Written by Ramesh Bjonnes
During the most common juice cleanse programs, you enjoy various fruit and vegetable juices for a period lasting from one day up to three to 10 days, or even up to 21 days. The main purpose of a juice cleanse is to provide the body with alkaline superfoods while giving the stomach and digestive organs a chance to rest. During this resting period, the body cleanses itself of various toxins and restores its optimum life-giving functions.
Other juice cleanse diets, such as intermittent fasting, let you fast for one day a week, or you simply skip one meal in your everyday routine and have a healthy juice drink instead. Studies have shown that a juice cleanse lasting only a few days can result in significant health improvements.
But we are not talking about the kind of pasteurized juice you get in a sealed plastic bottle from the store. The best juices for your cleanse are those freshly made from organic fruits and vegetables. You can make these at home with a juicer, or you can buy them from a reputable fresh juice company.
Why Do People Detox?
Detoxification simply means eliminating toxins from your body. There are many health benefits gained from juice fasting, intermittent juice fasting, and a yoga detox program. Most people have a particular motivator that leads them to
pursue those benefits. They may have a chronic health problem, or they may feel like something is “off” in the body, or they may simply have a specific result in mind. Whatever the reason, it serves as a motivator to shed the toxins and create more balance in life.
Common reasons people pursue a detox cleanse include:
- Stress:
Stress is a major part of modern life. Constant stress can feel overwhelming, and even moderate stress can have a strong negative impact on overall health. When you are stressed, you are more likely to eat unhealthy foods, which are often packed with fat and preservatives, which can cause distress in the digestive system. This is why stress can also affect your immunity. People who are feeling overly stressed may decide to pursue a detox to create greater mental balance and lower stress levels.
- Health changes:
For many, the motivation comes from the need or desire for a health change. Maybe you want to have more energy or maybe you would like to shed a few pounds. Perhaps you are dealing with poor digestion and want to have a healthy digestive system, or perhaps you’re seeking to improve your diet and need an opportunity to begin. For others, the health changes may be more significant, such as reduced blood pressure, or weight loss. Some seek out these cleanses because they have been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, and they want to minimize or repair some of the effects.
- Chronic issues:
Some who pursue a detox may even have a chronic condition. They use the detox process as a way to reduce or eliminate chronic pain, or for greater balance, and to improve day-to-day living. Whatever the reason for doing a detox, you may find benefits from it that you had never before imagined. The benefits and effects differ for everyone, so it is a good idea to talk with an expert about your personal goals so that you can make the most of your juice cleanse and detox.