THE TOXIC JUICE CLEANSE

So you want to shed a few pounds in under week? Who wouldn’t?! Many people are caught up in the juice cleanse fad today, and the hopes of weight loss plays a big role in its popularity. What a great deal of people don’t know is that juice cleanses are actually not healthy for your body. Detoxing the body is what attracts the public to go on these 3-10 day juice cleanses where they only intake fluids of fruit and vegetables. Sounds healthy and detoxifying right? Well these juices actually contain no fiber which is one of the main reasons we intake fruit and vegetables. Fiber is  needed to keep us full as well as keep our digestive systems going strong. Another misleading thing about juice cleanses is that they don’t actually rid our bodies of toxins. Liz Applegate, director of sports nutrition at the University of California Davis says, "There's no evidence that someone is actually getting rid of harmful compounds from the body that you're cleansing". Our kidneys and liver detox our bodies for us. If we want to get rid of toxins in our bodies the best way to do so is to eat whole foods and consume less processed foods. Clean and real foods will keep the body healthy and running with a better chance of keeping a lower weight in a healthier way. Juice cleanses also provide less protein, lower calorie intake, and a great amount of sugar, though it is natural sugar it is more than our bodies would typically intake. Protein is needed for muscle growth, especially after a workout, and with less protein intake comes muscle shrinkage. With less calories being consumed headaches are triggered, we become fatigued, and  our bodies are sent into starvation mode thus slowing our metabolism and not helping with any weight loss. Blood sugars may also rise from all the fruit sugar being consumed. After a 3-7 day cleanse you will lose some weight, but it will be mostly water weight which is gained back as soon as the diet returns to normal solid foods. Juicing is a good way to obtain your recommended vegetable intake, but it is unnecessary for all three meals. Instead, make it one part of a balanced diet every now and then. Your body needs carbs, protein, and fat for energy and nutrients, and juice cleanses will not leave you with long term wellness. The best thing we can do for our bodies is to eat whole foods such as whole grains, chicken, fish, beans, fruit, and vegetables. With a balance of all of these, you will be feeling satisfied, lively and most importantly, healthy.