Juicing, Cleanses and Detoxes

We usually hear about cleanses and detoxes at the top of the year, but as the “Juicing Fad” gains more popularity, I seem to hear about all three topics more often. So let’s differentiate. First thing to recognize is that all three are often pushed forward by the diet industry — that four-letter word that has caused much more harm than good to so many individuals over the last 3 decades.

A “detox” is actually a medical term often associated with supporting individuals to remove certain medications, drugs or substances from their life and assist them in managing with the side effects they may experience.

A “cleanse” can mean anything. Just look up an internet search of “cleanse” and you will get over 56, 000 hits! Where do you start? Which one would you choose? I can understand if you have just had a get-away weekend, or are coming back from an all-inclusive where you enjoyed all of the food that came along, which may not have included foods that you generally consume. This may leave you with the urge to cut out certain foods or “clean your insides”, but if you just return to your regular healthy eating pattern (if you generally follow one), then your body will balance itself. At the end of the day, your own body’s organs (primarily your kidneys) main function are to remove toxins from your system. Most cleanses tend to restrict many foods, which are the primary reason for the associated weight loss seen, along with the mood swings, lack of bowel movements, extra fatigue and overall low energy.

I am by no means here to tell you not to do anything, but I would consider weighing out the pros and cons before removing healthy foods from your diet for any length of time. And that’s where we get to these “juice cleanses” that are growing in popularity, not to mention the stores and shops that are popping up all across the country to sell this craze. Out of curiosity, during a recent trip to LA, I made my way into one of these ‘Juice Shops’. By (1) Selecting your Level (2) Choosing how Long and (3) Scheduling your Start, you could start paying for these products/programs with easy payments ranging from $58.70 to $76.65 per day! PER DAY! I don’t even spend $58.70 a week on fresh vegetables and fruit. Not to mention the isolated nutrients from the real fruits, vegetables, and other additives are not nearly what you would get if you actually ate the real food! Just some food for thought as we head into our Get-Ready-to-Garden weather!