Preparation for the juice diet

The key element of successful juice detoxification is proper preparation. Juice diets should be planned for a quieter time, without over-stress, professional duties and social gatherings.

Introducing a few changes in the diet will make transitioning from solid foods to juices easier and much more enjoyable. This means that a few days before the start of the detox you must completely reduce or sharply limit:

  • red meat, poultry, fatty fish,
  • dairy products,
  • eggs,
  • flour and flour products (bread, pasta, etc.) / gluten,
  • sugar,
  • coffee, strong tea and energy drinks,
  • alcohol,
  • nicotine,
  • all processed products (sweets, sweetened beverages, fast food, salty snacks, etc.)

During the preparation diet, the consumption of vegetables, fruits and neutral fluids such as mineral water, herbal teas and infusions should be significantly increased. During this period a vegan diet, which excludes products of animal origin, will be ideal. The menu should include 5-6 small meals, eaten at regular intervals (every 3-4 hours). You should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day (2 liters), and to stimulate the digestive tract in the morning it is best to start with warm water with lemon or herbal tea.

3 days before detox

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At 3 days before the juice detox you should significantly increase the amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet. The menu should now include vegetable soups, salads, fruit or fruit and vegetable smoothies and steamed or raw vegetables. Meat, dairy and eggs should be excluded from your diet. Small amounts of brown rice or gluten-free groats could also be found in the menu. It is extremely important to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Products allowed:

  • Raw, lightly blanched or grated vegetables (including starchy vegetables and legumes, salted and fermented vegetables)
  • Raw or grated fruit (including avocados)
  • White fish (e.g. cod, halibut, miruna, hake, polloc)
  • Gluten-free groats and rice (millet, buckwheat, wild or brown rice)
  • Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Mineral water and herbal tea

2 days before detox

On this day, it would be desirable to completely eliminate products of animal origin and cereal products. The menu should be based on fresh or cooked vegetables and fruit. Legumes, starchy vegetables (e.g. sweet potatoes) and salted and fermented vegetables should still be included in the diet. You cannot forget about the proper hydration of the body.

Products allowed:

  • Raw, lightly blanched or grated vegetables (including starchy vegetables and legumes, salted and fermented vegetables)
  • Raw or grated fruit (including avocados)
  • Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Mineral water and herbal tea

1 day before detox

The diet should only be restricted to raw or slightly blanched vegetables and fruit. One day before the start of the detox avoid products of animal origin, cereal products, legumes and starchy vegetables (e.g. potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, beetroots). Vegetable soups, salads, fruit or vegetable and fruit smoothies, salted and fermented vegetables and steamed or raw vegetables are acceptable. It is still very important to have proper hydration – you cannot forget about drinking at least 2 liters of water and herbal teas.

Products allowed:

  • Raw, lightly blanched or grated vegetables (excluding legumes and starchy vegetables)
  • Raw or grated fruit (including avocados)
  • Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Mineral water and herbal tea

During treatment

Juices should be taken at 2-3 hour intervals in the order indicated by the label. The first juice should be taken up to an hour after waking up, while the last one 2-3 hours before bedtime. To get as much nutrition as possible, drink the juices slowly, with small sips. During the course of the diet, it is also important to hydrate the body.

Having snacks during a juice detox is not advisable as it may slow down the cleansing process, but if the feeling of hunger is too great it is important to give your body a healthy snack. It may be:

  • Delicate vegetable broth
  • Several cucumber slices
  • Several stalks of celery
  • Carrot
  • Apple
  • Half avocado
  • Several pieces of nuts or almonds
  • Green leafy vegetable salad

Physical activity during the detox should be limited to light exercise. Walking, yoga or stretching are recommended. Juice diets provide a limited amount of energy, so excessive effort is not recommended, as opposed to rest and sleep. Suitable detoxification can be supported by a sauna, hot bath or shower, massage and exfoliating treatments.

 

There are many changes in the body during the cleansing treatment. The feeling of certain discomfort and weakness, especially during the first 48 hours, is quite natural. In case of nausea or constipation, consider adding herbal laxatives (tea, capsules, tablets, granules) to your menu. If problems with bowel movement do not go away, additional probiotics or an enema may be helpful.

After the juice diet

During the "exit" phase of the cleansing treatment, solid foods are slowly introduced into the diet, but remember to do gradually because during the detox the digestive system was at rest. The menu in the first days after the juice diet should be similar to the preparation diet and rely on vegetables and fruit. Continue with habits acquired in previous days, such as drinking hot water with lemon on an empty stomach, watching for proper hydration, regularity of meal intake and portion size. Digestive processes begin already in the oral cavity, so pay attention to the thorough chewing of food.

1 day after detox

Diet should only be restricted to raw or slightly blanched vegetables and fruit. It is good to include liquid meals such as smoothies or cream soups.

  • Raw, lightly blanched or grated vegetables (excluding legumes and starchy vegetables)
  • Raw or grated fruit (including avocados)
  • Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
  • Small amounts of nuts and seeds
  • Mineral water and herbal tea

2 days after detox

Starchy vegetables and legumes may be included into your diet. Products of animal origin are still not recommended.

  • Raw, lightly blanched or grated vegetables (including starchy vegetables and legumes, salted and fermented vegetables)
  • Raw or grated fruit (including avocados)
  • Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Mineral water and herbal tea

3-4 days after detox

In those days, you can expand the menu by lean fish and small amounts of brown rice or gluten free groats.

  • Raw, lightly blanched or grated vegetables (including starchy vegetables and legumes, salted and fermented vegetables)
  • Raw or grated fruit (including avocados)
  • White fish (e.g. cod, halibut, miruna, hake, polloc)
  • Gluten-free groats and rice (millet, buckwheat, wild or brown rice)
  • Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Mineral water and herbal tea

5 days after detox and later

After about 5 days you can slowly return to your daily diet. Commence including the remaining products, starting with lean meat (poultry, rabbit) and whole grain cereals, and ending on dairy and red meat.

To keep the effects of the juice diet as long as possible, it is important to follow the rules of healthy eating and lifestyle, excluding sugar, white flour, processed foods and fast foods, sweets, etc., as well as to limit or completely eliminate unhealthy stimulants (alcohol, cigarettes, coffee).