in the Juice

What sets a juice cleanse apart from the dozens of others that you’ll see in stores is that a juice cleanse—a true juice cleanse—uses pure juices that you get from the fruits and vegetables yourself using a juicer. Tempting as it may be to buy a cleansing kit or products claiming to be cleansing juices in stores; getting the most from a juice cleanse really does require using clean juices that have not been processed in any way. The only way to achieve this is to invest in a juice, which fortunately have become less expensive in recent years. And, to ensure you get the most out of the cleanse, opt for organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.

Along with the juice and pulp from fruits and vegetables, you can also add a few extra ingredients—natural, of course— to the juice to help you get more nutrients from your cleanse as well as other benefits. For example, adding some fresh ground ginger root to your juice can help you keep tummy troubles at bay while you’re cleansing. Ginger also adds a little extra zing to juice and is a particularly nice complement to pears. Herbs also offer various health benefits while also helping to keep things interesting as far as flavor goes. And, powdered psyllium is another great addition to juices for the extra fiber it provides.

How Long to Cleanse

If you’re new to juice cleansing, then it’s advisable to start off slow. Not only because it’s a drastic change in your eating, but also because setting lofty goals such as cleansing for a week or longer when you’re not accustom to it sets you up for failure which can completely derail your efforts and put you off of getting healthy. Aim for a 3-day weekend juice cleanse if you’re new to cleansing, like Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It’s easily manageable and you have more free time on the weekend to experiment with different juice recipes. The weekend also allows you the comfort of being at home and not at work when your digestive system starts to rid your body of all those toxins, if you know what I mean!

Though there are those who swear by juice cleanses that last weeks; anything more than 7 days is not advisable. As many vitamins and nutrients as you get in your juice, a cleanse has its deficiencies and isn’t meant to be followed long term.

Staying On Track

One of the best ways to help keep your cleanse on track is to not let yourself get bored. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fruits and vegetables. Even the strangest combinations can make for some very tasty juice! Try some combinations on your own or try out some of the many juice cleanse recipes available online. Try sweet, savory, and a combination—whatever you’re craving. The more interesting the flavors, the easier it is to stick to your cleanse.

Along with enjoying the juices you’re drinking during your cleanse it will be a lot easier if you drink enough to not feel hungry all the time. This could be anywhere from 8 to 12 cups juice of a day. Drink plenty of water as well to help curb hunger and keep things moving. It is a cleanse after all! And if you’re especially worried about hunger, then pick up some condensed greens powder to add to your juice cleanse. They provide you with extra nutrients that will help with hunger and keep your energy levels up during your cleanse. They are easily found at health food stores and in most grocery and department stores where supplements are sold.

Juice cleansing may not be easy and it may not be the magic ticket to the perfect body all on its own, but its benefits to your health are well worth it. Not only does it cleanse the body of a lot of the not so great stuff we put into it every day, but it also offers us an opportunity to get in a lot of the vitamins and nutrients that we so often neglect to get enough of.

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst