The Primary Benefits Of A Juice Cleanse
What is a Juice Cleanse?
Before we explain some of the key benefits of a juice cleanse, let us explain exactly what one is. A juice cleanse is a period of time when we replace eating solid foods with raw juice and/or smoothies to bring the body back into its natural state by removing processed substances such as refined sugar & carbs, alcohol, caffeine, meat & dairy. All of us go through periods of time when we eat too much of the “not so healthy” stuff and nowhere near enough fresh fruit & vegetables and juice cleansing is a fantastic way to replenish the body with essential nutrients consistently, and over a period of time, cleansing the gut of residual toxins, clearing the mind and helping towards feeling so much better, both physically and mentally.
Our Top 5 Reasons Why Juicing Is Beneficial
1 - Improves Digestion
For hundreds of thousands of years our ancestors would be forced to fast. No cold-storage, changing seasons and a lack of prey meant that our guts and our bodies would have had regular opportunity to rest & recharge. When the digestive system has no food to process, the bodies energy can be redirected to healing other parts of the body and juicing is a great way to mimic this process but not only are you giving the digestive system a break, you are also flooding it with nutrients which can be absorbed directly into the stomach lining.
2 - Aids In Healthy Weight Loss
It doesn’t take a genius to know that a natural weight loss process occurs when we remove processed foods, saturated fats and refined carbs from our diet however, studies have also shown that juicing actually promotes the growth of intestinal microbiota which in turn assist in weight loss. In the study, participants lost a significant amount of weight after a 3-day cleanse and retained a decreased body weight after 2 weeks. Juicing isn’t a magic weight loss pill but it can definitely help.
3 - Repairs Damaged Tissue
Similar to the reference made in point 1, juicing makes digestion easier on the body so that the energy which would normally be used to break down foods can be redirected to focus on the healing of other tissues and organs. “Giving the body a much needed break by allowing the gut to reset, energy will be put towards functions that may be overlooked when there is too much to take care of.”
4 - A Clearer Mind
A break from foods which aren't the best for your body can also help clear one’s mind. Fasting can be a period of reflection on your current lifestyle and can encourage healthier habits. This increased clarity is due to an evolutionary reaction from the body, redirecting energy away from digestion towards the five senses. This dates back again to our ancestors, the increased levels of awareness were perfect for hunting.
5 - Reduces Inflammation
Research has shown that juice cleansing can significantly reduce inflammation. Processed foods like meat, dairy and alcohol contain substances which are toxic for the body, causing inflammation; juicing gives us a break from such toxins, allowing the body to repair cells and detox while providing the nutrients and vitamins it needs.