Juice Fasting and SIBO

With celebrities jumping on the bandwagon, juice fasting seems to be a trend these days. It’s important to be aware of the risks a juice fast could pose to your health. For one thing, there is little to no protein intake, which means your body will start burning muscle mass. This can cause slowing of the metabolism and subsequent weight gain. And while juice concentrates the plant nutrients, which is great for your body, it also concentrates the sugar. Plant sugars – fructose in particular – have been implicated in causing Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO creates inflammatory imbalances in your body,  weakens the immune system, and is heavily associated with fibromyalgia. Studies show that 2/3 of the population has SIBO, so it’s a good idea to periodically go through a course of microbial-balancing herbs including oregano and berberine. Other things that help prevent SIBO include fermented foods like sauerkraut and coconut kefir.

If you are searching for a healthy cleanse, look for one that utilizes detoxifying foods and a meal replacement medical food. (Whole food smoothies are also a great addition to a cleanse. Watch my video to see why a smoothie is better than a juice.) Clinical studies have shown cleanses such as these to be effective at detoxifying without the detrimental effects a juice fast would have. In this way you’ll be able to increase detox pathways in the liver and kidneys and release toxins gently and naturally. 

Have you ever done a fast or a cleanse? What effects did you notice in your body? Share your experiences here.