One of the more popular weight loss fads of recent times has been going on a juice cleanse. I mean, if it’s good enough for Gwyneth Paltrow, surely it’s good enough for your wellbeing. But is the juice fast really safe and, first and foremost, does it actually work?
The idea of the juice cleanse is to drink nothing but pressed juices extracted from fruits and vegetables. Basically, it allows you to detox after your wellbeing-damaging indulgences, and, as you’re only drinking juice, enthusiasts claim that you can absorb the fruit and vegetable nutrients faster, because your body doesn’t have to work so hard to digest. The detox element is what really appeals to celebrity fans like Salma Hayek and Nicole Richie, as this promises more energy, clearer skin, and fewer digestive and other health issues.
But seeing as the evidence is based more on anecdotes than science, the question remains: does it work? There’s a distinct lack of peer-reviewed studies on the effects of juicing, and so saying if it works one way or another is hard to say. However, most scientists and wellness experts will agree that it isn’t necessary to go on a juice fast if you want to rid your body of toxins. After all, this is what your liver and kidneys have been designed to do, and so a liquid-based diet won’t eliminate any more unneeded waste.
Still, there are health benefits to a juice-based diet. Not only will drinking your five-a-day enable you to get far more phytonutrients than you could normally eat, but going on a detox for a few days can also help jump-start a commitment to a healthier diet. According to wellness expert Dr Frank Lipman, there’s a psychological effect of going on a juice fast in which you feel motivated to be healthier overall, and you feel like you can think more clearly. So, if you are considering trying to improve your overall wellness lifestyle, a juice cleanse may be just the thing to get you started. If you’re trying to lose weight, on the other hand, this may not be the right choice as many juice cleanse programmes include a higher amount of calories than you realise.
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