I did a juice cleanse this week. Here are the juices lined up in my fridge:
Juice cleanses have become extremely popular in the last few years. There are numerous companies offering cleanses, with different options. I typically do the Blueprint Cleanse once or twice a year. Blueprint offers 3 green juices, one pineapple juice, one cayenne lemonade and a cashew milk per day. Yum!
Companies and fans claim that there are numerous health benefits from doing juice cleanses, such as weight loss and detoxification. Cleansing gives your digestive system a bit of a break. Many people, including myself, report increased energy and focus during and right after a cleanse. The juices typically offered for a cleanse are full of nutrients, and it a great way to consume vitamins and minerals.
How do the cleanses work? Each one is different. I usually prepare for my cleanse for anywhere between 2 and 5 days. To prepare, I completely cut out alcohol, processed food, sugar, meat and dairy. Then, I consume my juices for 3 days. Blueprint recommends starting the day with lemon water and allows tea during the cleanse. In addition, there are some cleanse “cheats”, such as celery, avocado and vegetable broth. After I finish cleansing, I slowly reintroduce food into my system. I drink a lot of water while cleansing, and otherwise generally go about my business as usual.
Personally, I believe that there are benefits to cleansing. I feel amazing when I am only consuming juice. I am rarely hungry, and I am typically quite energetic. Cleansing always reaffirms for me the importance of eating clean.
I believe that the biggest disadvantage of doing a cleanse is the cost. These juices are expensive! I like that Blueprint has sales a few times a year. The companies all have different pricing, but fresh juice is not cheap. However, if you are interested in doing a cleanse, you can always make the juices yourself.
I always encouraging cleansing. The time commitment, including preparation, is pretty manageable. If you really are hungry, you can cheat with certain vegetables and still obtain the benefits. Try to schedule the cleanse at a time when you don’t have any major social commitments that would involve eating out or drinking. Another consideration for cleansing is the season. I once did a cleanse in December and it was a huge mistake. I was so cold from the weather, and drinking the juice made me colder. I encourage cleansing in the warmer months if you are sensitive to cold in the winter. Some people have no issues juicing in the cold. I have one friend who does great with juices in the winter. No one knows your body like you, so consider all of these elements before doing a cleanse.
As for me, I am on day 3 of my cleanse today and feeling great. There are some physical symptoms of cleansing, but they just remind me that my body is detoxing! In prior years, I never had to “cheat”, but this week was tough as I taught fitness classes on both days 1 and 2 of my cleanse. Yesterday, since I was going to be teaching a cardio/resistance class outside in 80 degree weather, I did have some of the cheat foods allowed on the cleanse before class.
If you are interested in doing a juice cleanse, you can find information about the Blueprint cleanse at http://www.blueprintcleanse.com. I would love to hear about your experiences!
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