Diets have a long history, and date back to the “smoking keeps you thin” diet from the 1930s and 40s to today’s newest craze: liquid diets. Juicing seems to be the latest in the string of fad diets, but the question isn’t whether the diet will stick: it’s whether the diet will actually work.
Samantha Olson of the Medical Daily Pulse blog breaks down juice cleanses and their resulting effects.
Hunger
Juicing began as a way for a person to consume the daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. However, most people don’t come close to consuming the amounts recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of two-and-a-half to three cups of vegetables and one-and-a-half to two cups of fruit daily.
Juicing machines remove the juices from fruits and vegetables for your drink, but you could be missing out on other essential nutrients found in the skin and pulp. Losing fiber and nutrients from fruits and vegetables can affect your digestion, blood sugar levels, and your feeling of fullness.
Happiness
When you initially omit unhealthy foods from your diet, you may feel a release of toxins in the hours and days that follow. However, when you aren’t getting the nutrients you need, your entire body — including your brain — can feel unhappy. Your body can enter starvation mode, and break down the fuel of previously stored fat known as ketones. Since ketones and amino acids can help build muscle and maintain your mood, lack of these compounds can make you feel irritable and unfocused.
