Juicing has definitely hit mainstream, and nowadays there’s a juice bar on almost every corner, tucked snugly next to your neighborhood Starbucks. The popularity of juicing has seriously skyrocketed in the recent years and is promoted everywhere as an excellent way to lose weight, maintain health, and detox the body.
It seems that everyone from natural living enthusiasts and soccer moms to athletes and movie stars are jumping on the juice bandwagon, finding that juicing offers profound health benefits. As an easy way to get the nutrients you need, juicing has become one of the most popular ways to energize and stay healthy and strong.
The benefits of juicing extend far into the world of wellness, and it is something that can offer total transformation of one’s wellbeing. Almost 95% of all the nutrients and enzymes that our bodies need can be found in the juice of raw fruits and vegetables. One 16 ounce serving of juice contains the nutrient content of five to ten apples, two pounds of carrots, and a pound of spinach. Drinking juice is an excellent way to get what we need without having to eat pounds and pounds of raw food.
The benefits of juicing are extensive, profound, and offer a fast track to whole body health and wellness. Some of the most prominent benefits of juicing follow, offering a better understanding of why juice is just so darn good for you.
3 Benefits of Raw Juice
- It Allows You to Receive the Vegetables You Need
Health experts recommend getting 6-8 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Unfortunately, this is far more than many even come close to getting. In our fast paced lifestyles, convenience tends to outweigh optimal food choices, and we’re often left with a diet that is less than complete. Juicing is a great way to make sure you’re getting the nutrients you need to stay healthy and live your best life.
While some people find it easy to eat vegetables all day long, others just aren’t so lucky. Instead of eating three cucumbers, a pound of spinach, five apples, and three beets every morning, blending these in a fresh juice will give you what you need to start the day in a quick, convenient, and tasty way.
- It Helps You to Absorb Fundamental Nutrients
It’s no secret that most of our diets are pretty unbalanced, and years of making poor food choices has a tendency to wreak havoc on a body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Juicing fruits and vegetables helps the body to “pre-digest” the fundamental nutrients they contain, allowing for easier absorption by your body. If for some reason you’re having trouble with your digestion, juicing offers an excellent way to keep the nutrients you need in your body rather than flushing them out with excess waste.
- It Offers a Wide Variety of Vegetables in Your Diet
We all know those vegetables we tend to favor, and while eating your veggies is a really good thing, eating the same ones day in and day out certainly isn’t the best. The habit of repeatedly eating the same thing goes against the principle of food rotation in our diets and greatly increases the potential for developing food allergies.
When you begin juicing, you introduce your body to the wide variety of fruits and vegetables it needs. If you don’t like eating something whole, chances are you won’t mind it when it’s added to a juice. Juicing inducts a wide variety of important nutrients to your system.
Health Benefits of Juicing
While it may seem almost too simple, introducing fresh juices to your system can have an extreme impact on your health. When you’re consistently committed to drinking raw, fresh juice, your entire internal system undergoes radical transformation. Health benefits of juicing include:
- weight loss
- increased immunity
- improved digestion
- allergy relief
- improved skin condition
- stronger and more beautiful hair
- improved sense of smell
- decreased body odor
- reduction in addiction withdrawal symptoms
- increased mental and emotional health
The rich antioxidants that are present in most juices help cleanse the body of accumulated toxins and stored waste, leaving you with a fresh sense of renewed health and vitality. With the amount of condensed nutrients contained in fresh, raw juice, the function of our cells and internal organs is increased, offering tremendous healing to our internal system.
It is through the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients contained in juice that we see the most valuable transformation take place within our bodies. They help to give life and oxygen back to cells that have been deprived, allowing our bodies and minds to function as nature intended.
People that undergo a juice detox or simply add juicing to their regular routine often report feeling dramatically different than before they started. This internal transformation is parallel to erasing years of unhealthy eating habits and is truly one of the best ways to kick-start your health. Increased energy, greater vitality, and feelings of overall well-being have all been reported by those who have found the outstanding power that juicing offers.
Many people find that chronic illnesses and diseases they have dealt with their entire lives seems to gently fade away, leaving them with a newfound vitality they never knew existed. With the nutrients in fresh juice doing wonders to help revive mind, body, and soul, it is no wonder that juicing has become one of the most popular ways to find increased health and wellness.
Undertaking a juice detox is one of the best ways to live the way you were intended to. An abundance of energy and a clear mind are actually normal. While improper nutrition, stress, and a lack of exercise can make you feel anything but normal, a juice detox can give back what your body’s been missing and make you feel whole again.
If you’re ready to experience the magnificent benefits that juicing offers, perhaps it is time to look into doing a juice detox of your own. Restoring natural health and wellness has never tasted so good.
Doing a Juice Detox
There is no doubt that doing a juice cleanse will seriously impact your health for the better, but not preparing correctly could spell disaster. If your body is used to eating a certain way, and you suddenly stop and start feeding it just raw vegetable juice, the chances are that it isn’t going to respond too kindly.
To start your detox, you’ll want to pick a date and begin to prepare for three days. Eliminating unhealthy food choices is essential in these first few days. In this first step, you will want to cut out all processed foods, refined carbs and sugars, caffeine, and any other unhealthy morsel you like to eat frequently. Alcohol and red meat are also items to avoid.
For three days leading to your cleanse, you will want to replace your regular diet with whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, and plenty of water (8-10 glasses a day).
Picking the right time to do your juice detox is as vital as replacing unhealthy food choices. Find a week that doesn’t present any conflict with huge projects you’ve got going on. If you’re going through a big life transition, doing a juice detox is probably not optimal at this time. Overwhelming emotions will also get in the way of this detox, and you should always go into any detox feeling emotionally stable and comfortable.
When you transition to juicing on the fourth day, you may choose to drink only juice for as many days as you please, but 2-3 days is recommended. At the beginning of each day, you should start with warm water and lemon. While only drinking fresh juice and water is advised for a juice detox, the inclusion of fresh fruits, vegetables, and raw nuts and seeds can be applied. Drinking six juices throughout the day is the preferred amount.
During a juice detox, it is important to do some gentle exercises such as leisurely walks, yoga, and light stretching. Your energy levels will probably change dramatically during a juice detox, and it is extremely important to listen to your body before participating in any exercise, no matter the type.
After you complete the number of days you wish to drink only fresh, raw juice, you will want to gradually introduce regular food back into your diet. The three days after your detox should be similar to the three days before. Think about eating fresh, steamed vegetables and raw fruits the first day your body transitions from your cleanse.
Brown rice, vegetable broths, and eggs should be implemented on the second day, with special care not to include any strong spices. Yogurt is an excellent addition on the second day as well, and a good way to start your day would include some lightly poached or scrambled eggs and fresh, whole-milk Greek yogurt topped with seeds and berries.
On the third or fourth day after your juice detox, you could begin to reintroduce meats such as fish or chicken to your diet. Remember that your juice detox was implemented to help employ healthy habits, and returning to an unbalanced diet full of toxin-laden foods would completely counteract any efforts to cleanse your system.
Detox Juice Recipes
For all the benefits juicing offers, there are a number of different detox juice recipes that will help you with your desired goals. While you may want to do a full 7-day juice cleanse, you may also just want to add juicing to a regular part of your healthy diet. Doing so works as a regular detoxification method and is a perfect way to keep you healthy by consistently giving your body what it needs. Whether you’re doing an all-out detox or just want to detox a bit every day, the following recipes will help you get your juice on in the most delicious ways.
Detox Juices to Flush Toxins
The world we live in isn’t exactly toxin-free, and even the most health conscious people still need to flush toxins from time to time. The following recipes are all designed to get rid of excess toxins and restore your body’s balance.
Green Detox Delight
You could drink this ultimate green detox juice every day, and your body would certainly thank you for it. Loaded with the powerful nutrition your body needs, this green juice is packed with iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, and your essential amino acids. It is also very alkalizing to the system and will do wonders to restore your pH balance.
Ingredients
- 4-5 kale leaves
- 1 bunch celery
- 1 green apple
- 1 handful parsley leaves
- 1 lime
- 1 lemon
- 1 inch slice fresh ginger
Dandelion Berry Bliss
Dandelion leaves are known for their innate ability to flush toxins from the kidneys and help restore your body to better health. Berries, especially blueberries and strawberries, are known for their tremendous amounts of antioxidants and make a sweet statement on top of bitter dandelion leaves. This simple juice will help kidneys better eliminate toxins while helping you to feel your best.
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1-2 cups dandelion leaves
- 10-15 drops stevia (optional, to taste)
Refreshing Garden Detox Blend
Combining a mix of healthy garden vegetables, this refreshing detox drink is as healthy as it delicious. Full of antioxidants and nutrients, this juice may just become one of the recipes you use day after day. Feel free to substitute different greens so you’re getting an array of goodness if you end up making this one a regular.
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- 2-3 carrots
- 1-2 beets
- 1 inch piece sliced ginger
- 1 lemon
Detox Juices for Glowing Skin
Great skin doesn’t come from an arsenal of different creams and lotions but is a reflection of one’s internal health and well-being. Getting skin that glows is absolutely possible when adding detox juices to your diet that are beneficial for the health of your skin.
If your tired-looking skin has got you down, the right combination of ingredients made into a skin detoxing juice could be just what you need. Try any of the following recipes specially blended to detox your skin for a gorgeous glow that radiates your beauty from the inside out.
Carrot, Apple, Ginger Juice
This simple juice is a go-to for many ladies looking to freshen up the look of their skin. The beta-carotene contained in the carrots is excellent for skin, and apple contains just what you need to clear up any unwanted blemishes. Ginger helps to stimulate blood flow, making this trio a powerful combination for getting the glowing skin you desire.
Ingredients
- 4-5 carrots
- 1 apple
- 1 inch slice of ginger
Skin-Clearing Detox Juice
If you’re prone to acne or other blemishes, this is a juice that can give you the clear skin you deserve and make you feel as gorgeous as you really are. Pineapple is the main ingredient of this powerful skin-clearing concoction and contains bromelain enzymes that promote healthy skin and good digestion. The cucumber and apple are known to clear skin by boosting hydration and balancing pH levels. This is a combination of ingredients that will reduce inflammation and help to clear up problem areas.
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups sliced pineapple
- 1 cucumber
- 1 green apple
Natural “V-8” Skin Revival
Reviving tired skin is possible without spending ridiculous amounts of money on expensive creams and cleansers that are often loaded with toxins and chemicals. This natural version of the classic V-8 juice everyone’s familiar with is excellent for revitalizing tired skin, getting rid of dark circles under the eyes, and makes skin look positively radiant. Drinking this juice daily or even 3-5 times a week will do wonders to pull toxins from your skin, leaving you looking vibrant and refreshed.
Ingredients
- 1 handful kale
- 1 handful collard greens
- 1-2 stalks celery
- 1 carrot
- 1 tomato
- ½ red bell pepper
- 1 broccoli floret
Detox Juices for Weight Loss
Many people that undergo a juice detox do so for weight loss purposes. Juicing is considered one of the best ways to lose weight, and many people have found success when following a juice detox for their weight loss goals. When you juice for weight loss, you still get all your necessary nutrients while flushing your system of unwanted toxins and accumulated fat.
The low calorie content and high consistency of vital nutrients make juicing a promising answer to weight loss woes. It helps to act as an appetite suppressant while giving your body all the healthy nutrients it needs, making weight loss easy and good for you at the same time. The next time you feel you need to shed some extra pounds, try incorporating some of the following juices into a detox program to see the results you want.
Celery and Beet Juice
The high water content contained in celery acts as a natural diuretic and will help to easily eliminate accumulated waste in the body. It also works with beets to flush toxins, helping get you on the road to a thinner version of your own beautiful self.
Ingredients
- 4-5 celery stalks
- 1-2 beets
- 1 handful spinach
- 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon pure sea salt
Super Lean and Green Juice
This green juice is packed full of nutrients and will deliver intended weight loss goals quickly when added as a regular part of a healthy, low-fat diet. Cucumber and celery work to eliminate excess waste, apples provide much needed fiber and other valuable nutrients, while kale offers all the protein you’ll need. Lemon works to restore your pH balance, leaving you feeling great as you begin to leave your weight behind.
Ingredients
- 2-3 apples
- 1-2 cucumbers
- 2-3 celery stalks
- 1 handful kale
- 1 lemon
- 1 inch sliced fresh ginger
Juicing Detox Tips
If you’re ready to give your body what it needs using the powerful benefits of a juice detox, there’s a few simple tips to follow to make it easier. Going into a full-blown juice detox or even adding juices to your regular, healthy diet can be intimidating, but there’s really nothing to fear when you know what to do. By following some simple tips, you can embrace a juice detox and all the benefits it contains.
- Invest in a Good Juicer
All juicers are not created equal, and investing in a good juicer can not only save you a lot of time and frustration but also will ensure that nothing is wasted and you’re getting everything you need. While you don’t have to buy an expensive juicer, you certainly don’t want to settle for a cheap model either. Investing in something in between will be fine and give you the results you want.
- Pick a Cleanse and Time That is Right for You
Not every juice cleanse is right for everyone. We’re all working towards different results, and choosing a detox and time that is right for you will ensure that your detox ends successfully.
You obviously don’t want to start a detox the weekend of your best friend’s wedding, nor do you want to continue to find excuses for why you can’t start. Start small and set aside a weekend you know you’ve got no plans, when you can dedicate your time to doing your detox properly.
- Don’t Forget to Prep Your Body
Don’t make the mistake of eating your normal diet up to the day of your detox. Switching from steak and potatoes to fresh-pressed juices will send your body for a loop, and you’re bound to do more harm than good. Give yourself a few days to eliminate from your diet what you normally eat so your body is more accustomed to the new raw foods you will introduce in juice form.
- Prepare Your Juices for Each Day Every Morning
If you’re serious about doing a juice detox or even adding more fresh juice to your daily diet, preparing what you’ll drink each morning will save you a lot of time and keep you from getting frustrated and throwing in the towel on your detox. Prep enough juice each morning for what you will need, and store your juice in airtight, glass containers in the refrigerator. Fresh juice loses its nutritional content quickly, and preparing only what you’ll drink each day will ensure that you are getting the vitamins and minerals you need.
- Clean Your Juicer Immediately
Anyone who’s ever used a juicer knows just how tedious cleaning it can be. Unfortunately, there’s no way around this, and it never gets any more fun or any less messy. Big word of advice: clean your juicer immediately after you make your juices for the day, and be done with it. This is all part of the process, and the sooner you get your juicer clean, the sooner you can enjoy your first fresh juice of the day.
The Bottom Line
Doing a juice detox can add some serious shine to your health, and by following these five easy tips, you’ll soon step into a world of health and wholesome goodness. Once you start juicing, you will never want to stop enjoying the many benefits it brings.