I Tried a Juice Cleanse So You Don't Have To!

While not enough research has been done on juice cleansing to verify any benefits, companies selling the new fad claim that a “juice cleanse” is a way to detoxify the body, improve mental clarity, and motivate healthier eating choices in the future. As someone who feels strange if I do not eat at least one serving of dessert daily, I figured I may as well try it, and that the high amounts of sugar in the juices would have to suffice.

I chose a 3-day cleanse plan, which is purported to be the least amount of days needed to experience results. There are 5 bottles of juice to be consumed throughout the day each day, and an extra daily bottle of cashew milk in the case of exercising. The idea is that, for 3 days, all you consume is this juice, which contains a variety of fruits and vegetables; these are meant to provide antioxidants and improve the gut biome. Now, the science on juice cleanses is rocky, and most experts state that the high sugar and little fiber of a juice cleanse is not the best for the body, which does naturally detoxify. However, with the popularity of juice cleansing, I was curious to see if a cleanse made me want to eat healthier, and if I felt any different during and after.

DAY 1

Morning:

Although the juice cleansing instructions recommend cutting out processed and sugary foods days before to prevent blood sugar from crashing, the night before starting my cleanse, I treated myself to a lot of ice cream. This was a mistake, as I woke up quite hungry. I drank my first juice, which was not terrible but not exactly tasty, and that somewhat helped. It could have also been the tea that stopped my hunger; while the program recommends cutting out all caffeine, I would only concede to switching coffee for tea in fear of losing my sanity. The morning went by just fine with another beet-based juice for a mid-morning snack, and then a juice I actually quite enjoyed for lunch, with pineapple and spinach.

Evening:

It was around 2pm when the juice really was not doing it for me. The afternoon snack bottle was carrot-based, and I was not ready for the flavor of it whatsoever. I figured, if I get nothing out of this juice cleanse health-wise, I will at least have a greater appreciation for the things I eat in daily life. It is strange not cooking, as eating is quite a social activity in my house; I broke into some of the cashew milk just for stronger sustenance. I end the night still hungry but pulling through. I do at least enjoy not having to do dishes right now!

DAY 2

Morning:

I woke up feeling slow, but I slept well in the night. I was less hungry this morning than yesterday morning, but as Noon came, I really wanted to chew something. It feels good to be halfway through, but there is a certain dread around some of the less palatable liquids. I find myself feeling colder than usual, and not wanting to leave my bed very much. I’ve noticed a decrease in focus and some lack of motivation. The company claims Day 2 is the hardest, and I’m definitely feeling that right now. My emotions are a little out-of-whack, and my mood is generally low. It’s supposed to improve on Day 3, but I remain dubious.

Evening:

Some of the worst of all. I felt very hungry and was missing eating meals with my roommates. My brain was working slower, and I found myself very emotionally sensitive. The nighttime juices were tasting better on Day 2 but still not ideal. I was trying to go to sleep early so to avoid the hunger, but I also noticed a strange change in my teeth — they feel almost fuzzy on the bottom. Overall, not an ideal situation, and I hoped tomorrow would see the promised mental clarity and increased energy. We will see, but I am pulling through and sticking to it.

DAY 3

Morning:

I woke up feeling not well-rested. Finishing the juice was difficult, but I told myself that today was the last of it. Hunger was less prevalent than yesterday, but it hit me once in a while. I found that focusing on work was easier today than yesterday, but it may have been just to distract myself from desire to eat. I worked while I drank the juices to think less about the taste and found it was taking me around an hour at times to finish a bottle. Lunch was the bright spot of the day: the only juice I would maybe drink again. My stomach hurt from the sugars of the juice, and my teeth continued to feel strange. I was not feeling the promised increase in energy, and I mostly felt tired. Perhaps that would change come nighttime, but I had serious doubts.

Evening:

I hoped to never drink juice again, and what I really wanted was solid food. I felt fuzzy in the brain, and my energy was steady but felt no different from before the cleanse. I finished out all the bottles, save for the “emergency” cashew milk provided, and was generally dissatisfied with the experience.

To those considering a juice cleanse... I would say that it is not worth it. The unverified medical benefits, alongside the fact of low energy, mood swings, hunger, and lack of mental clarity, make this experience not a positive one. I’m glad to have “cleansed” my palate so to enjoy food more after, and I have noticed my cravings for dessert foods is lower — however, considering the price point and how it has made me feel the past 3 days, it is not something I want to repeat.

I look forward to consuming solid food tomorrow, and leave cleansed of the idea that fad diets do anything to improve health.