Juice fasting has become quite popular as a method to achieve quick weight loss. However, fad diets are only one aspect of juice fasting. People throughout the world undertake juice fasts for a number of reasons, including religious observances, alternative healing and as a way to break unhealthy addictions. Due to the popularity of fad diets, juice fasting has garnered a reputation as being unhealthy and potentially dangerous; done correctly, however, juice fasting can be a safe cleansing ritual.
History
Fasting has been employed as a cleansing ritual by many religions and cultures since the beginning of recorded history. One of the first accounts of fasting is in the Old Testament of the Bible, when Moses fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Since that time, Eastern and Western religions alike have developed traditions of fasting (either on water or juice) to purify the spirit and allow the faster to come closer to spiritual enlightenment. Alternative medicine practitioners also advocate juice fasting, as they believe it allows the body to rid itself of toxins and to focus all of its energy on healing and cell regeneration instead of digestion.
Types
There are many plans and recipes for juice fasts available today. Some juice fasts, like the infamous Master Cleanse, involve drinking nothing but lemon juice diluted with water and flavored with maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Other juice fasting plans allow for much greater variety, leaving it to the faster to decide what fruits and vegetables she would like to juice and consume. Most reputable juice-fast plans recommend supplementing with vitamins and/or minerals, to make sure that proper nutrition is maintained.
Warning
There are also juice fasts that are commercially marketed as diets, requiring fasters to purchase a bottle of "special" juice (typically at a high cost), which is then diluted by the faster and consumed as directed. These fasts often promise extremely quick and "easy" weight loss, but unfortunately they rarely deliver as advertised.
Benefits
Proponents of juice fasting claim that by allowing the body to take a break from digestion, the body is better able to expel toxins and other waste. Vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables may be more readily absorbed by the body during a juice fast, which they believe makes a juice fast an effective preventative measure or remedy for various illnesses, including colds, flu and even cancer. Juice fasting may be helpful in breaking destructive eating habits by forcing the faster to make good food choices or suffer unpleasant consequences. Many fasters report that after the initial hunger and discomfort subside, they experience high energy levels and are able to concentrate better and focus more clearly. A juice fast is by definition a low-calorie diet, which can contribute to weight loss in the short term.
Considerations
Juice fasting is not without side effects, some of which may be unpleasant. Constipation is a common issue, since juice contains no fiber. Extreme hunger, lightheadedness and blood-sugar swings may result as well. Highly acidic juices, like citrus and tomato, can cause acid reflux if consumed in excess. While it is advisable for anyone to consult with a doctor before attempting a juice fast, it is especially important for pregnant women, diabetics, underweight individuals and anyone with a serious disease or immune disorder as juice fasting can adversely affect the blood sugar and possibly interact with certain medications.
