5 mistakes to avoid on a juice cleanse

Ah, the famous, and sometimes infamous, juice cleanse. We’ve all heard of it, and many of us have tried it. Juice cleanses can be a useful way to jump start a new diet or simply help your body get rid of excessive toxins. However, if done improperly, they can actually harm, rather than help, your health. But you’re in luck. We have compiled five mistakes to avoid on your juicing journey. Good luck!

Mistake #1: Using the same ingredients every day

Regardless of the length of your intended juice fast, it’s never a good idea to use the same ingredients in your juice every day. Why? The main reason is that your body needs a wide array of nutrients in order to properly function. This will not work if you are only feeding it kale and oranges every day. While the benefits of kale are many, your body needs a lot more. Eating too much of a certain food can bring unwanted results. For example, you might begin to see your skin take on an orange color from drinking too much beta-carotene, which can be found in carrot juice. A tip is to change up your vegetables and fruits every day of the week, which should also keep things interesting so you don’t get bored and give up on your cleanse!

Mistake #2: Putting in random ingredients

In order to guarantee the maximum results out of your juicing efforts, you need to have a recipe for success. It’s easy to blend any fruit and vegetable you see and call it healthy. What you might not be aware of is that many of those fruits and vegetables have the exact same vitamins or antioxidants, so instead of giving your body a variety, you’re giving it the same thing. Instead, look up what ingredients go best with each other, and which ones are more likely to help you reach your goals.

Mistake #3: Only using fruits

Let’s be honest, we all love a good delicious smoothie made with bananas, strawberries and pineapples. While smoothies are a great, healthy way to give your body its daily dose of fruits, juicing requires more commitment and vegetables. Keeping veggies out of your juices can be counterproductive as fruits are sugary. Consuming too much sugar can lead to problems involving the hormones that regulate insulin, so make sure your drink has a higher ratio of vegetables than fruits. For inspiration, check out the online menus of juice or smoothie bars and don’t be afraid to spice things up with a little hot pepper or ginger.

Mistake #4: Getting too few calories

While weight loss is likely one of the main reasons people go on a juice cleanse, it’s very important to make sure you still hit your daily caloric needs. This can cause you to lose energy and will make you very hungry. To avoid this problem, double up on your juice in the morning. Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day when juicing. Ensuring that you drink 2 full glasses of a nutritious juice will balance you out and will help give you the boost you need.

Mistake #5: Juicing for the wrong reason

Last but not least, it is important to embark on a juice cleanse for the right reasons. Juicing for a week might help you lose weight, but it will not deal with whatever underlying problem has caused you to gain weight in the first place. Make sure you already have a diet and active lifestyle that will be enhanced by your cleanse. Serious diet or health problems might require a more permanent treatment or solution given that juicing is only temporary. Make sure to head to your local MedPost to consult with a health expert before embarking on a juice cleanse journey.

Juicing is a great way to get back or stay on track with your health. Simply make sure to avoid the 5 mistakes above, and you’ll be on your way to a happy, healthy cleanse! Are there any other juicing pitfalls people should be avoiding? Let us know in the comments below!