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T H E 5 - D AY GREEN JUICE CHALLENGE It’s all the rage right now, and we tried it to see if there’s good reason why so many people are opting for just juice to optimise health, detoxify and make fundamental changes to their bodies.
FIRST THINGS FIRST If you’re keen to do a juicing detox, it’s vital to prepare your body first. Also be sure to check with your health practitioner if you have any conditions that could be problematic (pregnancy, heart issues, diabetes and so on). Consider what it is you consume on a daily basis and even if you live a fully organic and fresh lifestyle, there may still be some foods or drinks that can give you withdrawals. Caffeine is a huge culprit – people who drink a lot of coffee will experience major headaches, sluggishness and irritability as a result of withdrawal. So, before embarking on a juice detox, reduce (or cut out) caffeine at least a week before. Sugar can also cause withdrawals. Interestingly, if you generally follow a low-carb diet, your body could also react negatively to the flood of simple sugars into your system, which requires you to produce more insulin more quickly. This could result in a drop in blood sugar, making you feel light-headed. T I P : Drink plenty of water as well – without fibre and protein to slow digestion, water is drawn into the digestive tract and this can cause softer, more frequent bowel movements.
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STEP BY STEP D A Y O N E : The morning is great, especially if you aren’t much of a breakfast fan. Your body is still full of yesterday’s food and you’re positive it’s all going to be ok. If you normally drink a cup of coffee to wake up, you might feel like you’re missing out, but it’s not that hard. By midday, you feel a bit like the morning has crawled because you’re thinking about all the food you’re missing out on and begin wondering if you can survive not chewing anything for the next five days. By bed-time (likely earlier than usual), you’ll be feeling pretty tired and possibly a bit down. But, to keep you going, it’s about this time that your vital organs are beginning to sit up and take notice that something really good is happening.
D I D YO U K N OW ? Everybody and every body needs a break. Our bodies are fully geared up to constantly get rid of toxins; the skin, liver and kidneys are vital for this process. But, sometimes the body just needs a break. Sometimes what we put into it can be overwhelming, causing the vital organs to work less than optimally. If you regularly experience sluggishness and headaches, or even gut imbalances and conditions like acne and eczema, it’s a sign your body needs some time out. A juice detox ensures a flood of vital nutrients without the need for your body to work at breaking down food to extract them.
