A cup of coffee can come in handy when you’re trying to boost your energy levels. Apart from having a cup of coffee, a glass of juice is also another alternative to quenching your thirst while regaining some of your energy, especially after a run or a long, exhausting day. But, how else can you utilize juice?
Juice can be drunk as a refreshment and also used for fasting. When used in fasting, this is known as a juice fast. Many people are turning to juice fasting to help with weight loss and for better gut and body health. But, the question “is a juice fast effective or even safe?” often pops up. Let’s take a look at what a juice fast is and then tell you more about its benefits and how to juice fast.
What is juice fast?
A juice fast lasts about 1-10 days and is also known as a cleanse or detox. It involves drinking homemade or premade juices which can either be made from vegetables, herbs, or fruits mixed with water or tea. But juicing involves extracting raw juice from the fruits and vegetables and is, therefore, different from blending. In blending, the whole fruit gets blended including the fiber.
Juicing done at home also produces juice that is different from store-bought juice, which might contain added sugars and artificial flavors. Depending on the juice fast, some fast will ask you to drink only freshly pressed juice while in addition to the juice, others allow light foods. Find out more on howtojuicefast.com
Benefits
A juice fast is great for your body since it can promote weight loss, reduce sugar cravings and inflammation, improve your sleep quality and also get rid of excess toxins from the body.
How to do a juice fast
Before the fast
Before starting a juice fast it’s best to figure out why you are doing the fast. By being intentional, you will be able to stay focused on the end goal. Are you looking to lose weight or just curb some cravings?
During the fast
Ensure that you drink plenty of juice at least a glass every two hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m to meet your body’s basic energy requirements. Your juice should contain a substantial amount of vegetables like cucumber, spinach, carrots, and beets.
Include fruits with lower sugar-content packed with anti-inflammatory antioxidants like lemons, raspberries, cherries, and kiwis. You can also add herbs like ginger root, turmeric root, parsley, and mint.
Avoid intense physical activity to avoid feeling dizzy or tired which might indicate that the fast is doing more harm than good. If this happens, return to your main diet. A juice fast should last up to three days before returning to a regular diet.
Juice fasting is good and healthy for you but there are those who should not participate in juice fasting. These include pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, children, adolescents who need enough energy and protein for growth which is lacking in juice fasting. Also, those with medical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, or liver disease should not juice fast because their physiological response to food isn’t the same. In case you have any doubts about whether you should juice fast or not, contact your doctor for advice.
