Since coming clean about our juice fast, I have been answering many questions about it. I thought I would address the questions here, and invite more questions anyone may still have.
I also want to emphasize that I am not a medical professional dispensing advice, and anyone contemplating a dietary change should first consult their doctor.
are you getting enough protein?
I have heard doctors, nutritionists, other qualified professionals say there is too much focus on protein. I have been one of these people, always making sure there is a good amount of protein included in each meal and snack. What I have realized is that for short periods of time, I get an adequate amount of protein and other nutrients with a juice fast - broccoli and spinach are both great sources.
Additionally, fresh juice is a highly digestible food that is packed with nutrients, raw enzymes, vitamins and antioxidants. I get healthy fats from avocado or nuts, omegas (flax, chia) - during fast if you do not get adequate fat, your body will be in starvation mode and store fat.
what is grocery shopping like?
I learned very quickly which markets have the most reasonably priced organics. Even more importantly, I learned which markets have the highest quality produce. I stopped the other day at a place on my way home, which thankfully is not my regular market because the produce was sad. Very sad.
Normally the bulk of my shopping is in the produce section anyway, with bulk items and a few things here and there, where I venture into the middle of the store. My shopping now is even more efficient - I have a master list of all the vegetables and fruit we like, and I check what is needed before I leave the house. Portland's Farmers Markets have been a great source of many of our veggies.
do you use organic, and why?
I buy as much organic as possible, if it looks good. if the non organic looks fresher or what I want isn't available, I'll buy non organic. I then make sure to scrub clean (I do this with everything) and in some cases I will take the time to peel the skin. why? little to no chemicals, wax residue or preservatives is a good thing, and the absence of those things also means fresher produce with more nutrients. also, organic pulp can be used things like dog treats and bread - no waste!
even if you are not using organics, juicing is still highly beneficial.
how can I start?
prepare ahead of time. a week or so prior, cut back and stop coffee, alcohol, processed foods, eating as clean as possible.
if you can fast for at least 10 days you will see benefits. the first couple days of a juice fast, your body is processing the food remaining in your digestive system. the next couple of days, your body focuses on the reserves stored in your liver. after 3-5 days, your juice fast really begins!
Start with your favorite fruit and vegetables, so it will be something you want to consume. Gradually move to most if not all vegetables, with one fruit here and there. Plan to shop every few days if possible, or invest in some of those bags that prolong the life of produce. Know where you can find fresh juice away from home - juice bars, restaurants, gyms, even Jamba Juice has fresh juice!
did you have unpleasant reactions?
since I juice regularly anyway, and eat fairly clean much of the time, I did not experience many of the common side effects of a juice fast. some of the possible temporary effects resulting from detoxing include headaches, dizziness, breakouts, feeling tired or lethargic, weight loss. the first couple of days I was a little tired, and in five weeks I have had ONE headache (a happy and positive side effect!). I lost 10 pounds in the first couple weeks, and another 5 since. I am not in the habit of a scale, and I think the weight loss has plateaued.
the positives include increased energy and we feel incredibly healthy and clean!
how do you know what tastes good, do you have a favorite recipe?
I don't always know what will taste good - trust me, not all of my juices turn out well! I have had to go back and add some pineapple or apple to mask some pretty bad flavors. I happen to be one of those nuts who likes the taste of green, so most things still taste good to me. I am juicing for Jason, too, and while he likes a lot of flavor combinations too, I do try to make things taste good and have a big collection of recipes for all of your juicing needs!
how long will you do this?
I am currently on a 2 week fast, the end of which is timed with an upcoming event. (We have had weddings, house guests, birthdays and other events where we happily broke fast). We are loving this, and are talking about keeping it up long term in some form. I have some great new raw food recipe ideas that I cannot WAIT to incorporate, and will juice regularly, at least once a day.
are you still exercising?
I am! For the first week, it was very little - walking only. Now I am running (or at least faced paced walking!), lifting, most of my regular activities, at about ½ to ¾ intensity depending on the day.
do you juice once a day to drink all day, or several times a day?
the enzymes and nutrients begin to break down immediately, so I drink it immediately and make fresh juice each time to get the most out of my juicing! yes, I know for many, the biggest complaint is having to clean the juicer:
do you clean your juicer each time?
yes, I do clean my juicer each time - I make myself clean it before I can drink my juice, and it really only takes a few more minutes, at most. I have it down to a pretty quick routine now, turning on the hot water as soon as I am done juicing, grab my scrub brush and just clean each piece as I take it apart, and I have a drying mat I stack it all on. after much use and sitting on the drying rack by my kitchen window sometimes in the sun, the pieces have become slightly cloudy over time. this does not affect the juice or juicer at all.
additionally, once or twice a week I'll run it all through the dishwasher (EXCEPT the plunger - that will melt / lose shape and not fit right after). yes, it can be a pain with what, six pieces plus wiping down the base, but when I think of cleaning dishes and cooking equipment, I think it more than balances out. if you think of how much time you are probably saving, the extra clean up each time might be more manageable? 🙂
what kind of juicer do you have?
we have the Breville Juice Fountain Plus, which is the same juicer Joe Cross has in the documentary Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. Jason and I saw this movie about a week after we began our fast, and it completely validated what we were doing, and gave us even more energy. This is a great movie about a couple different people who changed their health and their lives with a juice fast. Though Jason and I did not have any of the health complications the movie focuses on, nor are we medication-dependent, the film is very inspiring and motivating. It's on instant Netflix and it's both entertaining and heart warming.
anne says
Forgive me if this has been asked/answered already. You say that after your juice fast you had events coming up. Do you morph into eating normally again? It seems to me that if you fast for a while it would be hard on the digestive system to go right into eating again, especially at special events.
Kristina Sloggett says
yes, I definitely reintroduced whole foods slowly - and started with raw, salads, and other mild foods for a few days. the first event we had after our juice fast - "feast" was a wedding, and I started eating raw foods for dinners, while still juicing all day, two days prior.
Joy says
I followed a friends advice and got the same Breville juicer a couple months ago and I love it! I juice every morning for my son and I but time constraints we have not done a juice fast. I have noticed an improvement in my skin and hair and don't feel the need for caffeine like I used to, and sweets really turn me off these days... Can't remember the last time I wanted chocolate.
You mentioned the cleaning part, and I don't think that it's that bad. I get up every morning and juice before my son leaves for work, I juice and clean in like 20 min then sit and enjoy my creation before I get ready for work. Best hint, put a bag in the waste receptical (or as we refer to it, the compost container) and it makes things so much easier! Great blog! Thanks for some really interesting info!
Kristina Sloggett says
hi Joy! glad to hear you are enjoying your juicing! you definitely do not need to fast to enjoy the many MANY benefits! fresh juice does replace the need for caffeine, and I know the feeling of craving CLEAN foods rather than sugar or heavier foods - just doesn't sound good.
once you get into your routine, it is not a big deal to clean the juicer, and I always clean it before I enjoy my juice 🙂
Cheers!
lupe says
Can you snack while juicing if you can what do you recommend?
Kristina Sloggett says
you absolutely can, I do not follow any strict rules. I would say make it your own thing, I will not give any actual dietary advice. I can tell you that when I am juicing, I enjoy snacks like raw cashews and almonds (great protein source), raw veggies and fruit.
Dave says
I started juice fast, today is my six day consist of just veggies and apples all day , should i start putting protein powder in my juice? so i wont go on starvation mode cuz my goal is to go for 2 months
marie berry says
I have a question. I just started my juicing fast. I plan on remaining on it for at least 10-15 says. During this time can I eat raw fruits and vegetabales during the day between meal drinks? Do you have to consume only juice for fast to work? How man ounces are recommended a day for beginners?
Thanks,
MARIE
Kristina Sloggett says
hi Marie,
there are so many variables, and when I complete a fast I do so with my own rules. so to say a fast will "work" you need to look at your goals for doing the fast - what are your reasons?
my goals for my fast were to "get clean" - I know how good I feel when I eat clean, and I had been eating processed and heavy foods. on my fast, I drink mostly juice, but if I was hungry I may eat a handful of raw almonds or cashews, or even a raw salad. (this makes it more of a "raw food cleanse"). I was not super strict and I still realized my goals.
a "true" juice fast is one where after the first 3 days or so, your body has finished processing the food remaining in your digestive system, and gets a break because all you are doing is drinking juice - very easy on the digestive system. so if that is your goal, juice is the way to go.
I encourage people to make their own rules - if you are more satisfied you have a better chance of completing the "cleanse".
froggiealicia says
If my goal is to detox as well as losing weight should I just juice with no added raw produce or nuts? I added a piece of raw fruit and few raw nuts between meals because I was starving and had no energy.
froggiealicia says
I am overwhelmed to say the least. A friend of mine has lost 20 lbs juicing in intervals. She began with juice fast, will eat pretty healthy on weekends then resume 3-5 day juice fast in between. I'm on my second day, but after speaking with her feel like I messed up because I've been adding chia seeds to my juices and will get a piece of raw fruit with 6 almonds when my stomach is growling. I'm 20 lbs overweight and really want to lose it, but do it in a healthy manner. So...can I add flax or chia and if so how often and what about raw fruit and eating nuts? Please help.
Kristina Sloggett says
hello!
first off, please do not feel like you've done anything wrong or that you messed up! you are doing just fine - the major thing I try to stress to people is if this is no fun you will not stick with it! I also encourage you to make your own rules - there is no one way to do this - adding chia to your juice is a GOOD thing! it will only increase the nutrients and make it even better for you, and it will add to the staying power, keeping you satisfied longer. also, eating raw fruit and almonds is GREAT as well - not at all a bad thing! I often had a handful of raw almonds or cashews when I was hungry or just wanted something to chew.
you are doing GREAT, no reason to feel overwhelmed! this can still help you achieve your goal - you do not have that much to lose in the overall big picture, you know? if you are feeling very hungry, eating something is good, this is not about depriving yourself. when I consume juice only, I drink A LOT of juice to stay satisfied - and often ate fruit, dried fruit (dates and apricots!), vegetables and nuts.
make up your own rules so you are happy with this!
Wayne Kennedy says
My wife and I are on day three of a planned ten day fast. I will say to those of you contemplating this, it is harder then it seems. I find myself thinking of food all the time!! However I feel better already and plan on juicing for a long time in my future! We are using the Breville as well. I recommend everyone see the movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead if you need that extra push to buy a juicer! Good luck to all of you that are going for it!
spabettie says
that is a good point and reminder, Wayne - especially the first few days of a fast, you really think about food. we found it does get easier though, I hope that is the same experience you and your wife are having? that movie is a great one - we have watched it more than once! hope things are going well for you two! cheers, Kristina
Jocelyn says
Thank you for writing about your juicing! I am intrigued and thinking about trying a juice fast. I have a Vita-mix blender, though, but I am not thinking anything would be different, just that I am consuming everything that goes in.
PS do you add chia seeds or flax seeds into your juicer?
spabettie says
hi Jocelyn!
using your Vita Mix will be fine, it will result in more of a smoothie, as the whole fruit/veggie will be included, so you will get the added benefit of fiber. a juicer is different, as it extracts the juice, and the idea of a "fast" is to give your digestive system a break from digesting - juice alone doesn't have much "breaking down" to go through. but YES - just as I made my "fast" my own, using your Vita will be fantastic, and you will achieve the awesome benefits, nutritionally, energetically, all of that! (I am getting excited for you, can you tell?) 🙂
I have not added chia or flax to my juicer - but I do often add to my smoothies, so I would definitely say go ahead!
let me know how it goes for you - cheers!