A juice cleanse, also known as juice fasting, is a fad diet in which a person consumes only fruit and vegetable juices while abstaining from solid food consumption. The purpose of a juice cleanse is to absorb as many quality nutrients while giving your digestive system a break. Here are some key points to consider about juice cleanses:
Benefits:
- Fruit and vegetable juices can boost levels of important vitamins and antioxidants, including folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene.
- Juicing can help you consume more fruits and vegetables than you might otherwise eat.
Risks:
- A person on a juice cleanse may not consume enough proteins or fats, which are crucial to physical health, healing, and brain function.
- Eliminating food groups for extended periods may also lead to malnourishment.
- If a person consumes juices that are unpasteurized or have not had another treatment to remove bacteria, they are at greater risk of illness.
- If a juice cleanse includes laxatives or other methods of bowel stimulation, a person could lose too many nutrients in their stool, leading to dehydration and imbalanced electrolytes.
- Anyone with kidney disease should not undergo a juice cleanse.
Its important to note that no published research currently supports the safety or efficacy of juice cleanses or fasts. While juicing can be a healthy addition to your diet, its best to weigh the pros and cons of this short, but restrictive diet trend before giving into the hype.
