How to Cleanse Your Body and Lose Weight With a Juice Fast

Juicing is considered a great way to cleanse your body of toxins and lose weight. In order to do a juice fast, you must first prepare your mind and body by realizing that this type of fast consists of nothing but taking in natural fruit and vegetable juices. There is no food or solids of any kind and it will take some discipline to do a juice fast. But, if you can stick with it, the results are amazing!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Juice extractor

1. 

   Choose only raw fruits and vegetables for a juice fast. Store bought containers and bottles of juice contain sugar and preservatives that are not good for detoxifying your body. The sugars in store bought juices (including V8 vegetable and fruit juices which is not actual juice, but blended food) will actually add toxins to your body and increase fat storage. Whether your looking to do a juice fast for weight loss benefits or to detoxify your body, the natural juice of raw fruits and vegetables is best.

2. 

   To begin your juice fast, you will need to purchase a juice extractor. This is not a mixer, nor a blender, but an appliance that takes the juice from the fruits and vegetables and incorporates all the vitamins and minerals needed for juicing. A juice extractor separates the fruit and vegetable juice from the seeds and fibrous residues and leaves only the most natural healthy part of the produce. No other appliance will do this like a juice extractor.

3. 

   You can use any type of fruit or vegetable you like when juicing although it is recommended that you do not use potatoes, eggplants, or Lima beans because they don't hold their nutrition and would probably taste pretty bad. Vegetables are best for juicing. The ones that carry the greatest nutritional value are: carrots, cucumbers, beets, tomatoes, zucchini squash, romaine lettuce, sprouts, celery, cabbages. Any fruits are great for juicing although you should try to avoid any acidic fruits such as oranges or grapefruits in the morning when your stomach could be most upset and be susceptible to cramping. Instead try: dark grapes, apples, acai berries, bananas, melons, cantaloupe, and strawberries (or citrus fruits in the afternoon and evening).

4. 

   A juice fast can be done for any amount of time you like, but no longer than 21 days. It is recommended that you start out slow and incorporate some solid fruits and vegetables during the first few days. Most people do a juice fast for one week to three weeks. One trouble with juicing is that you may experience constipation or a change in bowel movements from the lack of fiber. A good way to avoid this is to a couple of mix psyllium husks into the juice mixture for added body balance. Psyllium husks help the body to excrete waste faster, but do not get absorbed by the body. You can also use saltwater or herbal laxatives, and be sure to drink plenty of water. A rule of thumb is to drink 50% water and 50% juice mix for each glass you take in during juicing.

5. 

   So how much juice should you drink a day? There really is no limit. It is recommended that you have at least 3 or 4 eight ounce glasses of fresh juice a day. However, some people will still feel hungry with such a little amount so it is okay to drink the juice anytime you feel you need it. Drinking more or less will not affect your body, in fact, drinking more is actually better for greater vitamin and mineral absorption. If you find your feeling hungry with less, than drink more juice. You'll still lose the weight and detoxify your body.

6. 

   You may want to add honey and/or spices to juices to add some flavor, although most taste great on their own. The spices especially help to speed up metabolism by warming the body and increasing energy. Also, be sure to drink the juice right away after extraction. Juices can lose their power if they are left sitting around or even in the refrigerator. In order to get the most out of your juice, be sure to drink it immediately. If you are unable to, say because of work, you can pour it into a coffee thermos and fill to the top. A little juice should overflow when you place the top on to be sure it is sealed and fresh.

Tips & Warnings

• Juice fasts cleanse the body and rid it of toxins while increasing metabolic energy.
• Pure and natural fruits and vegetables are a great, very healthy way to lose weight and extremely effective at resetting our bodies to gain muscle tone.
• Never try any fast without consulting your physician first...especially if you have any type of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, or any other type of condition.

Resources

• Juicing: Your Key to Radiant Health
• Juicing for Health
• Juicing Up Your Nutrition: ABC News
• How to Create Delicious Recipes for a Weight Loss Juice Fast

[godfather25]

on 11/4/2009 Great article on cleansing your body and losing weight.

[Magentaslb]

on 11/2/2009 Reall well written article...thanks for sharing! 5*s

[tgail]

on 10/24/2009 great article and advice 5*

[sullysee]

on 10/24/2009 If you really stick with healthy fresh juices only, for 14 days, I believe you would easily shed 10 to 15 pounds.

[sullysee]

on 10/24/2009 Juice fasting is a spiritual experience. I did many of them and it can be life changing. It takes discipline, so know this before attempting to do it right. Very well written article. 5*, rec.