Learn What a Juice Cleanse Can Do For You

The Drawbacks of the Juice Cleanse Diet

While drinking freshly juiced fruits and vegetables has numerous health benefits, ingesting only juice for three days or more is not necessarily healthful or sustainable in the long run. Any health advantages obtained are very transient.

 

Promotes poor eating habits: According to a 2017 scientific review, juicing or detoxifying diets help for fast weight loss but likely to lead to weight gain once a normal diet is resumed. 13 A juice cleanse is a brief fast that drastically restricts calories and classifies many solid foods as “unhealthy,” perhaps leading to disordered eating. 14 Furthermore, evidence indicates that a juice detox may entail some health hazards.

Kidney stones can be caused by: Dark, leafy greens and beets in many juices. These two foods are high in oxalate, leading to kidney stones and other complications. 15

The juice cleanse is low in calories and may result in low blood sugar, which can be problematic for diabetes and hypoglycemia.

Low blood sugar symptoms include dizziness, fainting, weakness, shakiness, headaches, and hunger.

 

Drinking unpasteurized juice or juice that has not been treated to destroy bacteria may cause bacterial infections: Some people may become ill if they consume unpasteurized juice or juice that has not been treated to kill bacteria.

This is especially problematic for those with chronic conditions, the elderly, and young children.

If you’re preparing your juice, make sure to wash the produce before juicing thoroughly. Unused juice should be stored in a firmly sealed container and used within 24 hours.

A juice cleanse is not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or individuals with diabetes or chronic liver, kidney, or gallbladder disorders.

Is a Juice Cleanse a Good Idea for You?

A juice can provide a rapid boost for starting a new healthy eating diet or a quick reset after a few days of indulging, but it is not suggested as a long-term weight management program. While a three-day juice fast may result in short-term weight loss, it does not teach proper meal planning and preparation required for long-term weight loss.

For a healthy, balanced diet, the United States Department of Agriculture 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends ingesting a mix of vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meats, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, dairy, and oil each day.

Juice cleanses do not follow USDA recommendations and is not considered healthy eating plans because they do not guide long-term weight management.

Relying solely on the juice to “detox,” lose weight, or cure specific conditions is neither an effective nor scientific strategy for improving your overall health. Remember that any weight lost on a juice cleanse water weight primarily will most likely be recovered once you return to a regular diet.

Remember that following a long-term or short-term diet may not be necessary for you, and many diets, especially long-term diets, do not work. While we do not support fad diets or unsustainable weight-loss approaches, we give the facts so that you may make an informed decision that best suits your nutritional needs, genetic blueprint, budget, and goals.

If you want to lose weight, keep in mind that reducing weight isn’t always the same as being your healthiest self, and there are many other methods to achieve health. Exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors all significantly impact your overall health. The best diet is one that is well-balanced and fits your lifestyle.