1. They Aren’t Easy

For starters, one of the most important things you need to know about juice fasts is they aren’t all easy like many people say they are. Consuming only liquids for 3 days or more is hard work! Your body will be tired, you’ll feel like crap, and regardless of energy levels in the next couple of days, you’ll suffer in the meantime. Does that mean it’s not worth it? No, but before you jump on a juice cleanse craze, be sure you know what you’re in for and be prepared to rest a lot while you’re cleansing.

2. They Aren’t All Safe

Many juice cleanse diets out there are very unsafe. Some don’t contain enough calories in the juices that are either recommended or shipped to you if they are pre-made. Your body needs calories during a juice fast, and since there is no fiber in juice, enough calories will ensure your blood sugar levels are stable. Check to make sure the juices have substantial calories or you’ll be sick and suffer a low metabolism without sufficient nutrition. Remember calories equal fuel. Give your body the fuel it needs.

3. Many Are a Scam

Before you buy into a juice cleanse, be sure it’s reputable. If you want a good website to check out, I recommend Reboot With Joe. It’s designed by Joe Cross, the star of the documentary, “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.” Joe is a perfect example of someone to turn to for a juice cleanse example. He went on a juice fast to lose weight after being over 300 pounds and now he looks amazing. He obviously knows what he’s doing! If you want to check out his website for legit detox tips and juicing, find him at rebootwithjoe.com.

4. You Need a Juicer

Before you start a juice cleanse be sure you have a juicer, unless you’re buying pre-made juices from a company. I recommend buying a juicer instead of trying to blend your own drinks and strain them in a blender. Many blenders don’t break down nutrients well enough to sustain your body during a cleanse, but juicers do a great job. My favorite brand of the moment is Breville juicers, and Bella’s Nutripro juicer is also amazing if you’re on a budget and want an easy-to-clean, top of the line juicer.

5. Sugar Imbalance

One issue that you’ll run into on a juice cleanse is low blood sugar levels. This is common because juice is straight sugar, even if it’s from fruits and veggies. There might be a little fiber in the juice, but not enough to stabilize your blood sugar like smoothies. Be sure that you’re aware of this so you can tone down your activity levels and keep you energy. You might need to rest more, or keep extra water or tea on hand to drink when your blood sugar drops too. If you’re drinking too much fruit in your juice, simply cut back to more greens and you’ll improve your blood sugar levels.

6. Juice with Purpose

One of the best things to keep in mind when juicing is to juice with purpose. What does this mean? Well, it means to use ingredients that you need to work specific functions in your body. For instance, beets, carrots, apples, and fennel all cleanse the digestive tract and liver. Kale, spinach, chard, and romaine help to cleanse the blood. Ginger, lemon, and lime can help ease indigestion and halt inflammation. Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, apples, blackberries, and pineapple can strengthen the immune system. Celery, cilantro, cucumber, and parsley can help you beat bloat. Juicing with purpose will help you get the benefits you’re looking to gain out of juicing, quicker than just winging it.

7. Don’t do It for Weight Loss Alone

Lastly, before you do a juice cleanse, be sure you do it for the right reasons, and not just to lose weight. Weight loss is best maintained and most effective when done with whole foods. If you want to go on a juice fast, do it to give your body a reset and temporary break, not to drop quick pounds. The weight will come back on if you don’t keep juicing and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I hope these tips have helped you learn a little bit more about juice fasts. They aren’t all bad like they seem, but they aren’t all peaches and rainbows either, like many promise. If you need some tips and recipes, check out the sources below. Have you ever done a juice fast? What did you think?

Sources: rebootwithjoe.com, kriscarr.com, detoxtheworld.com