Juice cleanses have gained fame in recent years since they have become one of the most popular ways to lose weight. Drinking fresh juice is an easy way to get all of the nutrients that your body needs, although sometimes this practice is considered controversial.
However, there's no denying the benefits of homemade juices. In this article, we talk about the pros and cons of the juice cleanse for weight loss. Besides, we list 5 recipes to make deliciously unique juice recipes yourself.
Juice cleanse for weight loss
Drinking juice to lose weight aka 'juicing' or to rid the body of toxins (juice cleanse) is a wildly popular trend as of late.
This product is so easy to consume and make that many people choose to drink this fruity beverage instead of eating fruit. Unfortunately, there's no scientific evidence proving that a juice-based diet is truly an effective weight loss method.
The goal of cleanses is to lose weight by avoiding solid foods while drinking large quantities this beverage to get the benefits of its nutrients.
While it is possible to lose weight by consuming so few calories, the cons seem to outweigh the pros here since there are more dangers than benefits.
Drinking this beverage is much more convenient than eating whole fruits since you don't have to worry about the skin, seeds, or pulp and you get all of the nutrients and antioxidants in fruits. However, this drink loses the beneficial fiber that fruits have and sometimes is high in sugar. This holds especially true for industrially manufactured fruit drinks.
However, this doesn't mean that juice is harmful. Natural ones made with fresh fruits or vegetables without added sugars could be a great addition to a balanced diet.
Possible dangers of a juice cleanse
A juice cleanse is usually safe if followed for just a few short days. However, this kind of diet can imply certain health risks if they are done long-term.
To start, an extremely low-calorie diet can actually be destructive to the metabolism. Rapid weight loss is common at the beginning of this type of low protein diet, which can lead to undesired muscle mass loss and a 'rebound effect' as far as weight goes.
Besides, excessive juice consumption as a replacement for whole fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce the amount of fiber you get, and this can cause digestive problems, diabetes, obesity, and even heart conditions.
On the other hand, protein and certain essential nutrient deficiencies can harm the immune system and add a heightened risk of inflammation.
5 Juicing recipes
In spite of the possible risks of juice cleanses, including homemade versions of this drink in our diet could actually be quite beneficial.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to making these drinks at home, since it means that we'll be more likely to try a wider variety of healthy foods. Also, this could be an excellent way to encourage children to try different fruits and vegetables that they wouldn't eat otherwise.
Below we share 5 delicious and nutritious juice cleanse recipes, and the best part is, none of them have any sugar added.
1. Cucumber juice
Cucumber juice is a refreshing option, and you just need two ingredients:
1 large cucumber
The juice of ½ a lemon
To make this green drink, first, peel the cucumber, dice it, and then, throw the pieces into the blender. Blend until you achieve the desired texture and pour it into a glass, preferably cold. Then, add the lemon juice and stir well.
2. Tropical apple and carrot juice
Carrot juice is pleasantly sweet without even having to add any sugar. Combined with the acidity of the apple and pineapple, this is a delicious beverage for any season of the year.
You'll need the following ingredients:
1 large apple
Pineapple chunks
2 large carrots
2 pieces of fresh ginger
Wash the fruit and cut it without the skin. Put all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until they become liquid and are well mixed. Serve in a cold glass and decorate with a piece of pineapple, if you please.
3. Green juice for kids
If you want to get the little ones to eat fruits and vegetables that they usually balk at, like spinach or kale, green juice could be the perfect way to introduce these foods to them.
Here are the ingredients for this yummy green drink:
2 peeled oranges
1 peeled lemon
1 green apple
1 cup of baby spinach
1 handful of kale
As in the case of the prior recipes, wash and cut all of the ingredients and mix them in the blender or food processor until you achieve the desired texture.
4. Watermelon juice
Watermelon is a hydrating fruit with lots of vitamins and minerals. Besides, it's flavorful and sweet. To make this beverage you need:
1 large cup of watermelon
A pinch of salt
2 mint leaves
Put the watermelon cubes into the food processor until they become liquid. Then, pour into a glass, throw in the pinch of salt and mint and mix together evenly.
5. Beet and blueberry juice
Last but not least, beet and blueberry juice is famous for its fun color and delicious flavor. Here are the ingredients you need to make it:
1 beet washed and peeled
½ cucumber
3-4 blueberries
½ tomato
A handful of cilantro
A pinch of salt
A pinch of cayenne pepper
Chop the cucumber, beet, and tomato into small cubes and throw them into the blender, mixing them together well. Once this mixture turns into a liquid, add the blueberries, salt, and cayenne pepper, and blend the ingredients again. Finally, add the cilantro before drinking.