Juice-cleanse programs offer chance to hit reset

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This article was published 01/02/2016 (3729 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Whether it is weight-loss ads on TV or a nudge from the bathroom scale, people are reminded every January about “finding a new you.”

One of the trends being looked to in the quest for that “new you” is juice cleansing — which naturopaths such as Jason Bachewich say can give people another way to recharge themselves.

“Juicing has very much come into vogue in the last 10 years. Typically, it was recommended for people with serious disease issues, but it can play an important role in the average North American’s diet,” said Bachewich, who practises naturopathic medicine at Nature Doctors clinic in Winnipeg. “For the most part, it can be a very healthy strategy to employ in one’s life to optimize health.”

Juice-cleansing backers say it gives the digestion system a much-needed rest and the infusion of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients can boost the immune system. It’s also seen as an opportunity to push the reset button, and kick-start healthier thinking.

But there are naysayers. Some experts say the juice cleanses provide no benefit, while others say replacing food with an all-juice diet for short periods can cause health problems, especially for people with chronic conditions.

“Usually, you’re eliminating foods and protein. These are the things your body needs to do its job,” said Dawne Lachapelle, a dietitian with Access Winnipeg West.

She says many symptoms people experience while on a juice cleanse mimic those on starvation or partial-starvation diets, such as dehydration, constipation, nausea, headaches and irritability.

Lachapelle says people are better off eating the fruit that goes into juices than drinking it. Fruit has fibre that fills you up, she says, while the most of the fibre is taken out of juices, leaving only sugar-laden calories.

“You can get the juice from three or four oranges in a glass of juice. No one would eat three or four oranges in one sitting,” Lachapelle said.

The Dietitians of Canada association says juice-cleansing diets can also change electrolyte levels, cause low blood sugar, impact blood pressure and change the effectiveness of medications.

“If anyone’s making a major change to their diet, they should be consulting with a family doctor or a registered dietitian,” Lachapelle said.

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Emily Silver is a former Winnipegger who moved to Vancouver to work as an assistant director in film. She tried her first juice cleanse last year.

“I had always toyed with the idea of doing one, because proper nutrition and physical activity are tricky things to control in this industry with the abundance of quick-energy foods, rich foods and long hours,” she said.

“I was hoping the cleanse would help me break my habit of going for the sweets and heavy foods. I also thought it would be a great way to infuse my body with the nutrients I’m sure I wasn’t getting.”

Silver selected a Vancouver juicing company that specializes in cold-press juices. It made and delivered beverages to her each day: three juices, one almond milk, and one “heat shot” consisting of apple, ginger and cayenne.

“My cleanse was four days and I felt just fine. It wasn’t until I finished and had my first day of slow solid food intake that I realized I was in a fog for the whole time,” Silver said. “But after that, my thought process became clearer and my energy levels went up. It also helped curb certain cravings, like sugar and breads.”

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Health-minded franchise Freshii opened in July on Corydon Avenue. Its menu of salads, soups, wraps, burritos and smoothies includes fresh-pressed juices.

It has also created one-, three- and five-day juicing programs.

“As a leader in serving nutritious food, we want to make sure we’re on top of the latest trends and juicing is one of them,” said Andie Shapira, Freshii’s in-house nutritionist. “We knew it was something we wanted to offer because anytime you are drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juices, it’s good for you. And that’s what Freshii is about, nourishing your body with healthy foods.”

Freshii prepares everything for a cleanse; all you have to do is go in and pick it up. Each day you’ll consume four different juices and a “metaboost salad” packed with greens, spinach, kale, carrots, edamame, mango, almonds and goat cheese.

Shapira acknowledges while some juice programs typically don’t include anything but juices, cutting out solid foods entirely can be daunting. Thus the inclusion of salad.

“Our juice recipes were put together to maximize nutrients, pick you up and keep your blood sugars level throughout the day. Having the salad at dinner not only satiates you, but also provides a good start for establishing a new healthy eating routine,” she said.

Silver said she would also add a bit of solid food to any future juice cleanses.

“I would do it again, although I would modify it by adding a chicken breast or a clean salad each day, just to have a little protein and sustenance to help with the 15-plus hour working days,” she said.

“The other positive thing is, after a day of consuming only juices, having that salad is like a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Green Carrot Juice Co. — opened in Osborne Village in April 2014 by former Winnipeg Blue Bombers lineman Ibrahim (Obby) Khan and his business partners — features cold-pressed juices. All traces of heat are eliminated from the shredding and extracting, allowing the juice to retain maximum nutritional value.

When planning the juices for Green Carrot (which offers one- and three-day beginner and intermediate cleanses) Khan consulted with naturopath Bachewich, who believes consuming juices is beneficial — and not just during a cleanse period.

“I would include juicing every day as a way to increase the healthy compounds in vegetables in greater amounts in your diet,” said Bachewich. “It’s also a way to get more veggies in kids.”

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Brand new to juicing, I tried not one, but two juice cleanses in the span of a few weeks. First, I tried Freshii’s five-day cleanse, and later, Green Carrot’s three-day intermediate. In both cases, I had virtually the same experience.

On Day 1, I started out excited and curious, yet somewhat skeptical as I eagerly picked up my juices, asked a million questions and read the accompanying literature. Even though I had no idea how it would all turn out, I was all-in.

Fast-forward to later that day: I was hungry, had a pounding headache and grew more grumpy with each growl of my shrinking stomach. I became sluggish. Did I mention I was hungry? How the heck I was going to do this? What was I thinking?

On Day 2, I was hungrier than hungry. But at least the headache had subsided and I was slowly starting to feel like my old self again. My optimism had begun to creep back in, even though eating still consumed my thoughts.

By Day 3, my hunger had begun to subside and I began to feel more energy. The world was looking brighter and I felt more positive and carefree. On the flip side, I was eager to wrap this up, because the novelty of the juices had worn off — especially the green ones. Blech! It’s not easy drinking greens for three days, no matter how good they taste on the first day.

Days 4 and 5 with Freshii were much of the same — lessening hunger, increasing energy. I also noticed the longer I went without eating, the more my thoughts turned to food, glorious food! I missed my old friend and became acutely aware of just how much people talk about food.

Despite my growing obsession with eating, I managed to complete all five days without going astray. After both cleanses — the three- and five-day — the results were pretty astonishing. I’m now a true believer in juice cleanses.

I really did feel as if I had a clear mind and was in a better mood. Stress subsided and my sleep improved. My appetite was suppressed, and smaller amounts of food fully satiated and satisfied me. I felt healthier, happier and more motivated to tackle the daily grind, no matter what it was.

As an added bonus, in both cases, friends told me — without knowing I had been juicing — that I looked great and that my skin was “glowing.”

Perhaps best of all, this experience inspired me to really think about what I put into my body — a benefit I hope will remain with me for the rest of my life.

That, and the afterglow.

 

RoseAnna Schick is a freelance writer, outdoor adventurer and PR professional. Contact her at rascreative@yahoo.ca.