I always hear about celebrities doing juice cleanses and am interested in trying one. Are they safe? Are there side effects I should be aware of?
Carolyn W. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and SweetLife nutritionist Dr. Joey Shulman answered;
With spring here, many people are looking to try a 'mini-cleanse' to lose weight and optimize health and digestion. There are a variety of cleanses available that range from the extreme (a complete fast) to the less extreme (the elimination of wheat and dairy). One common approach to detoxifying is following juice cleanses.
In short, a juice cleanse eliminates solid food with only the intake of raw vegetable juices, fruit juices and water. The upside of juice cleansing is that the concentration of antioxidants, vitamins and phytonutrients (plant chemicals that offer disease protection) is extremely high. Juice fasts also help promote regularity, thereby eliminating constipation and bloating.
The downside to juice cleanses are the side effects that can result. Similar to a number of cleanses, symptoms that may be experienced are dizziness, shakiness, hunger, fatigue, diarrhea, headache and flu-like symptoms. While these symptoms are not that common (or serious), they are important to keep in mind when selecting an opportune time to cleanse.
Individuals who would not be suitable to follow a juice fast include:
- Pregnant or nursing mothers.
- People with diabetes, low blood sugar, kidney disease, liver disease, anemia, low blood pressure or eating disorders, as well as post-surgical patients.
- People on medications (blood thinning, for diabetes etc.).
Talk to your primary health care practitioner prior to engaging in your juice cleanse if you are concerned.
Dr. Joey Shulman’s latest release Healthy Sin Foods – Decadence without the Guilt (Penguin, 2009) is now available.For more information on Dr. Joey and the Shulman Weight Loss Clinic, please visit www.drjoey.com.
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