Juice Cleanse – is it worth it?
As part of my quest to improve my health at the beginning of this year, one of my projects was to see what this ‘juice cleanse’ fuss was about and whether juice cleansing was really worth it, both in terms of value for money and actual health benefits.
What is a juice cleanse?
Wikipedia defines juice cleansing as:
“Juice fasting, also known as juice cleansing, is a fad diet in which a person consumes only fruit and vegetable juices whilst abstaining from solid food consumption. It is used for detoxification, an alternative medicine treatment and is often part of detox diets.”
Some juice cleanses do in fact allow consumption of some raw vegetables and let’s not forget the ever-important water!
What are the benefits of a juice cleanse?
Here are some I found listed on the internet.
- Cut out processed foods.
- Cut out things which aren’t plant-based.
- Turn your diet alkaline (If you do the one I tried.)
- Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins and minerals. Drinking juices could introduce extra nutrients into the body to boost overall health.
- Juices are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds that may boost the immune system and help a person feel more energetic
- The creators of many juicing plans market the ability of their juices to flush toxins from the body, although they rarely specify which toxins the juices remove.
- Juices could help improve digestion by introducing healthy enzymes that make the gut work more efficiently.
- Improve energy.
- Sleep better.
- Reduce blood pressure.
- May reduce sugar cravings.
As someone who feels they have a sugar addiction, one of the most persuasive incentives of juicing was to reduce sugar cravings. Losing weight, boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation and increasing energy were all interesting potential benefits but the idea of getting some control over my sugar intake was a huge attraction.
Which diet?
A huge number of internet-based companies offer juice cleansing packages, which range in price considerably. The first company I contacted seemed a good bet but when the juices arrived, the bottles weren’t labelled and some had already started to defrost due to poor insulation. I contacted the supplier and eventually arranged a return and refund. However, the process was painful and I began to have doubts about the whole project. Fortunately, the internet soon brought another couple of companies to my attention and one of these, called “Think Press” stood out.
Juice Cleanse: Think Press
Before my juice cleansing experience, I exchanged numerous emails with Think Press to confirm my suitability for a cleanse and to establish which regime would best suit me. Having taken on board their recommendations and made my decision, it was very easy to place an online order with Think Press and unlike some of the other companies I’d looked at, booking a slot for delivery was not problematic.
When my order arrived, the box was in good condition, the bottles were well protected and good insulation ensured that they had been kept adequately cool in transit. This had been achieved using cold bags which are recyclable. The bottles are well-designed and cleverly shaped, not only to fit snugly into the transit packaging but they’re incredibly practical to store: their design allows them to be stacked vertically, as well as horizontally! Each bottle has a number on top, so if you’re looking from above you can easily identify the bottle you need. The only design improvement I could suggest would be slight change to the font used on the label, as number 4 looks rather like a 1! However, that could be just me!
All bottles feature moisture-resistant labelling, so there’s no need to fret about not knowing what you’re drinking. Be warned! Bottles supplied by some companies don’t feature such labelling, which could lead to confusion and uncertainty.
Think Press offers three cleanses, which are ‘Lighten’, ‘Detox’ and ‘Cleanse’
Lighten – 935 calories per day
This is a lower calorie cleanse, designed to help you feel ‘lighter and brighter’ and is recommended for beginners and regular cleansers alike.
Includes 4 x 500ml Juices and 1 x 500ml dairy free nut milk per day.
Detox – 895 calories per day
This is a more advanced programme for more experienced cleansers. It’s lower in sugar, with lots of leafy greens and protein-packed nut milk. Detox is low in calories and is an alkaline programme.
4 x 500ml Juices (1 veg only), and 1 x 500ml dairy free nut milk per day.
Strengthen Cleanse – 1260 calories per day
With 2 plant-based milks a day, this is a higher energy programme, perfect for those who want to continue to work out during their cleanse. This is a higher protein cleanse.
Includes 3 x 500ml Juices and 2 x 500ml dairy free nut milk per day (see below for full details).
Which juice cleanse was right for me?
As much as I would like to lose some weight, realistically the cleanse which interested me the most was the Detox Juice Cleanse, as this would give me an opportunity to try to turn my diet alkaline for a week. Alongside this, the idea of a cleanse which might help me lose my cravings for sugar and chocolate was a huge incentive! I spoke to my Transplant Coordinators, who passed on my query (whether cleansing would be of benefit to me?) to the dieticians at my key support hospital. Although they could see no issue with my undertaking a juice cleanse, they didn’t seem to recognise that there might be potential benefits, which was a shame. When you’re on as much medication as I am, which has so many side effects impacting my quality of life, it’s a bit disappointing that the medical profession can’t be more open to alternative treatments.
What happened?
I finally settled on the Detox cleanse and although it was tough, I was impressed by the overall package presented by Think Press, in terms of the delivery and material to support the cleansing, as well as the actual cleanse experience itself. I did lose weight while cleansing and felt that my symptoms, in particular the fatigue, was reduced. (However, it has to be said that this effect disappeared once I returned to a more normal pattern of eating. I would need to complete more cleansers on a more regular basis to see whether cleansing could reduce symptoms in the long-term.)
The Detox cleanse provides five juices a day and I was surprised that I didn’t feel hungry, though I was a little headachy on the first day. This was not unexpected, as I’d been drinking a lot of coffee before cleansing and the body can go into defence mode when there is a sudden change to its energy income stream. Being able to nibble on raw vegetables, fruit and nuts helped keep me going when I did feel hungry and by using dinner times as an opportunity to have relaxing baths, there was an added element of self-care to the cleanse, which made me feel like I was having some sort of spa experience! My sleep seemed to improve with me feeling it was deeper and I felt more refreshed on waking up. Mentally, the experience of having key times allocated for juices made me feel very safe, due to the structured nature of cleansing.
It was incredible to be able to experience a complete five day juice cleanse and although I did have one minor slip up, I would recommend cleansing to anyone who is thinking about giving it a try. Our bodies are always working and if we eat constantly, key processes that organs are meant to be executing can have their function reduced, as they try to focus on digesting food. This is why I am so interested in intermittent fasting, as it lets the body rest.
In terms of price, buying a cleanse will always be more expensive than attempting to create one yourself. However, the cleanses in the Think Press package are all made from high quality ingredients, which (after I became accustomed to them) were quite drinkable. There is a fantastic level of convenience in being able to store a large number of cleansing bottles in the freezer, as it gives you flexibility on how you approach your cleansing regime: every day, intermittently, or maybe you just want a juice every once in a while. Knowing that the juices are frozen so soon after production means that you can have a huge amount of confidence in the quality.
I did find the green juices challenging but I loved the Ginger Lemonade and the Nut Mylk and would love to integrate them into my diet more regularly. I finished my juice cleanse feeling that there had been benefits to my life and would undoubtedly recommend cleansing to others. Although at first, the price had seemed high, when one considers the look and taste of the product, it seems reasonable for the quality of the experience.
NB. It’s crucial with any cleanse that you fully read and understand all the literature before beginning a cleansing regime.
I would encourage anyone interested in undertaking a packaged juice cleanse to take time to research the company and the different cleanses before embarking on a programme.
If you have a medical condition, then it’s crucial that you talk to your medical practitioner and always check that you have no allergies to any of the juice contents.
Detox Diary:
Day One: Detox Advanced:
8:30 am (planned time) Ginger Lemonade, Filtered Water, Lime (8%), Agave, Ginger (3%)
9:30 am (actual time). This was really nice. It’s very refreshing with the lime. I love the ginger kick.
10:00 am TM.
Fell asleep (fatigue).
11:00 am (actual time) Fresh Green, Cucumber (40%), Apple, Spinach (14%), Lemon, Ginger (3%):
This is refreshing with definitely more of a ‘detox’ taste; an interesting combination of sharp and sweet apple, the bitterness of spinach, a hint of ginger with a lemon kick. Not quite as pleasant as the Ginger Lemonade
11:20 am (actual time)
Not sure if my headache started beforehand, whilst I was asleep, or afterwards but I took a paracetamol having first checked the literature and finding it can be a detox symptom. I had some nuts and then ate two figs – a bit naughty due to the high sugar content but I’ve got a few more days to nail this.
I was feeling very fatigued today before starting the juice cleanse, so I’m chilling on the sofa watching documentaries to ‘improve my mind’ on plant-based diets and things I struggle to understand (Netflix ‘Explained’ a series I would very much recommend).
1:30 pm Super Green ‘salad in a bottle’. Celery (30%), Cucumber, Lettuce (20%), Kale (10%), Spinach (8%), Lemon, Parsley
This juice has anti-inflammatory and diuretic qualities and nutrients to help skin and hair. I’m very excited to see what something this good for my body will taste like. I soon discover that being the only ‘fruit free’ juice will, to someone like me with a liking for sweet things, be a struggle. I don’t get the ‘subtle sweetness from crunchy romaine lettuce’, but I do taste a lot of what to me seems saltiness, which I can only imagine is a reaction to the parsley. This is a challenging juice to drink, definitely my least favourite. Time for a nap I think.
Napped until around 5 before some more TM (transcendental meditation) and then at 6:30 pm had the Nut Mylk. I think this is one I could grow to like but I found the occasional bit of ice added into the milk helpful so I think I may blend it tomorrow. Headache has gone but I did take paracetamol. I’ve been snacking on cashews. Feeling quite zen as now no food until 8:30 am tomorrow so that is a Circadian Fast that Think Press have thrown into their package as a nice bonus.
Sunday 12th of January
Sleep:
I slept really, really well. A very deep restful sleep. I can’t remember how many times I went to the bathroom but think it was less than normal so will count next time. (This is a side effect of my medication – often a lot of bathroom trips!) Overslept and by the time I got to my juices in the fridge, it was past 11. Unfortunately, they had not defrosted so I put them into the sink with some water while I had my shower. It was at this point I got around to reading the back of the Ginger Lemonade and kicked myself as it clearly states you should have this in the morning to balance your PH levels. Last week I had a cleanse arrive with no labels, this week I don’t read the labels? Not good. This will be added to my advice on juice cleansing.
Ginger Lemonade: 12:20pm
I felt like I had enough energy today to have a bath and attempt to wash my hair. While drying it I even thought it was such a nice day I should try to get out and have a little jog. Drying my hair was exhausting so that idea soon disappeared though.
I went for a walk and realised that I didn’t actually feel hungry. If food had been available I would have eaten it, but only out of habit. I also realised it would be have been a good idea to take other body measurements other than weight.
Fresh Green 2:40 pm
Hm. It’s not getting much easier.
Super Green 4:50 pm
Nut Mylk 5:30 pm
Monday: 58.4 kilos (9.2 stone) – Yippee! But….
I was thrilled to see my weight back down again today. But then, lo and behold there was my period. I had expected my period a week ago and when it hadn’t arrived I had thought I was maybe not due for another two weeks so had started the cleanse. This is annoying because the weight at the start of the cleanse may not have been accurate. It may have included water weight which means I may not get as accurate as results as I had hoped. When I have my period I often get anaemic, so today I will be making sure I take my iron supplements. On the positive side at least, this gives me an excuse to try another juice cleanse! There is something pleasurable about the enforced abstinence. It might be how good food looks when you can’t eat it. Or maybe it’s the feeling of self-control. So far I haven’t felt any major benefits as such but I am still only day three.
Today should have been easier. I was busy. I was on a course. But I was hormonal. When my painting started to be a nightmare, I felt teary. When I had a conversation about ‘imagining’ going on holiday for more than a week without my puppy I almost cried. My eyes filled up, and I got all choked as you do just before an outpouring of emotion. I was in a room full of people eating. I came home to the smell of delicious food and a bowl of brussels sprouts.
I also have something to admit to the reader. Today I had a moment of weakness and ate two tiny slithers of baguette with some oil. I wanted to resist but I couldn’t and I was incredibly disappointed with myself. Trust, me. The disappointment is much worse than the hunger so it won’t happen again.
What is important for any reader to realise, as I realised myself, is that this is a review of my ‘experience’ of a juice cleanse. Of course, I wanted to be perfect and not crack but in truth when you have an autoimmune disease, are in recovery from a liver transplant and attempting a juice cleanse for the first time, if you have a blip, you have a blip. Experience makes a story and no story is without it ups and downs.
Before starting on a juice cleanse I was given this advice from Think Press Juice Cleanse;
“The nutritionist has said it is probably best to work with your doctor or naturopathic practitioner to ensure doing a cleanse would be suitable. If you are to do one she has said it might be a good idea to take it gently so include some healthy snacks, (such as berries, raw crudités or avocado) if you find any of your symptoms flare up, obviously stop cleansing. You need to be sensible based on your own knowledge and listen to your body depending on how you feel. It is also really important to start eating healthy before and continue after the cleanse to ensure your body is eased in gently and not put into shock when turning eating on and off.”
I found this really helpful, and was impressed at how supportive Think Press were in terms of customer service.
Tuesday: 58.3 kilos (9.0 stone)
I am exhausted from my art course yesterday slept in until 11 am. Then took Ginger Lemonade, which I am really enjoying now. There was even a programme on the health benefits of Ginger on ‘Food Unwrapped’ recently so I’m excited about the possible health benefits.
1:04 pm Fresh Green – turns out if you drink it almost all in one go it’s a lot easier.
3:41 pm Super Green – I fell asleep so this was a bit later than planned.
4:00 pm Ultimate Green – Drink them fast and it’s fine!
6:30 pm Nut Mylk – Yes. This is one that I certainly could make part of my regular lifestyle.
And so I find myself at the end of day four. Day five tomorrow. Today has been slightly easier now I have fully understood that I was allowed to eat raw fruit and vegetables as snacks. Two apples have greatly eased the experience! Final day tomorrow, and I am excited to eat ‘normally’. But what does ‘normally’ mean now as I approach this final day?
I am really pleased I went on a detox juice cleanse as it has helped me revaluate my relationship with food and the way I eat generally. I hadn’t been aware of the pattern of coffee plus biscuit, or the fact that I seem to drift aimlessly towards the fridge at times, when I am probably just thirsty! Buying a detox from any company will put the price up, but in terms of convenience, it’s incredibly positive. The customer care and support offered by Think Press was exceptional (it reminded me of how good American customer service used to be!) and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them as a company to anyone embarking on this adventure.
Final thoughts
A juice cleanse is not something you need to buy from a company. The internet is full of blogs and recipes, ideas and pictures, so with a bit of research, you could embark on your own creation. However, if you haven’t been on a juice cleanse before there are several benefits to having one which is ready made and arrives frozen in a box.
- Practicality – of the delivery, the choice of cleanses, the timed delivery slots
- Freshness – the fruit and vegetables are often cold-pressed which means that they are incredibly fresh but also that there is no pasteurisation and therefore being frozen so soon after means you protect yourself from the risk of any nasties that might start to be created as the air hits the juice.
- Logistics – the ease of use, due to it being thought through, in terms of the cleanse contents – how likely is it you would be able to have access to all those ingredients, at the right time, and have the time to make the juices for a day of juicing?!
- Expert support and guidance – juice cleanse companies often have qualified nutritionists on their teams and as such, they are well-situated to create recipes which will utilise the best ingredients for the most beneficial results. Along with this, it was invaluable to have written instructions and suggested timings for taking the juices: something which I might not otherwise have thought much about.
All in all, I think that juice cleanses can bring a number of benefits to of anyone who might want to try and improve their health. By using a trusted and well-regarded company, such as Think Press, you can undertake cleansing, with confidence in both the quality of the juices and the support the company will give you throughout.
I would also recommend to people, if they are interested in juice cleanses, to try a short three day cleanse first, before embarking on a five day programme, as that was challenging. Just being able to incorporate some of these juices into your everyday life may help you feel more refreshed and energised, as they are bursting with healthy fruit and vegetables. This is something which we think we may already get in our diet sometimes we might overlook.
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