You decide to start a juice cleanse. It's going well until those intense cravings strike. Food is all you can think about. You begin to daydream of all the foods you can't have. You give in... and suddenly, you are hit with deep regret.
If this is you, you are not alone. We asked our customers their biggest concern when it comes to cleansing. Their response: hunger.
Taking a break from solid foods is intimidating. And it's the very reason why so many people never take the leap to try a cleanse or end up finishing early.
It's time to shift your thinking when it comes to cleanses. You don't have to go hungry and you actually can eat while you cleanse...within reason.
Debunking The Starvation Myth
I have been a holistic nutritionist for over 20 years. One side effect of a super restrictive diet is a poor relationship with food. These diets are often unsustainable and only work short term. A juice cleanse is meant to kickstart healthy eating habits for the long haul, not promote unhealthy ones.
Eating on a cleanse has nothing to do with a lack of discipline. If you get hungry while cleansing, it is because you're human. Your body needs carbohydrates and calories to feel full, fueled, and energized.
Cleansing is not an opportunity to deprive or starve yourself. Read that again...Cleansing is not an opportunity to deprive or starve yourself.
Cleanse Cuisine: Nourish to Flourish
Make your experience more enjoyable by adding in some extra calories and nutrients from cleanse-safe foods. Fill your plate with simple, vibrant foods. Cleanse-safe foods consist of generous servings of raw fruits and vegetables.
Eat these foods as you become hungry, no need to restrict.
Simple Cleanse-Safe Meal Ideas
Easy-to-grab fruits like bananas, apples, and grapes
Fresh fruit salad of fruits in season
Raw veggies like carrots, celery, and bell peppers
Cucumber slices sprinkled with sea salt
Apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon
Fresh vegetable salad topped with oil-free, fresh salsa for dressing
Plain steamed vegetables (season with lemon and spices)
Plain baked sweet potato or white potato
Dark leafy green salads (use a lemon wedge as dressing)
Lots of water and caffeine-free herbal teas
Coffee with a clean plant or nut milk and honey
Savory Salsa Recipe
Savory Salsa Recipe
Ingredients:
12 Roma tomatoes, diced
2 small onions, diced
1 large jalapeno pepper, de-seeded and diced
1 handful of minced cilantro (optional)
Juice of 1 lime
Himalayan salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Directions:
Dice and combine all ingredients in a bowl, or to save time, pulse all ingredients in a food processor.
Enjoy with raw vegetables or on top of a salad.
Pre-Cleanse and Post-Cleanse Advice
Before You Cleanse: Three days before (or more), consider reducing dairy, meat, and grains from your diet. Try your best to follow a plant-based diet. Eat whole foods, like raw fruits, vegetables, and potatoes. This may help you transition into your juice cleanse with ease.
After You Cleanse: Consider incorporating a balanced diet full of whole foods. Eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as you want. Healthy, gluten-free whole grains, like quinoa, are great options. This is when you can add animal products, like organic or pastured meats, to your diet. Raw nuts, seeds, nut butter, extra virgin olive oil, dried fruits, beans, and legumes can also be a valuable part of a post-cleanse healthy diet.
It's important to keep drinking cold-pressed juices, even after you cleanse, as part of your daily routine. Remember, juicing is not a quick fix but a pathway toward a healthy lifestyle.
Consider avoiding the following: Consider avoiding refined sugars and carbs, like processed bread, cakes, and cookies. Consider avoiding enriched flours, gums, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, and added colors.
Experience the Benefits of a Juice Cleanse
Don't let the fear of hunger hold you back from experiencing what cleansing has to offer.
Gut Health
When you cleanse, you give your digestive system a break from hard-to-digest processed foods. Juicing may support overall gut health because fruits and vegetables are filled with nutrients that support a healthy gut. When juiced, you flood your system with concentrated forms of those beneficial nutrients [1].
Cleansing Support
Another potential benefit of cleansing is supporting your body's natural cleansing processes. This happens through hydration, enzymes, and antioxidants.
Enzymes found in fruits and vegetables may naturally support digestion and help the body break down and absorb nutrients more efficiently [1]. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, which may help neutralize free radicals in the body [2].
References:
[1] Healthline. 12 Foods That Contain Natural Digestive Enzymes.
[2] National Cancer Institute. Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new dietary program, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a medical condition.
