GlobalSpa
31-Jan-2022
Juice cleanses have been a fad for some time now. But, are juice cleanses really healthy? Does it harm your body in any way? Are you getting your required nutrients with these cleanses? Dt. Gauri Anand, a Clinical Nutritionist, answers all these questions.
Juice cleansing is where an individual drinks mostly juices throughout the day, for a few days. It is known to be the fastest detox method one can adhere to. Whether it is because you’re feeling bloated or want to shed off some extra weight, a juice cleanse can go a long way. This diet, as mentioned before, primarily consists of just juices. Making sure you add a little sugar and salt to it can help give your body a little boost in energy levels.
One of the major advantages of juice cleanses is that you are consuming a bucket load of fresh vegetables and fruits. You will receive a lot of anti-oxidiants, vitamin C and E, minerals etc.. Juice cleanses are an easier way to get a plate full of all the necessary nutrients in your body.
There is also a downside to it: juice cleanses lack healthy fats, proteins and vitamins like B12. It also lacks enough carbohydrates you need to function on a day today basis. You will need to have the right amount of protein and legumes to run a whole 24 hours. We need energy and the right nutrients to help us stay active throughout the day, and a juice cleanse will only slow us down.
Juice cleanses might help you clear your skin and help you lose a bit of weight, but following the juice cleanse for not more than a few days is important as your body will need all the nutrients as possible to function in the best way.
It lacks fiber. With juicing vegetables and fruits, all the fiber is stripped away from it. Fiber is an important aspect of your healthy diet. It helps feed the healthy gut bacteria. It also helps us with our digestive system and keeps us feeling strong. With juicing, all these important nutrients are stripped away and we are presented with just a smooth juice, hence just eating the fruit can be more beneficial.
It can cause extreme fatigue and headaches. As juice cleanses lack the right amount of nutrients to function on a daily basis, we have less calorie intake, which leads to an individual feeling weak and exhausted throughout the day. This feeling can be horrible and can last for days. We can also experience nausea and dizziness while on a juice cleanse.
Weak muscles and bones are also a major concern with this diet. As we are not getting enough protein to feed our muscles, it becomes weak and frail. The bones can also become brittle and weak.
With everything mentioned above, we can see that juice cleanses for a long period is unhealthy for the body. Our body needs a balanced diet to function on a day-to-day basis. Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, fiber, etc..
All in all, juice cleanses are necessarily not healthy. Yes, it can make you appear a little slimmer and lighter on your toes, but it isn’t really helping your body at all. If anything, it can be damaging if it is prolonged more than the estimated duration. You can use a juice cleanse only for a few days. Do make sure you consult your dietician before doing so.
