Juice Cleansing: WTF Is It?
BluePrintCleanse But is it tastier than vodka?
Maybe because it's full-on bikini season, it seems like everyone is doing a juice cleanse. But what does a juice cleanse really do? And why not simply eat a bunch of carrots rather than carrot juice? Are juice cleanses just socially acceptable ways of justifying disordered eating? Wanting to know more about this whole juicing thing, we got in touch with Erica Huss, a co-founder of BluePrintCleanse, the juice company that has been around for a decade or so, but which currently seems to be having a moment.
"There are different types of cleanses, depending on what results you are looking to achieve. Juicing can really be as simple as drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juice in addition to or instead of a solid meal," explains Huss. "A juice cleanse, however, means drinking only fresh pressed juice and consuming no solid foods for a set amount of time, which allows the digestive system to take a much-needed break."
Huss suggests that cleansing novices take part in a juice cleanse for at least three days so that they can feel the benefits. The big question, though, is don't people get hungry if they're not eating food? "If you follow our guidelines on how to properly prepare and transition into the cleanse, you shouldn't experience any feelings of hunger, but in the event you do feel hungry, stop and take note: Are you hungry or just feeling like you're not as full as you usually are? Are you actually just thirsty?" notes Huss.
There's something to be said for buying the juices prepackaged. Anyone who has used a juicer knows it can be a pain when all the fruit and vegetable fibers get stuck in the grate. But why not just eat some fruit salad and call it a day? "Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is of course an ideal way to add vitamins and minerals to your diet, as well as the natural fiber that your body needs," explains Huss. "But drinking fresh pressed juice, which has very little fiber, allows your body to absorb the nutrients from the fruits and veggies much faster, with minimal digestive effort."
Having never done a cleanse -- nor really having a desire to do so -- we're intrigued but not sure that we're convinced just yet about the magic of juicing. But then again, we wear a one-piece swimsuit.
Have any good juicing experiences, Fork in the Road readers?
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