Oh, the controversial Juice Cleanse. When preparing this write-up, I found equal amounts of writings that were against it as others were for it. So, I think the real test here is to get information about a juice cleanse from someone that is experienced with them.

I happen to be very in-tune with my body. All of its functions and feelings, anything out of the ordinary… I’m on it. I am amazing at diagnosing myself. I rarely get sick because of this. I know what works for me and I know what doesn’t. I have a TON of energy on a normal day (when I’m not potty training a wild pup). I love to try new health rituals because I’m always trying to make a good thing better. I realize this isn’t the case for a lot of people. In fact, my husband rarely notices anything that’s going on in his body. Since he’s been with me for so long, he’s now able to identify a food or substance that has a negative affect on him. Before he was with me, he was fueling himself with sugar substitutes (diet coke) and a hundred synthetic ingredients a day (muscle milk).

You see, once you start to make changes in your diet that positively affect your well-being, you become more sensitive to negative ingredients. He was only making slight tweaks to his diet, some he didn’t even know he was making because I was doing some of the cooking. He started by cutting sugar substitutes and eventually cut all synthetic ingredients and preservatives over the following years. I can now trust him to go to the grocery store and come back with whole foods, and nothing full of preservatives. The reason he made this change (that honestly, he was pretty against… hippy dippy stuff :P) is because he started to feel better. The minute he would introduce one of his old habits back, he would feel the pain. The natural energy you get from eating the right foods cannot even be compared to caffeine, it’s better.

Anyway, my point here is that a juice cleanse can help you get there. It’s amazing the realizations I came to during my first juice cleanse. I’m a healthy person and I still learned things about my body that I didn’t know. One being that I don’t actually need to “chew” and I can live on a lot less food than I initially thought. In the USA, we’re served big portions. Our eyes trick our brains into believing we need to eat that much to feel full and survive. The best thing I learned was that I was eating WAY too much food. After my first juice cleanse I started eating lighter and obviously lost a little weight because of it. I felt lighter, leaner, happier. See, even though I was eating nutritious foods before, I was still eating too much.

Another benefit from my juice cleanse is the sense of control it gave me. I felt empowered. I felt STRONG (ok, maybe not day two when my body was seriously kicking the toxins) …but after it was over… I knew I could resist temptations. You really gain control of your cravings and make better decisions.

So, whether you’re a believer in the Cleanse, or not, I urge you to try it out for yourself. Because I can promise you that it will change you in some way. Attempt it with a positive attitude. Know that you’re doing wonderful things for your body (mind & soul).

Don’t do it for weight-loss, in fact, you may not lose any weight at all. You will likely lose some water, but that will be gained back if you go back to your old eating habits. Do it for the lifestyle change. Do it for your kids, your family, the people that depend on you to be happy and healthy for a long time. Do it for your emotional health.

Known Benefits of a Juice Cleanse – Pulled From Several Studies, Sources Below

Bye, Bye Bloat & Water Weight – obviously a good thing if you’re gearing up for a big event that you want to look your best at.

Vegetable Consumption - During juice cleanse, you consume crazy amounts of vegetables, an amount you would never be able to actually eat in one day. If you don’t actually enjoy eating vegetables, this is a great way to get them in. A lot of juices have fruit in them that cut the veggie taste.

Healthy Flora - Firmicutes (bad bacteria) are directly linked to obesity and weight-gain while Bacteroidetes (good bacteria)  are linked to leaner body composition – A juice cleanse significantly lowers Firmicutes and increases Bacteroidetes during a bowel movement immediately following a juice cleanse.

Free Radical Damage Reduced – Studies have shown that lipid peroxidation has been reduced immediately following a cleanse. Read this article on the damage free radicals can do.

Improves digestion – Increases your Cyanobacteria, a major anti-inflammatory that combats bacterial infections and plays a symbiotic role in gastrointestinal tract development.

Full of Antioxidants – Antioxidants fight off free radicals. This, in turn, helps fight off disease and reduce your risk of cancer.

The best juice cleanse I’ve done? Kaleidoscope Juices! They taste the best and I trust them 100% with anything mind, body and soul related. At Kaleidoscope, it’s not just about what you’re putting into your body. It’s a spiritual experience. If you’ve ever visited one of their locations, you will understand.

The following is sourced from Kaleidoscope.love

CLEANSING AND DETOXIFICATION

Cleansing is a strategy we use to help rid the body of toxins. We use about 80% of our body’s energy to digest food. When we drink organic juice, our body is flooded with nutrients (about 3lbs of produce per juice) and is better able to harness energy to begin healing outstanding issues. By focusing on adding in optional nutrition, old toxic buildup is finally able to be released and eliminated.

1. PREPARING FOR THE CLEANSE

When you decide to start a juice cleanse, it’s best to give yourself a day or two to prepare your body. Changing your diet around will begin the detoxification process, so your body will be ready for you to start your cleanse. You’ll want to eliminate caffeine, refined starches, sugar, processed foods, and meat.  Focus on a plant-based diet, selecting foods that are going to be easy on your digestive system: green smoothies, avocado mash, simple salads with lemon flax seed oil dressing, chia seed porridge, and steamed vegetables, like sweet potatoes!

Plan to do your cleanse in a supportive environment. For some, this can mean waiting until the weekend, while others may clear their schedule of big plans. Make sure that your physical surroundings are as relaxing as possible. Stressful demands will not serve you well during your juice detox. Create a structure that allows you to feel as nurtured and loved as possible. Cleansing with loved ones or coworkers is highly beneficial for motivation and can help you avoid feeling like you are missing out on things like social events or dinners, for example.

2. DURING THE CLEANSE

Most people—especially first-timers—experience a detox reaction during a juice cleanse, others may sail through with no problems. For first-timers, it’s best not to schedule anything too big until you know how your body will react.

Check in with your body on a daily basis during the fast. If you’re feeling tired, take it easy and get some rest. If you’ve got increased energy, feel free to do your usual routine, including exercise.

3. BREAKING THE CLEANSE

Once you strengthen the trust between you and your body, you will find that the desire for certain foods—that don't serve you—decreases or disappears entirely, and the desire for other healthier foods increases. Your body knows what it needs, and what may be good for others might be different for you, and vice versa.

Arrange sufficient time for reintegration to food. If, for example, you cleanse for 3 days, you will need 2-3 days to recover.

Break your cleanse in much of the same way you prepped: consider miso soup, green smoothies, steamed vegetables, and simple salads with healthy dressings as you recover. It’s up to you to decide what you will and will not add back in from your previous way of eating after your juice detox.

Check out Kaleidoscope Juice’s amazing and delicious collection of juices made just for you!

All of their juices are:

100% organic

Raw

Cold pressed

Never HPP or pasteurized

This means that you are guaranteed the best when it comes to juices. Whether you are looking for a just a quick refresh or you are interested in doing a full cleanse, check out their organic juice options to find the perfect choice for you.

What’s your flavor? They have greens, roots + fruits, detoxes, and almond milks to fit your needs. Whether you are an experienced juice cleanse enthusiast or just a curious beginner, they got you!

Greens - These juices feature delicious green veggies that are rich in nutrients and flavor! They are perfect for those of you who are experienced with juice detoxes.

Roots + fruits - Tehir roots + fruits juices are made from just that: tasty roots and sweet, flavorful fruits! Don’t sacrifice that sweet juice flavor for nutrition. You can have it all in these tasty options.

Detox - Their detox juices have been created to rid your body of impurities. Find your favorites today, and begin your path to a healthier, more energized you.

Almond milk - They have something sweet for you! Whether you want a quick boost of protein or are looking for a tasty “dessert” during your cleanse, we have you covered. Check out their almond milks today.

All of their juice is cold pressed, which means that you are receiving all of the nutrients and benefits you need to start and finish your day the right way. They don’t use high-pressure processing (HPP), and they don’t pasteurize their products. Their juices are fresh, delicious, and rich in nutrients. Everything is made with LOVE.  

My most recent cleanse consisted of the following:

Turmeric Flush - Fresh Raw Turmeric Root, Lemon, Ginger, Cayenne, Spring Water

Anton's Spinach - Spinach, Ginger, Green Apple, Celery, Lemon, Mint

Green Dragon - Kale, Parsley, Cucumber, Celery, Mint, Green Apple, Jalapeño

Trinity - Kale, Spinach, Parsley, Turmeric Root, Ginger, Lemon, Celery, Cayenne

Hot Yogi - Pineapple, Wheatgrass, Coconut h2O, Lemon

Vanessa - Spinach, Parsley, Celery, Cucumber, Lemon, Ginger

Immediately following my Kaleidoscope cleanse, I had an enormous rush of mental clarity, something I’ve been lacking the last few weeks while crate training puppy and lots of travel. I lost a ton of water weight that I gained over spending a week in the South… and I just feel better. I’m so glad I got on my cleanse right before the New Year!

Speaking of the new year… Kaleidoscope is having a 20% off sale on all their juices starting tomorrow (January 1 -7). Use code RESOLVE20

I know all of my readers do not live in the Phoenix area, so please reach out to me if you’re interested in doing a cleanse and I will help you find one I think is similar.

Kaleidoscope provided me with a few juices this time around so that I could write this article. But if you follow me on social media, you know I’m always sipping their stuff anyway. It really is my favorite!!

Obviously, before you do anything drastic, talk to your doctor (ten day juice cleanse...etc) to make sure you're in tiptop shape. XO

 

 

Fact Sources: Here & Here