Juicing and detoxing are some of the most friendly terms floating on the internet. Consider it a mini-break for your digestive system, or just a way to extract the goodness of fruits and vegetables.
Juice cleanses are one of the most popular ways to detox and cleanse the body of toxins. There’s also another benefit- weight loss.
Supporters say that going on a simple 2-3 day juice cleanse diet can help strengthen the working of gut bacteria, promote fat loss and keep you healthy, thereby making you see a difference in the scale.
If you follow it religiously, there are benefits to beat bloating, stress eating and general well-being as well.
Is it easy to follow a detox diet?
A lot of celebs have backed on the benefits of the diet to stay in shape. However, going on a juice cleanse diet is not as easy as it sounds.
For one, not only are you going off of solid foods for a certain stipulated time, but it can also make you super hungry and prone to overeating. Experts also say that juice cleansing is something that devoids you of ‘real whole foods and nutrition’, making it unsustainable and a fad.
The real question remains- are they safe?
All diets for weight loss come with their own share of pros and cons, juice cleanses and detoxes included. While they can work for temporary weight loss, they are not the most effective way to maintain weight loss in the long run.
Before we dig deeper, let us explain to you how juice cleanses really work.
How do juice cleanses work?
A cleanse or a juice detox diet means you are voluntarily skipping solid food of any kind, and in lieu of it, only drinking liquids for a certain duration of time. Juicing involves squeezing any vegetable, fruit or nut into a liquid form. They should not be confused with smoothies, which pack in more protein and may even contain traces of solid food.
Most cleanses and diet plans are designed for 3-10 days time, and those who participate are asked to consume around six bottles of fruit or vegetable. Milk is not included in juicing.
Your metabolism undergoes a change
One of the benefits of juicing is that it serves a lot of dietary fibre, which works not just to regulate digestion and eliminate toxin build-up, but also gives a kick to your metabolism, even if for a time being.
Some juices, which also make use of ingredients like pepper have been linked to boosting metabolism and speeding up weight loss. However, for some, it can also work entirely differently-slow your metabolism further down. Hence, juicing is not something to try in an instant, but with precaution.
How much weight can a person really lose?
Since juicing and cleansing aims at removal of harmful toxin, it also regulates easier fat build-up, therefore, helping you lose at least some of the kilos quicker. So, for those who quickly want to get back to the game or lose weight fast, juicing is a good option. Experts suggest that juicing diets can help you lose upto 5 kilos in a matter of 3-4 days.
You end up consuming lesser carbs
The way it works is by simply restricting your carbohydrate intake. When your body doesn’t consume extra carbs or fats, it ends up using the stored carbohydrate for energy in the form of glycogen and sodium, thereby, beating water weight as well.
Since you end up consuming fewer calories through the duration of the diet, it ends up promoting weight loss
But it isn’t a long term weight loss plan
While juicing does work, it doesn’t sustain for a longer duration of time. According to nutritionists, most people who do lose weight end up gaining some of the total weight back 72-100 hours after having the first solid meal.
Do not consider juicing to be the best way to stay healthy. Since you are ‘devoiding’ yourself of proper foods during the course of the diet, there are chances that you end up overeating, or eating in food in an unhealthy manner, which could also lead to other consequences.
Again, juicing doesn’t always pack in the best nutrition. Going on a sole plant-based diet could leave you deficient in other nutrients- proteins, vitamins and minerals, which are all needed to support a good healthy lifestyle as well.
The bottomline
There’s also another con to think here. Most juices and cleanses are acidic in nature, it could make you prone to suffering from problems like acidity, heartburn and flatulence.
Hence, if you are looking to fit back in those pair of jeans fast, or fight back water bloating, juicing might help you get to your goal. However, considering it to be a long-term weight loss solution would be wrong. You need to have a good diet, workout well and make sustainable choices, in the long run, to stay fit.
