So… what does one eat on a juice cleanse, anyway? Or rather, what does one drink?
I get a whole lot of questions from people about what exactly a juice cleanse entails, so I have compiled this post to break it down (chicka chicka yeahhh) for you all. Linking up with the lovely Jenn for What I Ate Wednesday!
And for those of you who are familiar with what a typical juice cleanse incorporates, you might still find this post helpful because I am going to include a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way as a certified cleansing fanatic.
First of all – solid food detox versus liquid juice cleanse. I have done a few posts on this before (check out the juice-related posts in the Lifestyle section if you’re interested), so I will just give a mini-brush up here, because choosing which type of cleanse is right for you is an extremely important component to the cleansing process.
I had a chat with Marcus Antebi, owner and CEO of Juice Press here in the city, before I started my cleanse and he reminded me that cleansing is as much of a psychological practice as it is physical. You have to be mentally prepared for the changes, the social implications and the release of using food as a comfort and a form of therapy (so you don’t end up like Kim K. over here).
If you are mentally prepared for the cleanse you embark on, there is no way you will come out unsuccessful. I have spontaneously dove into one and three day cleanses that I don’t finish or totally psyche myself out about simply because I wasn’t prepared for them.
If you are cleansing for the very first time, I recommend looking into a solid food detox. Depending on how you eat normally, this could range anywhere from eliminating processed foods to eating a solely fruit, vegetable and nut based diet. You can begin by cutting out red meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, and fish and then work your way into eating fully raw for a constrained period of time. In order to choose the right cleanse for you, you must know your body and where you stand in your health and wellness journey.
If you’re at the very beginning of your journey, leaping into a 10-day juice cleanse would likely not be smart. But hey, I’ve seen it be accomplished! I definitely believe that a cleanse is 100% mind over matter (just like running a marathon or committing to a lifestyle change). If you believe you can do it, you will finish it. I sound like a cheese-ball but it couldn’t be truer – get out of your head & listen to your body. Your body will tell you what it can and can’t handle.
If you want to do a solid food detox, I highly recommend TBV 5-Day Plant-based Cleanse — my unbiased opinion, I swear. I’ve never had someone finish the five days and not be blissed the eff out.
When I started contemplating doing an extended juice cleanse this last weekend, the first thing I did (besides run over to Marcus and tell him about my excitement) was turn inward and ask my body if a juice cleanse was what I needed right now. I tuned in with the digestion problems I’ve been having, the stomach pains, the headaches, and the extreme amount of stress and pressure I’ve felt with some things going on in my personal life, and I decided that cleansing by nourishing my body with raw vegetable and fruit juices was one of the best decisions I could possibly make.
At the Fred Bisci talk I went to this weekend, Fred discussed how we as humans often turn to food for comfort when we are in a state of stress. Eating when we are stressed is the worst thing we can do for our tummies, because the food does not get a chance to digest properly and starts to ferment in the stomach. Especially after this cycle begins, it’s hard to quit it without doing a proper cleanse. And let me tell you, my body has been in need of a proper cleanse since early January… the last time I fully participated in TBV 5-Day Plant-based Cleanse!
I started my cleanse on Monday (Day 3, goin’ strong!!), and since I knew I was beginning a 10-day journey rather than a shorter one like I am used to, I decided to incorporate a smoothie into my day of juices. Instead of having 6 juices, I had 2 juices in the morning, my smoothie for lunch, and then 3 juices throughout the remainder of the day.
Holy crap, adding a smoothie into my cleanse was the greatest cleanse-related decision I have ever made! I chose Juice Press’s “Fountain of Youth” smoothie (coconut water, banana, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, agave, hemp protein and coconut oil). The natural sugar from the fruit gave me so much energy, and the hemp protein and coconut oil were completely satisfying and revitalizing. I didn’t have a moment of hunger all day that the juices did not satisfy. I was on cloud nine, and already beginning to freak out about my cleanse ending after 10 days.
I did, however switch up my juices a bit. I loved Monday’s combo, but I decided while I am doing this cleanse it is best to get the widest variety of produce in my diet, so I am going to vary my juices a bit each day.
Day 1: Love At First Sight (green apple, kale, spinach), Gravity (cucumber, celery, aloe vera leaf, lemon kale), Fountain of Youth, Masterade (filtered water, lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne), Doctor Earth (apple, kale, cucumber, celery, pineapple, swiss chard, lemon, dandelion, parsley, ginger) and Black Label (coconut water, dehydrated almonds, vanilla, sea salt).
And yes, Black Label is as sinfully and perfectly mouthwatering as it sounds. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: if I could marry a juice… it would be Black Label. Holy yumness.
Day 2: Love At First Sight, Gravity, Fountain of Youth, The Remedy (filtered water, raw honey, lemon, ginger, turmeric, celtic sea salt, spearmint, cardamom, cayenne), Body Fit (apple, celery, fennel, arugula, lime, ginger) and Black Label.
You’ll notice that I start each day with a green juice, have an energizing pick-me-up in the middle of the day, finish off each day with a green juice and end with a protein-rich juice. The reason for this order is because your body is most willing to assimilate the nutrients you eat first thing in the morning, so it is always best to begin with a green. I have my smoothie midday because I like to work out in the afternoon and it’s always good to have an energy boost for full performance ability. And protein at the end of the day because it helps your muscles recover from a workout, and so that I don’t get hungry late at night before I fall asleep!
That being said, I don’t drink my Black Label within two (usually more like three or four) hours of going to bed, because the same rules apply when it comes to giving your digestion a break before bedtime.
And last night I went out for “drinks” with a girlfriend, and I stuck to sparkling water with lime. Now that is dedication. I’m here to show you all that you can go out and have fun with your friends and either A) not drink, or B) drink minimally and in the healthiest way possible so that you don’t feel like a hung over slug bug the next day.
Day 3:
Today I decided to try something a slight bit different in smoothie town (wild, I know!). I have been fantasizing over Juice Press’s “Vital Force” smoothie for a while – raw almond milk, banana, pineapple, filtered water, soaked cashews, lime, dates, maca, garden of life probiotic and sea salt. I haven’t had it yet, but I seriously cannot wait to try it. I will certainly report back with my critique.
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my video interview below with the lovely miss Nadya Andreeva! We are giving away three copies of her Happy Belly book!!!