I am heading to Vegas in a few days, and was thinking about doing a juice cleanse just so that I can look my absolute best in my brand new bikini. Not to mention, I am sure I have plenty of toxins that wouldn’t mind being flushed away. I decided that before I commit to banishing food for a few days, and consuming strictly juice, that I would do some research. Are juice cleanses strictly a trend that will soon pass, or are they actually something that is beneficial to your health? Here is what I found:
- - It is said that when doing a cleanse you will rid your body of toxins that you have collected over the span of your lifetime. Studies show that this actually isn’t the case, the body is well versed in knowing how to get rid of toxins by use of the liver and/or kidney.
- - They say that if you do a cleanse, you will lose a great deal of weight/sizes in clothing. This could be true, but not in the way you want. Your body is smart, and without enough food, it will turn to your muscles for fuel. The weight you will be losing may actually be muscle rather than fat, and losing the muscle will slow down your metabolism. We all know the a slowed down metabolism will only make you gain back the weight, and then some.
- - You were told that cleansing makes you incredibly joyful and happy? Here is the thing, this euphoric feeling you are experiencing may actually be a defense mechanism. Your body is wondering why you aren’t consuming food, and will start to go in survival mode, making you feel as if you are on top of the world.
- - One thing that is true about a cleanse is that you will very quickly began to look refreshed & lively. The juices you are drinking are most likely chock full of vitamins & water, and all that hydration will plump up your skin & hydrate it tremendously. Not to mention you most likely will have cut out sugar, alcohol, sweets, caffeine, etc., all things which are not good for your skin. The one thing to be aware of though is that if you cleanse often & deprive yourself those needed calories, your skin will lose volume & that will end up causing wrinkles.
One Response to The Truth About Cleanses
Anna May 16th, 2013
Actually, you’re missing the point of a cleanse – there are many types, but all of them are used to bone up the nutrients your body is taking in while cutting out anything not as “superfood” healthy, giving it a chance to flush out what’s there while nothing new is coming in. There are two sides to the juicing argument, but the real reason most people add it to their lifestyle is because juices help your body to process food better. A cleanse should only take place once every few months (6 for some, 3 for others), to give your body a chance to relax and reset; juicing along with regular diet actually promotes quicker and more thorough digestion. There’s no such thing as a good fad diet; that’s what the sources you’ve been reading are trying to say. Anything that’s supposed to “help you lose weight quickly” is either going to cut out water weight or muscle and isn’t healthy in the long run. Juicers just add something else into their lifestyle which helps them maintain good habits, get plenty of good vitamins, and yes, feel a little bit better. But again, cleanses should be used sparingly; juicing is better when it’s done along with healthy meals you may already eat and healthy habits like exercising and drinking plenty of water.