Juicing… I think a majority of us have tried and tested it. I am not an expert when it come to nutrition but I take my diet very seriously and I find learning about the benefits of food and diet very interesting.
I am not a huge fan of a juice diet as I believe it is a very hard one to follow, not only are you constantly hungry but it also effects our energy and emotional levels, but I do believe in giving our digestive systems a break to reset. I try to fast for a couple of days a month but if I need to keep my energy levels up then I will juice for a couple of days and my chosen juice is Kold Press Juice Kompany.
- Juice Fast Tip 1 If a certain recipe is unappealing to you, make substitutions that are similar. For example, if a recipe calls for Kale but you can’t get any Kale or just don’t like Kale, then replace it with Spinach or even Broccoli. It’s okay to replace, substitute, or change up the recipes.
- Juice Fast Tip 2 You should not eat any solids during this Juice Plan. It defeats the purpose of it. So stay away from any solids, you’ll be Just On Juice for the duration.
- Juice Fast Tip 3 If you get headaches, or strong cravings, it is normal for the first 2-4 days. Just stay focused and stay on the juice. Make an extra Juice to drink if you feel like you’re about to cave in and eat something solid.
- Juice Fast Tip 4 Drink at least 16 oz of water after each juice meal. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
- Juice Fast Tip 5 Start each day off by juicing 1/2 lemon (peeled) and mix it with 12-16 ounces of warm to hot water. I do this as soon as I wake up each morning, it’s important to cleanse your digestive system and give you a good boost of energy.
- Juice Fast Tip 6 It’s recommended to have between 4-6 juices per day each consisting of 16-20 ounces. You can choose whichever juices you please while on your juice fast. So feel free to experiment while on your juice fast plan!
- Juice Fast Tip 7 Cleanse with a friend. Compare stories and support each other
- Juice Fast Tip 8 Take hot/cold showers. Not the most pleasant to switch to the cold but your lymph will thank you. Stand in a hot shower for two minutes followed by a 30 second cold shower.
BEFORE
STEP 1: THE JUICE CLEANSE PRE-CLEAN
Here are some foods and habits you are going to want to remove or reduce at least two day’s before you start cleansing.
– Candy, chocolate bars and bags of chips- Greasy take-out foods- Wheat products such as bread and pastry- Alcohol- Tobacco- Coffee- Fatty foods- Milk and cheese- Red meat, chicken and pork.
If you’re going to snack, replace sugary, salty, fatty indulgences with lots of delicious fresh colourful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, grains and legumes.Try guacamole and salsa over brown rice, roasted red pepper hummus with raw veggies or steamed greens, roasted yams and quinoa with miso gravy for a tasty change of pace.
STEP 2: BREAK AND SWEAT AND HYDRATE.
Exercise is always a good idea. It gets your lymph moving, your skin sweating and your lungs gulping detoxifying breaths. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise, four times a week. Make sure that you are drinking at least eight cups of water a day – this can include herbal tea. A lot of the time when you feel tired and achy, it’s due to dehydration.
STEP 3: REDUCE STRESS
Stress impairs our bodies’ ability to function optimally. Take some slow breaths, enjoy a yoga or meditation class, or get out and do something you love doing.
DURING
When you wake in the morning, sip a warm glass of water with a bit of lemon. Do some light stretching and enjoy your first juice. Consume the rest of your juices in two to two-and-a-half hour intervals.
Make sure that you are still drinking water throughout the day to wash out toxins as they are been shed from your body. The more water that you drink and the more that you sweat you are less likely to suffer from side effects as your body cleanses.
While you are on the cleanse, you will need to be getting at least seven hours of sleep every night in order to support the healing and elimination process.
Chia Seeds:
Chia is an excellent source of fibre, protein and omega 3 fatty acids. The chia will help cleanse your digestive system while providing you with a clean source of protein and fat. Just add the chia seed to a juice or chew on it before or after.
Probiotics:
On the last day of The Juice Cleanse and on the following day, drink half a container of the probiotic to replenish your colon with healthy bacteria. The probiotic can be consumed at any time throughout the day.
AFTER
You’ve reset your detoxification system, giving your body the rest that it needs and are now off to a fresh start. You’ll notice that unhealthy refined foods no longer have the same appeal.
Most likely you’ll be feeling so alert and energetic that you won’t want to go back to your previous sugary snacks and morning coffee. Lets keep it that way you!
You’ll need to ease back into solid foods. The best way is to eat light, mostly raw plant-based meals as well as one or two juices daily for about three days. Keep hydrating and stretching and breathing!
