How I Feel About Juice Cleanses.

So, this past weekend my friend and I celebrated her 23rd birthday. It was a weekend full of eating and drinking, as most celebrations include. Lot’s of laughs and fun, so really a great emotional and mental health booster...maybe not the greatest for my physical health. I, however, am a firm believer in balance is everything. A balanced diet, yes, includes heaps of fruits and veggies, but you best believe if it’s my friend's birthday, I’m going to have some cake!!!
This weekend left me with some great memories, but feeling a little tired and sluggish this hot Monday morning...definitely can thank the champagne for both of those things. If there has ever been a time in my life for a juice cleanse this would probably be it...but, I don’t really believe in juice cleanses. There I said it. Don’t worry I’m going to tell you why…
Disclaimer: If you have done, are doing, or want to do a juice cleanse don’t let me stop you...if you’re a healthy individual there’s no real proof that they’re harmful...but there’s also no real proof that they’re beneficial either.
 
If juice cleanses are supposed to rid your body of toxins, what the heck is your liver and kidney for?!
    So this is why a juice cleanse even came to my mind after this weekend. I thought about the cake, the burger and fries, the mac and cheese and all the alcohol I ate and drank, while there was no guilt involved I thought it would be really great to cleanse my body from all of that. I’m sure my body is like, “what is all this junk? I don’t know what to do!” However, when you think about it, your body has a natural way to cleanse itself of toxins: your liver and kidneys. It’s a built in detox system that works all day, everyday. So there’s no real reason to add an additional method. Toxins are inevitable, your body produces them when you exercise, you eat them...they’re not something to be afraid of. But the best way to minimize them for overall health, better looking skin, higher energy levels, etc. is to eat a well-balanced diet full of unprocessed, natural foods and drink lots of water! (BRB going to fill up my water bottle for the 1038084 time today), not necessarily drink your body weight in juice.
 
Juice cleanses are so high in sugar.
    Fruit is super high in sugar, your body needs it for energy, so obviously cut that pinapple up and eat it all! However, let’s just look at some numbers…
    Average amount of sugar found in common juice cleanses: 25g to 35g
    Average amount of sugar found in soda: 33g
Drinking nothing but fruit for a few days adds a lot extra sugar into your body spiking your blood sugar causing a lot of high energy periods to a lot of very low, sluggish energy periods. While it hasn’t been shown that there’s long-term harm in this, there’s really no benefit either.
 
Yes, you’ll lose weight, but will you keep it off?
    Probably not. Drinking only 1000 calories for a few days, when you’re body really needs around 2000 will definitely make you lose weight. But, you’re putting your body into a starvation mode and as soon as you incorporate solid food again, your body will act as a vacuum and store that food as fat in preparation for the next period without food...whenever that may be.
 
All in all, is it really worth it? Probably not. You’re adding a lot of sugar into your body, putting your body through an immense caloric deficit and your body already cleanses itself. There's no point...especially when they cost an arm and a leg. This being said, if you swear by your yearly juice cleanse and you feel good about it, then go for it, just check with your doctor to make sure you’re providing your body with the nutrients it needs for the rest of the year and are in a healthy position to do so.
 
Now I think it’s time for a jog to sweat the toxins out and some more water!
 
Xx J