Why juice fasting is dangerous

One study compared eating whole apples to drinking apple juice. It found that drinking clear apple juice increased LDL bad cholesterol levels by 6. This effect is thought to be due to the fiber content of whole apples People also tend to feel more full when they eat whole fruits, compared with when they drink the juice equivalent 20 , 22 , One study compared the effects of blending and juicing on the nutrient content of grapefruit.

Results showed that blending, which retains more fiber, is a better technique for obtaining higher levels of beneficial plant compounds The level of fiber in your juices will depend on what type of juicer you use, but some sources suggest adding leftover pulp to other foods or drinks to increase fiber intake. Additionally, a study found that adding naturally occurring levels of fiber to juice did not enhance feelings of fullness Eating whole fruits and vegetables is better for your health.

Juicing causes you to miss out on beneficial fiber and antioxidants. Most juice diets involve consuming —1, calories per day from juices only, resulting in a severe calorie deficit and fast weight loss.

While juice diets may help you lose weight in the short term, such a severe calorie restriction can slow your metabolism in the long term Juice diets are also likely to lead to nutrient deficiencies in the long term, as juices lack many important nutrients. Most juicing diets involve severe calorie restriction, which is generally unsustainable in the long term and can lead to a slower metabolism. This is because juice on its own is not nutritionally balanced, as it does not contain sufficient protein or fat.

Consuming enough protein throughout the day is necessary for muscle maintenance and long-term health Additionally, healthy fats are important for sustained energy, hormone balance, and cell membranes.

They may also provide the fat-soluble vitamins — vitamins A, D, E, and K. That said, replacing one meal per day with juice is unlikely to cause harm, as long as the rest of your diet is more balanced. You can make your juice more nutritionally balanced by adding protein and healthy fats. Some good sources are whey protein, almond milk, avocados, Greek yogurt, and peanut butter. Juices are nutritionally unbalanced because they do not contain adequate amounts of protein or fat.

Adding protein and fat sources to your juices can help with this. Regularly consuming high amounts of fruit juice has been associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and obesity Clinical research on juice cleanses, however, is limited. A juice cleanse typically involves lack of solid food and a low calorie intake. Long term, drinking just juice is not healthy since juice lacks protein, which could make it difficult to maintain muscle mass. Cleanses also could put you at risk for nutrient deficiencies since they lack fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids.

Is a juice cleanse an effective way to lose weight? SS: A juice cleanse may result in short-term weight loss, which may be due to diuresis [the increased production of urine] versus true weight loss. I would not recommend it as an effective, long-term way to lose weight because drinking solely juice is not sustainable. SS: Fruit juice, yes. It depends which vegetables are used.

Beets and carrots, for example, are higher-sugar vegetables, while celery and greens, like kale and spinach, contain less sugar. I like to say aim for a ratio of vegetables to fruit in your juice. Is there anything you would suggest people look out for or avoid when buying a prepackaged, fresh-pressed juice blend? SS: Look at the expiration date. In addition, juice cleanses are not a good idea for people with diabetes who may be on medication to regulate insulin activity, Applegate said.

Drinking so much juice could lead to unstable blood sugar levels. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and people with compromised immune systems or advanced heart, liver or kidney disease should also avoid juice cleanses.

People taking the blood-thinning drug Coumadin should stay away from them because some of the green juices could contain vegetables high in vitamin K — such as kale, spinach, parsley and celery — which can lessen the drug's effectiveness. Completing a three-day cleanse might be extreme, but it's also an obtainable goal, Applegate said.

So although it may be hard to do and may feel like deprivation, perhaps the challenge of completing a short-term cleanse offers some psychological payoffs, such as a sense of accomplishment and a belief that harmful substances have been cleared from the body. Still, Applegate said she considers it a harsh diet plan and is concerned about the extremely low nutrient intake, particularly of protein.

She said she even dislikes applying the term "cleanse" to these regimens because "there's no evidence that someone is actually getting rid of harmful compounds from the body — that you're cleansing. A cleanse could be like "The Emperor's New Clothes," where people are afraid to say they didn't really feel better while doing it because they want to embrace the latest health craze, Applegate suggested. Billed as a way to "kick-start a healthy lifestyle, "eliminate food cravings" and "reset eating habits," juice or detox cleanses often involve swallowing only "liquid food," as some manufacturers describe it, and not chewing any solid foods for several days.

However, research has found that the brain may not register liquid calories in the same way as those from solid food, and the routine could get old fast. Should people clean up their act if they are eating poorly? But that weight loss will not be sustainable and will likely be gained back when returning to a healthy, normal calorie intake after the cleanse.

Drinking only liquid juice throughout the day could also make you go to the bathroom more frequently, which may also contribute to a lower number on the scale. However, this could be dangerous and lead to an imbalance in electrolytes, especially over a multiple-day cleanse. Science: There is currently more scientific evidence to suggest that juice cleansing can have a negative effect on the body than there is that it will have a positive one.

Fruit and vegetable juices are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which is a good thing. As we know, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Juicing or participating in a juice cleanse is ill-advised for those with specific yet common medical conditions such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease or dysfunction.

Fruit juices are high in concentrated sugar, which makes blood sugar management challenging, especially since these juices typically lack fiber and other nutrients to balance out the sugar in fruit. Additionally, fruit and vegetable juice can be high in oxalates, a plant-based compound linked with the formation of kidney stones.

Vitamin C, found abundantly in many fruits and vegetables used to make juices, can enhance oxalate formation and exacerbate the potential negative effects on the kidneys.

Other research suggests that juicing is likely taxing on your liver and gallbladder as well. Some people enjoy juicing as part of their daily routine, particularly in the mornings as a way to start the day.