This blog post, How to Prep for a Juice Cleanse: What to Do and Not to Do, was originally published on July 13, 2018, and updated on December 31, 2020.
After talking with a few friends about juicing, I realized they did not enjoy their juice cleanse experience because they were not prepared for it. That’s why I wanted to share with you simple dos and don’ts of cleansing. How to Prep for a Juice Cleanse will help you go so smoothly.
How to Prep for a Juice Cleanse: What to Do and Not to Do
Do juice to kickstart your metabolism
Do juice to remind yourself to eat mindfully.
Don’t juice just to lose weight fast. Going on a juice cleanse to lose weight is the worst reason since you will most likely gain it all back.
Do cleanse for 2-3 days only. That’s how long you need to flush toxins out of your body. Any longer than that, I believe is unhealthy and unnecessary.
Do consult a physician first if you decide to juice. The best way to juice is under the supervision of a nutritionist. More importantly, you should listen to your body and see if you’re up for it.
How to Prep for a Juice Cleanse: Suja Juice
One of my favorite juices is Suja Juice. Suja juices are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. P
There are two levels of intensity: Original Fresh Start (for first-timers) and Core Fresh Start (for the experienced juicer). The difference between the two levels is the number of green juices consumed daily. I wasn’t a first-timer, but I still choose the Original Fresh Start.
Click here to learn more about Suja Juice and my experience with juicing.
When to do a Juice Cleanse
Do juice when you don’t have important events coming up or stressed out. Weekdays, when you are at work, is the best time to juice vs. weekends. Also, I prefer to juice when it’s warm outside (more likely to crave juices).
Don’t juice when you are stressed out. Most of us crave food more when we are stressed. It’s harder to stick to the juice cleanse then.
Don’t juice when you have a busy social calendar. When you are at social events, it is tempting to eat pizza or drink a martini when everyone else is. The worse time to juice is around the holidays. You are invited to so many holiday parties with so many temptations.
How to Prep for a Juice Cleanse
Prep. Prep. & Prep. I can’t emphasize this enough. It’s so much easier to juice when you have prepped for it.
Don’t overeat right before a cleanse. Don’t have a farewell dinner with all your favorite fried, heavy desserts, or sugary cocktails before the cleanse starts.
Do eat vegan and raw foods a couple of days before the cleanse. Start eliminating SUGAR, meat, and dairy a few days before the cleanse. Cut out coffee and carbs a couple of days before cleansing. Click here for a sample 3-day menu of vegan recipes (also great for a gut cleanse).
What to Do and Not to Do
Do start the day off with hot water with lemon to wake up your system.
Do drink your six juices in the ordered number.
Don’t skip a juice.
Do wait two hours between juices and drink the last juice at least two hours before you sleep.
Do CHEW the juices instead of just drinking it. This way, you are tricky your body into thinking you’re eating and not just drinking juice. You’ll not get hungry as fast.
Don’t do a strenuous workout while juicing.
Do drink water and green/herbal tea all day to flush toxin out of your system.
Don’t give up.
Do get a massage, salt scrub, acupuncture, or go to an infrared sauna to get the full benefit of detoxification.
What To Do When On A Juice Cleanse: Salt Scrub Therapy
Scrubbing away dead cells, not only gets rid of toxin but reveals new healthy skin. You can get a Himalayan Salt Scrub & Massage at a spa to reduce inflammation and detoxifies while leaving your skin feeling smooth. A Himalayan Salt Scrub starts with a dry brushing then followed by a Himalayan Salt stones exfoliation. After the salt stones are washed away, you are massaged with essential oils (ginger, sandalwood, and lemongrass).
What To Do When On A Juice Cleanse: Infrared Sauna
Do get your sweat on. A cleanse works best when you combine it with detoxing services like an infrared sauna and a lymphatic massage. Forty minutes in the infrared sauna will make you flush out toxins like nothing else. Infrared sauna therapy is a “non-invasive approach to eradicating leftover toxins from tissues and organs, it even promotes mercury detoxification”.
How to Prep for a Juice Cleanse: After the Cleanse
Do follow the same raw and vegan diet as you did before the cleanse for the next couple of days.
Don’t eat a festive meal of burgers, fries, and soda.
Do slowly add carbs, meat, and dairy back into your diet.
Hopefully, when you cleanse or the next time you cleanse, it will go smoothly.
Have you done a juice cleanse before? How did it go? Let me know in a comment below!
With gratitude,
Liz
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Great info! I have been thinking about doing a cleanse to “reset” my body. These tips are wonderful! Do you have a recommendation on a juice cleanse with recipes that you recommend?