How to Properly Do a Juice Cleanse

Credit: Flickr / Food Thinkers

On it’s own, juice is 100% carbohydrate energy, so pair it with high-protein snacks like almonds or yogurt

While juice cleanses might be all the rage, are they everything they’re cracked up to be?

The idea of juice cleansing – drinking fresh vegetable juices, fruit juices and water for anything from a few days to several weeks – has been around for some time. (There are a number of cleanses you can try: find out which cleanse is right for you.)

While it’s a great way to add servings of fruit and vegetables to your diet, there are some significant drawbacks.

Even if made from the purest quality fruits and vegetables, the fibre is broken down in juice. Juice doesn’t break down slowly in your body and sustain energy the same way the whole fruit or vegetable would.

Juice Nutrition

Juice is not a well-balanced meal or snack on its own as it is 100% carbohydrate energy and doesn’t offer any quality protein or fat. Although most people need five to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, that doesn’t mean 20 servings is better.

If you enjoy fresh juice blends of fruits and vegetables, limit portions to 4-8 ounces. Accompany them with a handful of nuts, yogurt or other sources of protein for some staying power. People who have diabetes, or issues where tight blood sugar control is ideal, should be cautious about juice intake.

In adults concerned about weight management, juice should be kept to a minimum due to the high number of calories that can be consumed without realizing it. Interested in trying a juice diet? Check out the best juice bars in Vancouver.

Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.