Juice Cleanse : Lose Weight, Detox, And Feel Great With Over 50 Recipes! (2 page)

When you start the juice cleanse, try to establish very well the reasons you are doing it. Even write them down if you have to. That will keep you motivated the whole time. Once you have your goals established, you are one step closer to achieving them.

There is no real pre-established recipe for a juice cleanse program. Every fruit and vegetable has its own benefits, but all of them are packed with vitamins and nutrients that your body can use. So just guide yourself by personal taste and favorite flavors. Also, keep in mind that it is best to use a juicer that uses the entire fruit or vegetable rather than a juicer than only extract the liquid. Drinking the flesh as well is not only healthier as you get more fibers, but also more filling so you won't feel the actual need of solid food.

Here is a list of the most common fruits and vegetables used in fasting programs. Pick your favorites and start your juice cleanse as soon as possible!

Kale
- Similar to spinach, kale is loaded with iron and folate, but also fibers and sulfur, which are great for detox and maintaining your liver's health. Also, kale has one of the highest amount of antioxidants from all the vegetables you can think of. It's very easy to find it all year around, but it's at its best during late fall and winter season when it has a very dark color and tough stems. So look out for kale and buy it. Its leaves also make excellent snacks if you are feeling too hungry.

Carrots
- This common vegetable is very popular due to its high content of beta-carotene which our body transforms into vitamin A. This vitamin is crucial for our body because it is responsible for our good vision and healthy skin. Vitamin A also assists the liver to flush out the toxins found in our body, including the bile and fat that are usually found in the liver, as well as cleaning the colon.

Lemons
- We all know lemons are rich in vitamin C, which makes them a great immune system booster. But few know that, despite their acidic taste, lemons have an alkalizing effect, meaning that they neutralize the other acids in our body, helping them to be flushed out quicker. It is recommended that you drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a few drops of lemon juice each morning, before drinking your juice. Actually, this is an advice that works for those who aren't following a juice fasting program as well.

Pineapple
- This fruit is rich in bromelain which helps with protein digestion, being great for a natural detox. It is also loaded with Manganese, a mineral which is essential for producing energy, as well as maintaining healthy bones.

Berries
- Either blueberries or raspberries and even strawberries, they are all packed with antioxidants. They are also very tasty so add just a bit to your juices and you will notice an improved taste.

Cranberries
- These fruits are very benefic against infections, such as urinary ones and they helps kidneys function better, as well as prevent kidney stones and bladder problems. They are rich in antioxidants which help flush out all the toxins in your blood, as well as improve metabolism. That leads to losing weight eventually and a better absorption of nutrients.

Apples
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away! How true is that if we think on how healthy apples are. They are proved to help against brain aging, they reduce cholesterol and blood pressure and they also prevent gallstones and colon problems.

Celery
- Not many people like the taste of celery, especially since it can be quite overpowering, but celery is rich in antioxidants and nutrients that protect our cells against oxidation.

Bell Peppers
- They come in many different colors and have a lovely taste, but they are also rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene and capsaicin, which is proven to reduce bad cholesterol, control diabetes and blood pressure and act as an anti-inflammatory.

Cabbage
- As surprising as it may sound, cabbage is loaded with vitamin C and folate and it is also rich in water and that makes it perfect for juicing.

Cucumbers
- Just like cabbage, cucumbers are rich in water, but also in vitamin B and silica, which is important for strengthening the joints. Apart from this, cucumbers are helpful in reducing cholesterol and controlling blood pressure.

Beets
- Beets are high in carbohydrates which give you energy. They are also rich in sodium, magnesium, calcium and iron. The pigment that gives them that beautiful color is known for helping cells fighting against cancer. The good thing about beets is that they can be found all year around, but they are also very easy to cultivate in your own garden, in which case you should know that even the leaves are edible and just as healthy as the beets themselves.

Once your body decides it needs a deep detox and you decide to follow a juice cleanse program, the next step is to choose what kind of program you think it's most suited for you: 3 days plan, 7 days plan, 14 days plan and even 24 days plan. However, I plead for the 7 days plan, one of the main reasons being that 7 days are enough for your body to do a proper cleanse, not just the digestive system, but also the cells and blood. This means that the toxins will be removed from every part of your body and you will benefit more from it.

Although you may think it's easy to just give up on solid food and take up juicing for a few days, in fact this whole process needs some preparation. This is done not only to get yourself ready for it, but also to make sure the result is consistent. I recommend that 3 days before starting the juice cleanse you give up on coffee, sugar, dairy, alcohol and even meat. This way you make sure your body goes through a smooth change and gets used to it slowly so it adapts better and absorbs the nutrients better. Instead of all those foods, you should eat more fresh vegetables and fruits and also drink plenty of water.

Apart from all these preps, you should also make sure you are motivated enough to start this program. Write down your goals and keep telling yourself that you can do it, you have the will and strength to start and finish it. Once you get all this done, there is nothing to stop you from achieving your goals.

When it comes to what juices to drink and how to, listen to your body. You need all sorts of nutrients to have plenty of energy, but you will also need filling juices to keep you full, you will need loads of antioxidants to ease the elimination of toxins and you will also need to drink a lot of water. In fact, a glass of water between each juice will help with absorption and promote elimination.

To make sure you benefit from the juices, just take your time while drinking them. Like a lemonade, rather sip them than gulp them down. You should also leave 1 to 2 hours time between each juice to allow your digestive system to do its job and absorb all the nutrients.

People find it easy to juice a lot of fruits and veggies in the morning and store the remaining juice for the whole day. But I don't recommend doing that. Juice tends to not only change its color, but also lose its nutrients in time. In fact, if you think about it, it makes sense. In time, juice oxidizes. This process is similar to cell oxidation which means cell aging. So you can see why leaving the juice exposed to air for such a long time is not the best option. Simply juice only how much you drink as fresh is always better. Also, try to use organic fruits and vegetables that are free of any pesticides or chemicals. If that is not possible, make sure you wash all the fruits very well. A good way to clean them is to sink them in lukewarm water that has been mixed with 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar.

It is recommended to tone down your exercise while following a juice fasting because exercising takes a lot of energy and in the end it will only make you feel hungry and overly tired. Instead, you could take up some massage therapy or yoga and even just short walks in the park.

During fasting, it is crucial that you eliminate those toxins one way or another so drink plenty of water. You can also make a detox tea once a day and drink it without any added sugar of course. The juices and fibers will help with elimination anyway. The best way to start your day is by drinking a glass of lemon water. Lemon is known for being alkaline and it helps digestion, as well as weight loss.

Like any other diet, the first 2-3 days will be very hard. You should expect lacking energy, hunger, headaches and nausea, as well as a strong desire to quit. Once you get past that and toxins begin to be replaced with nutrients, your energy level will be back to normal and you will feel much better than you ever did. However, if you feel too tired or too hungry, you can get a little snack, such as carrot sticks or celery. Try to avoid fruits as those have sugar too and it could make you want more instead of satisfy your craving.

In terms of what juices to choose, guide yourself by personal taste and your body's needs. The next chapter includes a whole range of recipes fitted for different issues, such as kidney detox, liver cleanse, losing weight or skin problems. But in the end, whatever juice you choose, you can't go wrong. It is just fruits and vegetables and basically vitamins and antioxidants that you will only benefit from. There is no program as "the one and only". Listen to your body and you will know what to pick.

This chapter includes some of the best and balanced juice cleanse recipes. You will find a whole range of fruits and vegetables, from green leaf veggies to tropical fruits. Pick your favorite flavors, but also keep in mind your body's needs and what's fitted for your fasting goals. Take your juicer and get started!

Fibers and beta-carotene for a good start of the day. Add just a bit of celery for flavor, but also to act as a diuretic, being known the fact that celery helps the body eliminate water retention.

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

2 apples

2 carrots

2 celery stalks

Directions:

Juice all the veggies and fruits together then pour in glasses and serve as soon as possible. Decorate with a few celery leaves just before serving.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, while the grapefruit works for lowering cholesterol level, as well as bringing your blood pressure to normal. It is a good juice for your first few days because you can blend all the fruits and drink the flesh as well. That leads to a very filling juice that will satisfy your craving for solid food.

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

1 grapefruit, cut into segments

2 cups blueberries

1/2 cup seedless grapes

1 apple

Directions:

Juice of blend all the ingredients together and serve as fresh as possible. Garnish with a few ice cubes if you want.

Melon is one of the healthiest and nutritious fruits you can find, especially during its summer season. It is very rich in vitamin A, beta-carotene, lutein and other antioxidants that help your cells fight against cell oxidation, but also improve colon, prostate, lung and pancreatic activity.

Servings:

Ingredients:

3 cups melon

1 cucumber

1 mint spring

Directions:

Juice all the ingredients together and serve in tall glasses, garnished with a mint leaf. You can also blend them together, thus taking advantage of the flesh and its fibers as well.

This juice is perfect for detox due to its high content of vitamin K and A from the spinach and beta-carotene from the carrots. Spinach is also good for digestion and it helps with toxin elimination.

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

4 carrots

2 apples

1 cup spinach leaves

juice from 1/2 lemon

Directions:

Juice all the ingredients together and serve as fresh as possible. Garnish with a lemon juice before serving.