The juice fast, sometimes also known as a juice cleanse, is very popular at the minute. Maybe it’s because it seems like a quick fix or maybe making yourself a big flask of juice is a bit less intimidating then diving into a complicated cook book with recipes full of obscure ingredients. If you haven’t tried to juice craze yet or are just interested in learning more, here’s some information about all these things you want to know.
Multiple Benefits
Juice fasting can be a nice change for your body compared to the processed foods we are all used to. It can help to flush toxins out of your body and reset your natural balance. Some of the specific benefits people report as a result of a juice fast are improved hair, skin and nails, better sleep, increased energy and reduced food cravings.
Easy choices
Sometimes in life, what you want to eat can seem like the hardest choice in the world! This indecision can be bad for our health too, as we often end up settling for the quickest and easiest meals – which as we know are often not the healthiest. Having a planned out menu in regards to all your juice can take away these difficult decisions for you.
A new healthy start
Some people find a juice fast a good new starting point – kind of like why we make new year’s resolutions, the beginning of the year is just a convenient jumping off point. When you see the healthy changes your body has undergone, it makes you more likely to stick to a healthier diet as you don’t want to undo your hard work. It can also make you feel a bit more connected to your body and its needs. So as a result you can differentiate between what your body needs, rather than what it wants (pizza and doughnuts!).
Preparation
As much as you might want to just get started, you can’t just jump head first into a cleanse. There is a few things you should change about your diet in order to get your body ready. Avoid caffeine a few days before you start, so you don’t have to deal with withdrawal issues whilst in the middle of your new diet. Try to move towards a vegan (or as vegan as possible) diet, with no processed foods and refined sugars.
The diet experience
A juice fast feels different for everyone, but you might expect to experience headaches and tiredness as the toxins begin to leave your system. One of the best things you can do to reduce this is to drink lots of water, around 16oz between each juice you drink. If you’re not a fan of water, you can spice things up by infusing your water with fruits or herbs. Staying hydrated is key! Another good tip is to take some relaxation time for yourself. Do some yoga or read a good book. Help your mental health catch up to your physical health.
For those of you still hoping to get your juicers out and get fasting, hopefully these tips will help you to make your juice fast as easy and effective as possible. Happy juicing!
