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.
