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.
Felicia says
Thank you so much for your great blog and candid answers on juice fasting. My husband and I, too, just watched "Fat Sick & Nearly Dead" two weeks ago and are now awaiting delivery of our Breville juicer (sold out at department stores in our neighborhood!).
I'll be checking your blog often for the awesome recipes! Thank you!
spabettie says
hi Felicia! I am so happy you found this Q + A and that it was helpful! that movie certainly is inspiring, and I'm excited for your juicer to arrive! keep in touch and let me know how things are going, PLEASE let me know if you have any questions I can help with! 😀
Darren says
thanks for all this. very in depth and helpful (we are thinking of purchasing a juicer and I googled types and found you!!) and I will return visit for recipes. thanks
Nikko says
Hi, I recently found your blog and am completely convinced I need this juice fast. I've attempted to start yesterday, and drank 2 cups of juice which were soooo good but I found it really difficult to keep going. The juices taste great but I get these awful pangs in my stomach that I couldn't resist eating something. I have started again today and vowed not to eat and only stick to juices. I'm really curious as to how you do it. Do you drink another glass when you feel like your stomach is begging for food?
Also, about the fats, I don't know how to incorporate that into the juices. I dislike avocados, is there something else I can use, like avocado oil? Or how do I use nuts with the juices?
I appreciate any input and advice you can give!
spabettie says
hi Nikko! happy to help in ANY way I can! 🙂 I usually drink enough (often a WHOLE pitcher size, the pitcher that comes with my juicer, about 45-5- ounces) so I am usually FULL after drinking that, and it lasts a while. If I get hungry, yep, I make another juice. I drink a lot of water. Sometimes I'd actually eat an apple. Part of the idea of a fast is to "give your body a break" from digestion, so eating an apple goes against that, but you have to think about why YOU are doing this, and adapt, come up with your own rules. If you're doing this more for a "cleanse", eating an apple or some raw veggies won't hurt. As far as feeling hungry - what are you juicing? I try to do one fruit to 3, 4, even 5 veggies for the nutrients and less sugar. I don't know if that makes a difference in my feeling full, but maybe?
Fats, there are plenty of things you can do, yes avocado oil, or a flax oil, you can add it right to your juice, a tablespoon or so. I add raw nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios, whatever you like) to the blender... I make juice through the juicer, then pour that juice into the blender with a handful of nuts, it will be more of a smoothie with some pieces, but it's GOOD! You can also take a supplement to get omegas.
Hope this helps, PLEASE let me know if you have any other questions, and also check in to let me know how you are doing!! 🙂
Kristina
Nikko says
Sorry for such a late reply but thank you sooo much for your answers to my questions. I hit a bump earlier and couldn't go through with my juicing plans as too many dining out days could not be avoided but now I'm ready to do this! I just finished running through all your posts and made a word doc of every juice recipes you gave for easier access and can't wait to taste them all eventually. I have only 1 more question: you mentioned flax oil. Can I blend flax seeds right into the juice after juicing or will that not provide the same benefits as flax oil? Thanks again for being such an inspiration.
spabettie says
no problem, Nikko! as far as the flax seeds, YES that works! flax seeds are the freshest form of oil, and have more benefits (when crushed), including higher omega 3, more fiber. they generally cost less, also - I buy in small amounts so they do not go rancid. if you start to use on a daily basis, you'll eventually see how much you go through, so you can buy accordingly.
you are SO welcome!! please continue to ask any questions, and keep in touch with how things are going, or if you just need some motivation! take care, great to hear from you!
The Cilantropist says
So glad to hear about your experiences, Joy from Joylicious was doing a juice fast recently too, and between the two of you I think I have a clear idea now about what it entails and how best to go about doing it. No time for a juice fast in my life now, but definitely trying it out in the near future! Thanks for sharing!
spabettie says
you are so welcome! this has been a great experience for us, energizing and we have learned a lot! we will definitely be doing these a couple times a year, and have continued juicing as a regular daily thing. if you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! 🙂
janetha @ meals & moves says
Thank you for such a thorough post! I am really curious about this and am for sure Netflixing that movie. xo
spabettie says
you are very welcome! even if it doesn't lead to a full on fast (and it does not need to!), the movie is a REALLY GOOD one! so inspiring, and Joe Cross is a likable guy who tells it like it is. 😀
S. says
I will try that soon! I just finished 2 weeks fasting with broth only. I guess you just have to have the right mind set about it and strong will power. Love fasting and this seems to be a welcome spin! Interesting that most people I talk to refer to it as "death diet" - hard to convince people that this is actually pleasant once you get past the first 2 days. And I realized that with every time it's getting easier .... Keep it up!
Pure2raw twins says
this was so helpful!!! thank you! I have this bookmarked so when I do a juice cleanse next I will have a good reference thank you!
spabettie says
thank YOU - I'm glad you found it helpful and will use as a reference! it's been a GREAT learning experience for both of us and we're committed to doing them regularly.
Megan says
I always find the "Are you getting enough protein?" inquiry to be so silly (and very uneducated). Most Americans get far too much protein! It puts such a strain on the kidneys, causing calcium excretion in urine, increasing the risk of osteoperosis (especially since most of us have the false "Dairy is Good for you" complex).
Now, my question is, what about fats?? Juice is basically sugar and proteins... isn't two weeks going a long time without fats? And what about those who do juice fasts for 1, even 2 months??
Also, I'm guessing no defecation during juicing? :p
spabettie says
hallelujah, Megan! so SO right about protein consumption - and going through this juice fast made me realize I was doing this too, to an extent (I made sure I had protein with everything I ate, and looking back now, sometimes it was excessive!).
fats! I have been adding an avocado (juice, then add juice to blender and make a smoothie with avocado, spinach, etc...) for fat. I also have been taking my coromega supplement and or flax. I would hope the people fasting for a month or two are taking in natural fats, or their body will begin to store fat (starvation mode!).
first time talking poo on the blog! 😉 the first several days your body is processing contents of digestive system, then liver stores, then... it's less. I am still getting fiber (when I blend in place of or in addition to juicing - spinach, avocado, the random banana...) so I am still... working.
Rebecca says
I'd love to try juicing, but it seems so unaffordable! From buying a decent juicer to buying tons upon tons of fruits and vegetables, I'd have to guess you're spending a lot more money than you would on regular food. Can you prove me wrong (please)?
spabettie says
for us, honestly the bill is about the same, some weeks LESS. we dine out a fair amount, so that's gone right now. also, no beer or alcohol purchases. no extras (my beloved gummi bears!) and some produce we find (farmers markets) pretty inexpensive. organics are more, but juicing can still be VERY beneficial without organic. a juicer is expensive, sure, but if you are wanting one, maybe look on eBay or craigslist? OR - ask if anyone you know has one that you can borrow if they are not using it, to see if it is something you'd want to invest in!
hihorosie says
You're awesome! Thanks for this helpful post. I'm of the opinion that when it comes to protein, everyone is different. Some need more than others and getting lots o'greens in is key. Anyway, I would love to get back into daily juicing. One day I might venture down the juice fast road. 🙂 And like Eva mentioned above, watermelon rind is awesome! Adds a slight green taste to it. Definitely get organic (of course you know that though) if you decide to juice it.
spabettie says
you are so welcome, my friend!! 🙂 I am learning that I do absolutely do not need as much protein as I always thought, so that's a good thing to come out of this - a specific thing learned in all of the ways I am becoming more in tune to my body and it's needs! I am so on the watermelon rind - I can just imagine the FRESH flavor it must have!!