Do Juice Cleanses Really Work?

By: Trevor McDonald

Some words carry a lot of weight. In as few as three words, you can make or break a person’s spirit.

Being told, “I love you,” or “I respect you,” or “You’re the best!” are great ways to raise a person up and make them feel whole and happy again.

But if you wanted to see someone's face crumble in shame? It takes just three words to ruin a person's day completely.

“You’ve gained weight.”

Ugh. And it’s not like you didn’t realize you’re packing on the pounds. You can tell your pants are getting tighter. Your face looks fuller.

But denial isn’t just a river in Egypt, is it?

Look, it’s perfectly understandable to be upset about gaining a few pounds. Nobody likes feeling uncomfortable in their own body. It’s how you handle the weight gain that matters.

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard the buzz about juice cleanses and their so-called health benefits.

More and more people are turning to juice cleanses to shed those pesky extra pounds and "detox" their bodies. But are juice cleanses actually any good od?

Do they actually work?

Let’s take a hard look at the evidence.

The Truth About Juice Cleanses

The truth about juice cleanses is that they make an awful lot of lofty claims.

And you know who is usually making them? People who want to sell you expensive juices and juicing machines, that’s who!

Nobody denies how incredibly good for you fresh fruits and vegetables are. 

By including a minimum of two cups of fruit and three cups of veggies in your daily diet, you can supply your body with a bounty of health benefits.

Even the occasional juice isn’t going to outright hurt you. In fact, adding a little bit of juice to your diet can help you get important vitamins and minerals that you might otherwise be missing out on.

That said, drinking the occasional glass of green juice isn’t the same as completely replacing your otherwise healthy diet with nothing but juice.

Think about it this way. When you extract only the juice from these plants, what are you left with? A glass full of sugar and very little else.

Juicing removes many of the healthy components of the fruit or vegetable, stripping it of its fiber and robbing it of its nutrients.

It’s true. Juicing destroys the antioxidants and phytochemicals in the fruits and vegetables, making them significantly less nutritious.

And by removing the fiber, you’re going to complexly throw off your body’s hunger and satiety signals.

In turn, you won’t feel as full. To make it even worse, your blood sugar may spike, also leading to further hunger. Over time, this could increase your risk of developing diabetes.

That’s not the only problem that can arise during a juice cleanse, either.

Excessive juicing can lead to a serious condition called oxalate toxicity. If you overdo it on juicing, in as little as a few weeks, you can actually go into kidney failure.

Juicing can lead to dehydration, too.

By consuming an excessive amount of juice, you’re introducing a ton of sugar into your body. This can, in turn, lead to frequent and uncomfortable trips to the bathroom.

While some people may believe that this is a sign that the cleanse is working, it actually means that you’re putting yourself in harm’s way.

If you get too dehydrated, you can be at a greater risk of fainting, irregular heartbeat, and even death.

The takeaway?

All in all, juice cleanses are just not worth it.

How to Lose Weight & Detox Your Body (Without a Juice Cleanse!)

Your body is an incredible machine.

Honestly, you don’t even need to do a juice cleanse or a “detox.” Your body has got you covered on those fronts.

For instance, your kidneys process all of the waste that moves through your body. They do a fine job detoxing your body by themselves.

Of course, your kidneys aren’t working alone. You also have your liver.

Your liver is the unsung hero of your body. It literally exists to detox your body for you.

Everything dangerous and toxic that you consume or ingest? Your liver’s got your back. Once they pass through your liver, they’re rendered harmless.

That said, you don’t need to detox your liver, either. It’s like a self-cleaning oven. It takes care of itself.

So if juice cleanses and detoxes are bunk, what can you do to lose weight and detox your body?

One of the best things you can do is take care of your body and treat it right. Avoid excessive sugar and alcohol, both of which can tax your liver.

Definitely avoid trans fats and sweetened soft drinks, which have no redeeming health value. Not only can they increase your risk of obesity, but they also put you at a greater risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.

Make sure you reach for a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. 

By supplying yourself with a balanced and varied diet, you can help ensure that you’re getting all of the vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids that you need.

A healthy and balanced diet can lead to greater satiety, too, meaning that you’ll naturally want to eat less.

Finally, you need to make sure you move your body for about 20 minutes per day, or about two and a half hours per week.

No, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to lace up your sneakers and start training for a 5K. But, how about taking a walk around the block?

Or shoot some hoops with some friends? Or play catch with the kids? Walk your dog?

Yes, all of these count as exercise!

Taking good care of your body is one of the best things you can do for yourself. By following a healthy diet, you’ll notice that you not only look better, but you feel better, too.

You’ll have more energy, your skin will glow, and you’ll have a better outlook on life.

Listen, it’s totally reasonable to want to shed those extra pounds and fit back into your old jeans. Just don’t do anything drastic to get there, okay?

Instead of frowning at your reflection in the mirror and feeling down on yourself about gaining weight or feeling out of shape, you need to reframe your way of thinking.

Since you now know better than resorting to a juice cleanse, you can shift your mindset to engage in healthy behaviors.

Today is the day you’re going to regain control of your life – without fad diets, juice cleanses, or any other so-called quick fixes.

I have three words for you, as well.

You’ve got this!