As we’re approaching our juicy 5-Day Guided Spring Clean Challenge, here are my thoughts on why you should spring clean your body. As advised, if you’re not sure whether you can do this, always check in with you doctor before embarking on any dietary changes.
1) Give your stomach a break
Taking even a one day break from eating solids has great effects on your stomach and can be a huge benefit for the entire organism. The BBC documentary Eat, Fast and Live Longer(click to watch) takes a look at the benefits fasting has. My grandma knew it! She’s been fasting on Fridays all her life and still does well in her 90s.
When you fast on liquids for a short period of time, you spend less energy on breaking down fibre, leaving you with more energy for the body to use it where it’s needed to restore. It’s also very important to chew your juice or smoothie. When doing this you mix it with saliva and digestive enzymes are produced, making it much easier to be absorbed.
2) Give your liver a break
Our number one organ on detoxifying duty is the liver. Once the food molecules (not the fibre) pass through the small intestine they reach the liver, where they are detoxified in order to further pass into the rest of the body. It is no question that your liver takes care of that without you drinking any juice.
However, it is often overloaded due to the nature of our fast-paced modern lifestyle. A simple, organic juice feast will take some of that pressure of it and give it time to catch up with the workload. Just like a day off from work 🙂
3) Reduce emotional eating
When you are only on liquids only you start paying attention to your trigger foods because you know exactly what you will eat or drink.
You may be passing by the corner shop on the way to the station and feel the urge to get something up, or you go shopping and buy the same guilty snack every time and you don’t even realise that it’s a habit until you want to have it, but can not.
Notice these patterns and observe your reactions. Do you feel like it pulls you towards it? Is it something you can’t resist? Do you have to talk yourself out of it? Is it a crave? By noticing these feelings you can identify where are they coming from and work towards changing your habits. Juicing will help you start this process because it reduces your appetite and gets you used to eat less food than usual.
4) Introduce a Nutritional Powerhouse
Being on a 3-day liquids-only plan gives you nothing but the best available vitamins and minerals, as well as phytonutrients. Phytonutrients aren’t essential for keeping you alive, unlike the vitamins and minerals that plant foods contain. But when you eat or drink phytonutrients, they may help prevent disease and keep your body working properly. The juices will also be rich in digestive and anti-inflammatory enzymes, which would be destroyed by cooking in general.
5) Assist weight loss
Even though weight loss may not be your goal, it is, most of the times a positive side effect, especially if you’re exercising as part of a healthy routine. As you’re restricting your solid food intake, upscaling your nutrients and liquids you will naturally lose weight, mostly water. This may or may not come back, depending on your training regimen and what you normally eat. This is the perfect jump start to a healthier lifestyle, where you include lots of healthy, vibrant whole foods into your daily routine and keep it balanced.
6) Clarity
One of the most beautiful side effects is getting more mental clarity and head space. As you’re in fasting mode from solids and reducing all stimulants from your diet for at least 5 days, you begin feeling more energised and clear. Allow yourself to experience that head space by taking the time to meditate and retreat for 10-15min a day in the morning and evening.
7) Rehydrate your body
Many people think that by drinking coffee, teas or sodas you make up for the necessary intake of liquids per day. That’s far from it! If anything, you end up being even more dehydrated. Ooops! Are you one of them? There’s no guilt here, it’s a safe environment.
Drinking enough water and green juices will help your body function more efficiently, increase energy and flush what’s not needed out.
How’s that for only a few days of juicing and healthy eating?
Are you even more excited after reading these benefits? I hope so!
Got any more questions about it?
Come into the Healthy Living Community and ask them there. In that way, everyone can benefit from the answers.
If you haven’t registered for the FREE 5-Day Spring Clean Challenge, you may do so below.
Lots of love,
Denisa xoxo
I’ll be running this guided FREE Spring Clean Challenge starting April 22nd.
We’ll do 3 days of liquids, green juicing and smoothies, followed by 2 days of raw foods and yummy recipes.
All you need to do is register here and follow the instructions in the email.
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