Cleanse 101
Hello and welcome to juice cleansing. The experience you are about to embark upon has the potential to provide the insights you have been preparing for. So, in order to help you jump in with both feet I have put together this basic guide.
“The advantages of increased energy, strengthened immunity, reduced risk of disease, strong bones and the glowing complexion that is the evidence of great health can all be yours when fresh fruit and vegetable juices form a substantial part of your daily diet.”
-Micheal Murray, N.D
FAQs
You mean I am only going to drink juice and water for the next couple of days?
Yes.
How about a cup of coffee?
No.
Caffeine is a toxic substance inside the body, while cleansing, the body will be aggressively removing it along with many, many, other toxins. So, drinking more would be counterproductive. Furthermore, the process of cleansing the body is not entirely without discomfort. People who drink a lot of caffeine often develop a headache on and off for at least a day or two while juice cleansing.
Will I gain energy?
Yes!
During the first few days of your juice cleanse your body heavily detoxifies. you do this by utilizing the energy usually set aside for digestion. So, as a byproduct of slowing down or stopping your digestive process you gain lots of energy. Once the detoxification process begins to be completed, that extra energy is then used to fuel greater brain and body function and harmony. Your frequency changes. It is a serene place, one where you feel safe and sure.
Can I drink tea?
Yes.
Stay with caffeine free varieties such as rooibos or chamomile.
Can I drink a smoothie or eat something small?
No.
In order to get the greatest benefit from your cleanse you must abstain from eating any and all food. On a fast we want to slow or even stop the digestion entirely. Even a smoothie has lots of fiber in it. Fiber is what the body has to breakdown. With all its energy focused on breaking down the insoluble fiber no cleansing can occur.
Is there an order I should drink my juice in?
No order is necessary, the only guidelines are to drink lots of water, drink juice when you fell hungry (every two or three hours), finally drink your last juice at least three hours before you go to bed. You may drink water or hot tea (without caffeine of course) closer to bed time.
How long should I cleanse?
Three days of juice cleansing will greatly detoxify you.
However, it is a very personal experience and some people will take longer to get fully detoxified. It is also dependent somewhat on age. Most people beyond the age of 30 have begun to store toxins in large and dangerous quantities. This will take a little longer to clean out. Seven full days of juice cleansing will purify your blood of bacteria and other harmful parasites. So I have found that on average most people over thirty could do with a ten day cleanse. This insures complete detox and at least a few days of bountiful energy really helping to restart the system. If you want to continue the journey, twenty days of cleansing offers a great sense of spiritual wellbeing and a complete mental calm. Finally, thirty days on a juice cleanse would be long enough for you to have replaced any and every damaged cell throughout every organ in your body. This is truly amazing. Anything beyond thirty days is icing on the cake for the average person. However some people may greatly benefit from cleansing for longer periods of time.
Can I pick up all my juice at one time?
Yes!
But if you picked a five day cleanse you would have to come back to pick up newly fresh ones! (WEDNESDAYS!)
What if I want to stop a day early or add three days onto my current cleanse?
No problem. Just always be sure to communicate this to us 24 hours in advance. This will help us to either stop production or increase it per your needs. You just might find that you feel so good on your juice cleanse that you want to keep it going for a few more days. Plus you know that the longer you cleanse the better it is for you. It is not to uncommon for people who are struggling with obesity or have other serious health concerns to do 30 and even 60 day juice fasts. On the other hand you may want to stop in the middle of a long fast and pick it up again later. Just let us know upon picking up your last day, that you need to put your cleanse on hold and we will set-up a future date to restart.
Can I workout during my fast?
It is not recommended that you work out during a fast. However a nice walk would be fine.
Stages of cleansing
Day 1-2
The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period unless the enema is used which quickly assists the body into the fasting state by ending digestion in the colon.
Day3-7
The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40 to 60 days, depending on whether you are on water or juice.
The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired.
Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen. Shortly after the detoxification period you will bounce back with renewed energy and vigor. This is a strong indication that you are much less toxic than when you began this journey. From that point on the cleansing periods will shorten and you will feel longer periods of renewed energy and calm.
Your eyes will clear and you skin will glow. I hope that as you end your juice cleanse you take the opportunity to really look hard at your diet and see if you can’t use this experience to enhance your life from the inside out. Thank you. Per: Andrew McFarlane
Juice Cleanse Side Effects and Symptoms:
Headaches – this can be caused by lack of water and/or calories, caffeine withdrawal, refined sugar withdrawal, or blood sugar irregularities. Hydrate with more water, cold-pressed juice, and herbal teas.
Bloating & flatulence – for some people, this can worsen at the very start of a juice cleanse due to the sudden increase in fruits and vegetables, but this will likely pass quickly. Once it passes, your stomach will feel flatter than ever and your bloating should go away entirely. If symptoms persist, you can consume fermented fluids such as kombucha tea or take a probiotic.
Diarrhea – this is a rare symptom, but it can occur due to IBS, the rapid increase in fruits and vegetables, and an all-liquid diet. Fermented drinks can also assist in easing this symptom.
Constipation – drastic changes to our eating behaviors may cause our digestion to slow down due to a reduction in fiber. You should drink more water, get some light exercise, and try eating more dark green leafy vegetables and/or fiber-rich fruits.
Fatigue or brain fog – this can be due to a reduction in calories or withdrawal from caffeine and/or refined sugar. We suggest not cutting out caffeine completely if you are a regular caffeine drinker. It is also important to stay hydrated- drink all the water and raw juice you desire. Give your body time to readjust to these big dietary changes and your energy will soon soar.
Strong cravings – this can be the result of cutting out all your normal foods, calorie reduction, pre-existing nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, or electrolyte imbalances. Drink more raw juice and water!
Skin breakouts and reactions – our skin is our largest eliminative organ, and big, sudden dietary changes that impact our body’s natural detox processes may cause our skin to initially suffer. You can expedite the detox process by sweating it out and drinking more water.
Aches and Pains – a reduction in calories, electrolyte changes, dehydration and blood sugar changes can cause this. Drink electrolyte-rich beverages like coconut water and extra raw juice, particularly green juices which are rich in magnesium.
4 Ways to Avoid These Common Juice Cleanse Symptoms
- Preparation is key! Before starting a juice cleanse we highly recommend up to a week of preparation to reduce unpleasant symptoms.
- Drink as much fresh juice daily as you want– you can’t have too much! Also, drink plenty of hydrating fluids such as water, coconut water, and herbal teas.
- Avoid gluten, dairy, alcohol and start to eat more plant-based foods leading up to your juice cleanse.
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables if you feel the need to chew on something. Raw nuts and seeds are also acceptable to eat if you feel you need a little something extra.