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Juice fast
A juice fast is a short-term diet regimen consisting of only fresh fruit or
vegetable juices believed to detoxify the body. All fasts involve avoiding solid
foods for a period of time, usually 3-10 days. Juice fasts maintain blood sugar
levels and provide necessary antioxidants and vitamins.
Juice fasting is beneficial for conditions such as mucus, sinus congestion,
allergies, constipation, acne, skin ailments, and headaches, and is an excellent
way of preventing disease by cleansing the body of toxins and strengthening
the digestive system. During a juice fast, some people may experience withdrawal
symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, fever, irritability, hunger, and body aches,
as the body eliminates toxins. Other symptoms that occur with detoxification
include bad breath, a coated tongue, skin odor or eruptions, digestive upset,
or insomnia. These symptoms usually subside by the second day of a juice fast
but may continue to the third or fourth day. When these symptoms subside, most
people claim to experience mental clarity and lightness, and some claim to experience
an emotional release of hidden or suppressed emotions.
Many people follow a hectic lifestyle that makes it very difficult to eat healthy,
and often consume high amounts of toxins in coffee, fast food, cigarettes, sugar,
and medications. Juice fasts offer an opportunity to relax and cleanse the body
and mind, as it releases stored toxins and can stimulate creativity and insight.
Juice fasts can help clear emotional stagnation and are especially beneficial
for those who feel they are stuck in a rut and are considering a life change
or transformation. Spring and autumn are considered the best times for any fasting,
but a juice fast can be done anytime as long as the weather is warm to reduce
additional stress on the system. During a juice fast, your environment should
be nurturing, relaxed, and supportive. Generally, weeklong juice fasts are recommended
once a year for disease prevention. Prolonged juice fasts, or doing juice fasts
more than once a year is usually not recommended as it may cause nutritional
deficiencies, excess weight loss, and weaken the immune system. When preparing
to do a juice fast, avoid processed or junk food, caffeine, sugar, alcohol,
chocolate, dairy, and wheat for at least a few days before the fast.
Juice fasts are generally safe, however, people with existing health conditions,
poor health, or without fasting experience should seek the supervision of a
licensed and trained health-care practitioner who can customize an appropriate
treatment plan. People who suffer from cancer, diabetes, heart disease, eating
disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, a weak immune system, exhaustion,
those who are preparing or recovering from surgery, or pregnant and lactating
women should not try a juice fast.
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