I’d like to try a juice cleanse; but will it really remove toxins from my body?
The short answer: No – there’s no science behind it.
The explanation: The basic fact is that you don’t need to eat or drink a certain diet to detox your body. Rather, the liver and kidneys naturally remove toxins and waste – because it is their job to do so! As one clinical dietician stated, “If we were holding onto toxins, we wouldn’t be alive.” In fact, there is no scientific evidence to support the claims that the diet will help remove toxins or aid digestion.
Additionally, a juice cleanse can cause more harm than good for the body, as it can lead to low blood sugar, low blood pressure, and electrolyte imbalance, causing headaches, fatigue, light-headedness, irritability, low blood sugar, or even fainting and vision changes. And once the cleanse is over, dieters will often overeat – gaining back the bit of weight that may have been lost.
The reason that these diets cause such reactions is because, once juiced, the fruits and vegetables don’t retain the fiber that is needed to regulate blood sugar, manage cholesterol, and support gut health.
Although a juice cleanse will often lead to weight loss within the first few days, the loss is primarily water weight which you are likely to gain back within 72 hours of eating a solid meal. If you are on a longer fast, the loss is likely to be muscle mass because you are not getting the proper nutrition from the juices alone.
While consuming juice alone for days on end is not healthy, adding juices (along with fruits and vegetables) to your diet is – especially if you don’t particularly enjoy eating fruits and vegetables. The juices can boost levels of vitamins and antioxidants (such as folate, vitamin C, vitamin E and beta carotene), but using a blender instead of a juicing machine will result in a drink that has more healthy plant chemicals and fiber and is a better component of a healthy diet.
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