Juice cleanses. How do you feel about them? Enthused, intimidated, confused, intrigued?

Nutrition is such a hot topic in our culture, especially when it comes to opinions regarding what we should and should not eat. As a Health Coach I can attest to the amount of confusion surrounding these debates and loads of nutritional information being thrown our way.

Cleansing is one of these hot topics. Should I or shouldn’t I?  In my opinion cleansing can be a great way to to give your body the little vacation it can sometimes need. We can be tough on our delicate digestive systems (i.e. that burrito the size of my head that I consumed last weekend) and cleansing can give your body a chance at some much need R&R.*

Potential benefits to cleansing:

• Mental Clarity
• Increased Energy & Stamina
• Weight Loss
• Better Sleeping
• Clearer, Healthier Looking Skin & Eyes
• Elimination of Toxicities from the Gastrointestinal Track
• Reduced Sugar Cravings
• A Kick-Start to Breaking Bad Habits (Smoking, Drinking, Caffeine, Overeating)
• Self-Confidence Boost (Source)

A couple weeks back I tried out a San Francisco-based 3-day cleanse called CAN CAN.   Each day I consumed the same seasonal menu of 8 beverages that added up to about 1000 calories a day:

• 2 Fruit Juices
• 2 Green Vegetable Juices
• 2 Herbal Teas
• 1 Nut Milk
• 1 Savory Soup

My cleanse experience with CAN CAN went well overall. CAN CAN recommended prepping my body prior to the cleanse by eating more fruits and vegetables and cutting down on caffeine and processed foods so that the nutritionally-rich juices were not a shock to my digestive system. This was a great tip because I didn’t experience any caffeine headaches and felt pretty good.

I experienced a foggy feeling towards the end of the first day which I remedied by drinking more water. The soup, nut milk, fruit juice and tea were all really tasty! I did struggle a bit however with the amount of ginger used in the green juice, so I toned it down by adding some water; problem solved!

Some important things to remember while cleansing:

• Drink LOTS of water
• Prep your body beforehand by cutting down on processed foods and caffeine
• Keep exercise light

*Please note I am not a doctor and recommend consulting your personal physician before deciding to try a cleanse yourself.

Leslie PerrymanTwitterFacebook

Leslie Perryman is a certified Health Coach helping her clients find healthy balance in their lives. She has a passion for sharing her culinary adventures with friends and family and her current foodie favorites include: raw cacao, roasted brussel sprouts, goji berries , and tempeh fajitas.