mdolla: You Have to Read This Before Going into Your 10 Day Juice Cleanse!

You’ve heard of the 10 day juice cleanse. You’ve seen pictures of Hollywood’s finest carrying around fresh smoothies. Perhaps you’ve even tried a couple of juice recipes yourself. But before diving head first into your own juice cleanse, it’s important that you understand what you’re doing.

What is a juice cleanse?

If you’re totally new to the topic and unfamiliar with juicing, here’s what you need to know. A juice cleanse is a somewhat controversial dieting and detoxing method in which the person consumes only raw fruits and veggies for a period of a few days – most commonly 10 days. The idea is that, by abstaining from processed foods, you can give your body the time it needs to remove toxins and replenish nutrients.

Did the trend of juice cleanses start recently?

Juicing has been around for centuries, but first started to gain widespread popularity in the 1970s and 1980s when infomercials, books, and magazines were published on the topic^[1]. However, the popularity of juicing has definitely peaked over the last few years, with recent research and health trends suggesting that it could hold powerful healing powers.

If I want to start, how can I be successful?

A juice cleanse is usually pretty easy the first day. So long as you have some tasty recipes, it’s easy to get through. However, after two or three days, things start to get difficult. You’d do anything for a greasy cheeseburger or sweet bowl of ice cream.

If you want to be successful with juicing, there are some rules you should follow. First off, it’s always a good idea to have a partner^[2]. This could be a friend at work, a significant other, a sibling, or anyone who will hold you accountable and keep you motivated.

Secondly, remove as many temptations as possible. This may mean clearing out your pantry and refrigerator, or not taking a certain route home from work if it means passing by lots of fast food restaurants.

The third tip is to pamper yourself in other areas. For example, you might want to go and get a manicure one day after work. Not only will this make you feel good, but it’ll keep your mind off food.

What benefits do I get from a juice cleanse?

Besides sounding trendy and cool, what are the benefits of a 10-day juice cleanse? One of the first things you’ll notice – starting on day two – is that you just feel better. You’ll wake up with more energy, won’t feel sluggish, and may even feel physically better if you suffer from chronic pain. A lot of people actually discover that they have some sort of food allergy that had previously gone undiagnosed.

Another benefit of juicing is that you’ll quickly lose any water weight you’ve been carrying around. It’s not uncommon for people to lose three to five pounds in just a couple of days.

Are there any possible side effects?

A 10-day juice cleanse doesn’t come without side effects. According to researchers^[3], some of the potentially negative symptoms associated with juicing include a lack of focus, caffeine withdrawal, lightheadedness, digestive issues, loss of health muscle mass, and even minor depression. Most people only experience a couple of these symptoms at a time, and they don’t tend to last for very long.

Here are 3 sample recipes you can try before fully committing to a cleanse.

Not sure juicing is right for you? Check out the following three sample recipes to see just how tasty it can be:

1. Green Juice

A lot of people like this Green Juice recipe, which includes ingredients like parsley, spinach, lemon, pears, and celery. These fresh ingredients are designed to support bone health.

2. Anti-Inflammatory Juice

At the root of most diseases is inflammation. That’s why this recipe – consisting of celery, cucumber, pineapple, green apple, spinach, lemon, and ginger – is so good for you. It’s also tasty!

3. Cellulite and Fat Killer

Trying to burn off some fat in addition to detoxing? This recipe – which includes ingredients like grapefruit, lemon, limes, pineapple, and ginger – will have you on the right track in no time at all.

Also, you might want to consult your doctor before starting the cleanse.

A 10-day juice cleanse is an awesome way to detox your body and lose weight. However, before starting any cleanse like this, make sure you seek out your doctor’s advice and remember to return to a balanced diet afterwards.

Reference

[1]	^	The Juicing Club: The history of juicing
[2]	^	Juicing For Health: Tips For a Successful Juice Fast
[3]	^	Eat This, Not That!: 27 Things a Juice Cleanse Does to Your Body