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Extreme Diet Trends
Leave it to us Americans though to once again take the enjoyment out of food. We are one of the few countries that obsesses over counting this or limiting that or not pairing two particular foods together at a certain time of day (this last one I never really understood?). What happened to just eating a variety of whole foods – and simply stopping when you feel full or, better yet, satisfied – and actually taking pleasure in the whole process?? I am pretty sure that’s the way things were meant to be, and also, by default, it would help us to avoid some of those unwanted chemicals and additives (i.e. toxins found in highly processed food) in the first place.
A Professional Opinion
If you look at the facts, all of this isn’t really just “in my opinion.” I spoke to a local Colorectal Surgeon, Dr. Robert Stevens, who specializes in colons (obviously) – one of the organs people are attempting to “flush the toxins out of” with juice cleansing. I know Dr. Stevens personally (and trust him), and he verifies that your colon, liver and kidneys make up your very own amazing detoxification system. Imagine that – we are already equipped with all the right parts to naturally rid ourselves of unwanted toxins and feel good! Not to mention that not eating for a few days can cause dehydration, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and even colon damage (yikes).
Dr. Stevens tells me, “The most beneficial natural colon ‘cleanse’ is dietary fiber. Consuming the whole fruit or vegetable (not just the juice) is the best way to ensure that the contents of the colon are adequately evacuated along with any toxins that might remain.” As I learned during my own recent experiment, juicing can be expensive, time-consuming, and also does not provide you with the whole vegetable because “juicers” actually remove that fiber he is talking about (which can leave you still feeling hungry afterward, as it did for me).
I want to make it clear that there’s certainly nothing wrong with drinking a green juice, but it should not be considered an adequate substitution for regular food – especially for days on end.
No Evidence Cleanses Work
Not only is the act of giving up real food during a juice fast/cleanse basically the opposite of human nature, but there is also little to no scientific evidence that it actually flushes out any toxins in the first place (as confirmed here and here). Have you ever seen a credible, peer-reviewed study that proves these cleanses really work? If so, please do share it with us in the comments.
So some probably won’t like that I am saying all of this – and others may actually thank me (you can finally chew your food again – yay!) – but either way this is where I stand. In general, be careful about extreme diet trends and remember to eat a variety of wholesome, healthy foods that you can actually take the time to enjoy. :)
In Summary
I think juice cleanses can help certain people, but are not necessary for most. But juicing in addition to a normally healthy diet is an awesome way to add extra nutrients!! I cringe every time your article about why you don’t juice resurfaces, discouraging others from trying it. Best change health change I’ve made in the last two years was to start juicing!! We juice first thing in the morning, once or twice a week. More often if we feel like we could be getting a cold. I honestly believe it has saved us SO many sick days, as we rarely get more than the initial sniffle anymore.
A juice cleanse can be very benifical if you are wanting to break a food addiction. It will change you taste buds. This was the only way I was able to give up Coke.
Well, Lisa. You are really thin, and I believe that you wouldn’t do well on a cleansing regimen. Look at what Joe Cross has done for people (Movie Fat Sick and Nearly Dead). He has a huge support network on the web, and has helped so many people break out of their bad habits through juice cleanses. He has so many amazing stories posted on his web page. The fact that you personally don’t need to do a juice fast doesn’t mean that others don’t!
What I do is juice everything so then I have the juice and I take the pulp that’s left over and use it also I’ll make a smoothy from it with some of the green juice and chia seeds , I just find that this process makes a smoother texture but the longest I did it was 3 days and I had hit a platue in my weight loss ( I was exercising pretty intensely also) I lost 5 lbs and it helped me to continue to loose 2 lbs a week and for what I was consuming much more came out (gross I know sorry) I think if you can sub in a juice/ smoothie that is well balenced one meal a day that would be enough to give you adaquite nutrion on top of eating real food the rest of the time.. People do take it to far, it’s very pricey, and you can’t just expect to drop weight with out working for it, not eating will be worse in the long run
Thanks for this article! I always trust your opinion because I know you really look into these matters for us. You are awesome!
I make green smoothies daily . I drink abreast one a day . I add a ton if spinach , romaine , low fat yogurt ,baby carrots ,apple,orange banana . I’m glad i drink them due to the faft I usually was one to eat once a day. I have lost weight due to the fact my body used to be just storing fat. Not knowing when it would get it’s next meal.could anyone let me know if I’m doing harm or good to my body????
Green smoothies are not the same as juicing because you eat the whole fruit/vegetable so you get the fiber with the juice. Keep up with the smoothies cause they are really good for you!
I have to say I disagree with this post…not because I love to do juice cleanses (I’ve actually never done one) but more because I can see some potential benefits. Not everyone has a perfect healthy digestive system and some people could possible benefit from having such easily absorbable nutrition in the form of juices. I certainly don’t agree with it as a fad diet or even a way to lose weight but I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine that there could be possible benefits. Also I don’t think going without food for short periods of time is against human nature. If you are an evolution sort then it’s certainly likely that back in the hunter gatherer days humans may have gone without food for a day or two. If you are a creation sort like myself, then the Bible repeatedly mentions fasting. Either way I don’t think it’s against human nature to go without food for short periods and it may even be beneficial :).
I refuse to do a full on juice cleanse. I do drink green smoothies, but just at breakfast. I had awful Christmas holiday full of processed food but since January has come I haven’t had a single thing processed. My body already feels better so I can see what you mean about cleansing yourself…
I also saw the movie “Fast, Sick and Nearly Dead.” I think, in that situation, compared to what he was eating,juicing wasn’t such a bad thing. I mean comparatively. I agree with Lisa and juicing should be a supplement, not the whole diet, besides, for most of us that kind of deprivation is unsustainable.
My daughter-in-law recommended your page and I look forward to your posts. Trying to leave a real food life!
Lisa,
THANK YOU!!! I read your posts religiously and am in the middle of my first 30 day real food “challenge” with a group of friends on Facebook – your blog is our inspiration and our group is how we stay accountable and on track.
We were literally just discussing this at work moments before this posted as there is a woman in my office who is (seemingly) unhealthily thin and is on a juice cleanse because she is “so fat” (her words). It is sad that our culture has such an unhealthy obsession with diet, exercise, etc. and that there are people with the resources and ability to eat a real food diet and yet they still choose to turn to these extreme methods of “eating” to uphold an unrealistic idea of what they should look like.
I love that you take the focus away from what is unhealthy in our society about body image, dieting, etc. and focus simply on real food, family time, and the enjoyment of preparing meals and eating. All it takes is one person to start a “revolution” and I hope that 20 years from now, your blog is obsolete–only in the sense that we have transformed as a culture and that, like in other countries, real food is the only way we eat.
Thank you for being a champion for that and for inspiring the rest of us out here making small changes one at a time! :-)
Certain food will cleanse your body. Periodic use of such food will keep your systems working in fine condition. Some of those foods are in jucie form too. In many cultures weekly, monthly and yearly cleansing is embedded. But it is a lifestyle, not some fad. For example, many Asian cultures eat locally available greens and high fiber diet during the monsoon season. It cleanses their system effectively. It is also the perfect way of ‘natural’ living. The greens and fibrous food is readily available in their region (no overnight shipping from Chile) – mostly in their backyards – and are seasonal. (Yeh! No green-house produces!) During the monsoon season, when outdoor activities are lesser, they stay away from animal proteins and high fat content food. The weather outside also affects the body’s ability to digest certain things. (Yes! Our body is supposed to be in sync with our environment!) This cyclic eating habit gives body time to cleanse and rejuvenate. Some religions practice weekly fast and restricted diets. (Young children, elderly, pregnant and nursing women and sick are excluded from such fasts.) The beauty of all these is that it is a norm in those societies. Not some new fad – something that some stupid celebrity did and now the rest of US wants to do it kind of thing.
Speaking of scientific evidence…when will you retract previous statements that GMOs are unhealthy? They may be bad for the environment and the economy but there is absolutely no proof that GMOs are unhealthy and unfit for human consumption. It seems like you do your research which is why I am so surprised that you jumped on the “GMOs are evil” bandwagon. I can certainly understand preferring organic produce for other reasons and not for simply being “non-GMO.”
I completely agree. Trying to use peer reviewed research to prove this point, but ignoring it on the points of GMOs and artificial sweeteners is so disappointing to me.
I love juice fasts! I am not doing it as a cleanse, but
To loose weight, I do 5 to 10 days in a row and
Loose weight, and KEEP it off. My pants are very
Loose, so how can that be water weight?
As I don’t think it’s for everyone, and not for
Long periods of time, I do see the benefit for
Myself!
Of course your pant will be loose if you lose water weight. Water weight causes bloating and puffiness….
Just curious as to the thoughts on Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead? He seems to have changed his whole health and body by juicing. I love my juices and juicing and feel that the nutrition I get from them is a wonderful addition to my diet. I don’t like eating pounds of greens so one juice can take care of that for me. But we are all different. I have seen “medical” evidence going all sorts of ways. I think everything in life is balance.
Yes, but did he go from eating junk, processed foods right to juicing? Instead of starting to eat clean? I havent seen the movie, just heard alot about it, so I am asking. I feel that with juicing, you miss alot of fiber and nutrition that is in the pulp.
I prefer to eat my food. I feel more satisfied when I eat, rather than sip something in under 10mins. I will have a green monster smoothie with greens, fruit and chia seeds, but mostly after a workout for replenishments.
I know I could never do a juicing, I need to eat to feel satisfied.
I agree that juicing for dieting is not a good idea. However, I also agree with Emily N: juicing provides an incredible amount and array of vitamins that would be impossible to consume by eating the fruits/vegetables whole. I love making a delicious ginger-citrus juice when I am feeling a little tired. Also, juicing is part of some successful homeopathic treatments for disease, like the Gerson Therapy.
I don’t doubt that your whole food diet is giving you and your family the nutrition you need. However, I think that adding a fresh juice occasionally is a great way to change it up. Juicing, like everything else in this country, is just a good thing that people take to the extreme thinking that it can only be better the more they do it.
I agree! I LOVE using my Nutribullet to make healthy “juices” that contain all parts of the veggies/fruits for breakfast. But I have to make sure to balance it out with other wholesome carbs, proteins, and fats as well. In fact, I was running out the door with my beloved spinach “juice” this morning but hadn’t gotten something to eat. As soon as I got to work my energy levels had crashed fast and I was feeling irritable. Eating a granola bar and my taco salad quickly reversed my mood and energy! So from my experience, I love being able to get more veggies and fruit in my diet through my Nutribullet, but you have to balance it out with other wholesome foods as well!
This post is exactly why I faithfully follow this site. It simply makes sense!
Whole heartedly agree! Between the price of all the produce, the loss of fiber, the insane cleaning process (ain’t nobody got time for that!), and all that sugar hitting your system so quickly due to not digesting anything…I just can’t justify juices over smoothies. We are a smoothie lovin family over here…when kids are knowingly eating handfuls of spinach daily, you know it’s a winner!
I could not agree with you more. Thank you for posting!!!!
Holly could you pass on the cleanse you did that helped with your insomnia . I too have suffered with insomnia for years since menopause.
I honestly don’t know if it is a coincidence, but it’s worth a shot. Insomnia is so difficult to remedy! I drank 6 smoothies a day, and allowed myself to eat avocado chunks and raw cashews if I felt hungry. I started the day with hot water and lemon. Then I had 2 green smoothies (kale, chia seeds, cucumber, spinach, apple, parsley, celery, lemon), followed by a green smoothie with ginger in it, then a “juice” of lemons, agave (not a whole food), cayenne, and water, then another green smoothie, then ended the day with a smoothie made of raw cashews, vanilla, cinnamon, agave, and water. I did it for two days. Hope you find rest soon! I tried the cleanse after trying every “sleep hygiene” thing I could and I never tried prescription meds because I have small children that sometimes need care in the middle of the night.
AMEN!
*Add on to my above comment: The only exception that I think juicing is appropriate is for people with compromised gastrointestinal systems. For those with Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, who cannot handle high fiber diets but still would like the antioxidant and vitamin benefits of juicing.
Lisa,
I too am a registered dietitian and I just started reading your blog about a month ago. I am in 100% agreement with your post today and will be sharing it via my Facebook page. You have also made me look at my own practice of dietetics and how my family and I eat. We aren’t 100% real food but your philosophy and lifestyle definitely align with my beliefs. Thank you!!
I have been juicing every morning for over 2 years. I juice mostly veggies to keep the sugar down and use lots of ginger. It gives me an incredible amount of energy that seems to last all day long. I was suffering from an autoimmune disease and have not had any flare-ups since I started juicing. You still get an incredible amount of vitamins with juice and as for the fiber bit, I have never been more regular in my life. You have to make the juice everyday and drink it right away to get the full benefit of it. I have also found that I no longer waste any fresh produce because I just add it to my juice before it goes bad which means I am eating a much wider range of veggies. It might not be for everyone but it has worked wonders for me. Once you get it down it is not that expensive either, especially if you are juicing mostly veggies.
Hi Emily – do you mind if I ask what autoimmune disease you have? I am looking for alternative Lupus treatment options and am curious about what has worked for others.
Hi Beth,
I have many of the symptoms of Lupus but my Rheumatologist has currently diagnosed me with indeterminate autoimmune disease. This basically means that there is something wrong with my immune system but they don’t know what exactly. I was very anemic, had joint problems and had server reoccurring Iritis (uncommon in younger people), and a positive ANA test. I no longer need to take an Iron supplement for the Anemia due to the juicing and my energy levels are way back up. Not saying that it will work for everyone but it has worked for me and I can tell a huge difference when I stop juicing.
Thanks for the response Emily – so glad juicing is helping you. I too have noticed a difference but I think I need to be more consistent and add some more anti inflammatory foods to ease my joint pain as well.
It sounds like you are talking about juciing in the morning only (maybe in lieu of breakfast) which is fine. What Lisa is referring too is a juice only cleanse where you eat/drink nothing except juices for a few days.
Agree 100% – I got a juicer for Christmas and read up on the juicer diets and I wanted to believe. But, it became clear that any “fast” was a terrible idea when it comes to losing weight or moving to a healthy diet. Taking out all that fiber for days or weeks is a terrible idea and so is drinking all that sugar without fiber.
Still, love the juice and smoothies *in addition* to a diet full of veggies and whole grains.
I agree. I have had to loose weight to stay in remission for an auto immune disease. I have lost 30 pounds and I started in May of 2012. I want this to be a lifestyle change not a fad. Lifestyle changes produce a life long pursuit of healthy living. I still have weight to loose, but slow and steady is my motto. I have learned more about food as I go on the slow but rewarding journey.
As usual Lisa you are right!! I couldn’t agree more and I am so glad that you provided the medical support in this article to hopefully educate people. And like Tragic Sandwich we make Green Drinks here. That’s what we call them anyway, the base is Kale but I add whole fruits and vegetables and blend in my Vitamix for my husband and I to drink everyday. So we get everything in the food except the apple core! Even a whole kimi, peel and all. Its amazing fiber. Thanks for sharing this, I plan to repost this, really important info!!
Timely opinion! I just finished watching ‘Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead’ which advocates the juice fast cleansing routine. By the end of the documentary, I felt like I’d wasted my time watching a very long infomercial. I agree with your stance, not only because of the body’s natural cleansing action, but because someone is profiting from the extreme diet methods that are advertised at the expense of good health. Maybe the people who say they ‘feel great’ during a juice cleanse are actually experiencing proper hydration after being so accustomed to drinking caffeinated sodas and processed foods, when water throughout the day would do the same exact thing.
In documentaries like that (including Forks over Knives) are the subjects giving up a bunch of processed food at the same time they take on the cleanse/plant-based diet? If so, how can you separate the two?
What a pleasant surprise to see Dr Stevens name. I saw him for a colorectal issue that I was having. I know, probably TMI. But, he was excellent. I would highly recommend him. Any way, I agree about the cleansing. Just do it naturally and eat healthy.
If I had read this post prior to the cleanse that I did over the summer, I would have agreed and figured that it made a lot of sense. That said, however, I had been suffering from insomnia for several months and decided to try a cleanse for only 2 days because I had heard that it could help. I don’t own a juicer, so I actually blended my own smoothies after researching several different “cleansing” food. I, also, have never understood why people remove the pulp and fiber from their juices. Smoothies are way better! I also allowed myself to snack on avocado and raw cashews. I never felt hungry- but I did feel rather strange during that weekend. In the end, I slept! I don’t know if it is a coincidence, but if I ever suffer from horrible insomnia again, I would definitely repeat the “cleanse”.
Holly – I am glad your experiment worked and since you did smoothies you were consuming whole foods (which is not the case with juice cleanses).
Totally agree- I am having some health issues that are causing anemia, I need some ideas on iron rich meals for the next month or two. Would anyone out there please help…..
Vegetables, especially dark leafy greens like kale and spinach, are great for helping with iron deficiency. If you visit your local co-op or healthy food store, the produce workers usually can give you a tour of the fruits and vegetables that have a TON of iron in them. Your doctor is also a fantastic resource – they know a lot about things other than bloodwork and exams. Even if they don’t know, they probably can connect you with a nutritionist who has handouts or eating guides for certain deficiencies.
I have a problem absorbing iron from the things I eat, so I also take an iron sulfate supplement every couple of days, which can help get the problem corrected quickly (though it’s “cheating”: but it’s a quick fix while you figure out diet changes).
Hi Angela,
I had the same issue and I referred to a book called 101 Recipes You Can’t Live Without (published by Rodale). Recipes are broken down in nutrient-focused grouping and there was a great selection of iron-rich recipes there! I really learned a lot.
Diet and Nutrition experts usually say that the darker the green, the higher the iron content. Also red meat is rich in iron.
I’m a Registered Dietitian, and my patients ask me all the time about juicing. I tell them everything you just mentioned. Juicing to lose weight is a silly diet fad that needs to stop! Let’s promote healthy, balanced whole food diets with plenty of fiber and we can cleanse and maintain healthy weights.
While I do enjoy juices (especially green) as part of a meal or as a snack, I completely agree about the juice cleanses. There is no scientific research that shows them effective in reducing “toxins” in the body.
Totally agree – thank you! Love your blog.
I’m doing smoothies, but not juices, and I’m using them as a way to get more fruits and vegetables into my day–not as a substitute for all other food!
We love smoothies as well since they incorporate the whole fruit and vegetable (with nothing taken out).
Complete agree. I am beginning to incorporate green smoothie into my morning or afternoon using our Nutribullet. I love that I can get in the good fiber and nutrients packed into a beverage once a day. I think its the best way to combat the cold and flu season…good nutrition! Thanks for all the great info Lisa on your Blog. I’ve recommended you to so many people!
Completely agree! Also, it’s a temporary fix. Why not change the lifestyle so that you don’t feel the need for a cleanse in the first place? Might as well eat the whole fruit!
I will say just from my anecdotal experiences that there seems to be specific situations in which juicing can be beneficial. Fiber is not the only important component of fruits and vegetables, and for people aiming to cure or heal very specific problems, it slows down their progress. Juicing definitely isn’t for me, but we all know that a lack of scientific studies doesn’t mean something is bogus. I can’t throw out the cumulative successes in healing disease that so many other people have experienced.
Thank you for posting this! I too am seeing a ton of stuff lately in blogs or social media about juicing. Better to just eat better foods!
Love your blog. Have a great day!
I couldn’t agree more. Nature and our bodies know what they’re doing, and as long as we don’t stand in the way, they’ll work pretty well! I just posted about our recommitment to healthy eating on my blog today!
Thank you for those words of sanity! I completely agree, and I just have learned to skip over a lot of blog posts in the month of January :)