WHAT IS A JUICE CLEANSE?

A juice cleanse, or juice fast, is a cleansing method where a person drinks only juices for a period of time. This gives the digestive system a break, not only from alcohol and other heavy foods, but also simply from metabolising solid food. A juice cleanse containing only high-quality, organic juices is also known as a ‘juice feast’ due to the high amount of vitamins and minerals being consumed.

WHAT IS A COLD-PRESSED JUICE?

“The juices extracted from fresh-raw vegetables and fruits are the means by which we can furnish all the cells and tissues of the body with the elements and nutritional enzymes they need in the manner they can be most readily digested and assimilated.” – Dr. Norman Walker

Cold-pressed describes the method of juice extraction. Fruits and vegetables are pulverised into a pulp using a slow press process. The live juice is then extracted to preserve the maximum amount of vitamins, enzymes, minerals and trace minerals. The flavour and quality of the juice is unequalled by any other juice extraction and it is cleaner, healthier and crisper.

In contrast to the cold-pressed method, the traditional centrifugal juicer extraction involves a high-speed cutting blade and strainer that heats the produce and causes oxidation, destroying vital nutrients, and leaving much of the liquid in the pulp. The juice needs to be consumed as soon as you make it with a centrifugal juicer because of the oxidation that occurs.

Because air is not forced into the juice during cold-pressed extraction, the juice will keep for up to five days with refrigeration while maintaining a high level of nutrients.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A JUICE CLEANSE?

Minimising the amount of solid food intake allows your digestive system to focus on cleansing. It helps to clean out toxins, it helps to release old, rotting food that has dried up in the intestines and it provides loads of nutrients that your body can easily utilise to reset and renew. Living in a fast-paced world means we tend to overeat and under-chew which can cause the body to pass food without fully breaking it down, meaning we don’t get all the nutrients out of each meal we consume. This speed eating also puts extra stress on the digestive system which can lead to other symptomatic issues like bloating, constipation, lack of energy and craving processed and/or sugary foods.

HOW LONG SHOULD I CLEANSE FOR?

The length of a detox depends on your reasons for doing a juice cleanse, the outcome you’re seeking and the current state your body is in. We recommend consulting with a naturopath or a health professional to get a specialised recommendation, however, we do recommend at least a three-day cleanse to get the real benefits of fasting.

A one-day cleanse is a great reboot when done as regularly as weekly or fortnightly. If you feel like you need a quick boost, feel free to call the cafes to check whether there is enough stock to pick up immediately rather than waiting for delivery.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A JUICE CLEANSE?

To get the most out of your experience, and to minimise the side effects you experience, we recommend preparing your body in advance. Avoiding caffeine, sugar and alcohol for three days leading up to your cleanse will greatly minimise your detox symptoms once you start.

To get even more out of your cleanse, start cutting back seven days in advance, then throughout the week eliminate dairy, meat and processed foods.

Remember, a juice cleanse is a great way to support your body in a detox, but it’s not a quick fix to health. Not preparing your body in advance and then not coming off a detox gradually can cause harm and stress on your body and will not provide the usual health benefits.

WILL I GET DETOX SYMPTOMS?

During a cleanse, the body is essentially tearing out all of the “bad stuff” and rebuilding with new material. To make room for that, the bad stuff needs to leave, and how it makes its exit may cause detox symptoms.

For example, when the body eliminates coffee, symptoms usually include headaches, nervousness, and shakiness. When protein, meats, and fats are eliminated, you may experience skin blemishes and body odour. It’s hard to say who will and who won’t experience detox symptoms, but generally, the more “bad stuff” you curently consume, the more you’ll feel it when you stop.

HOW DO I CHOOSE MY CLEANSE?

We offer three cleanses to suit various levels; Thrive, Intense and The Ultimate.

The Thrive Cleanse is a great starting point for anyone doing their first cleanse. It’s great for people who want to ease their way into the detoxification process because it’s not as much of a shock on the body as a more intense cleanse would be.

The Intense Cleanse is the next step up and is great for getting a deeper detoxification. It’s best for people who already live a fairly healthy lifestyle and simply want a little reboot but are not ready to go too “green”.

The Ultimate Cleanse is the deepest of our juice cleanses. It is higher in vegetable juice so has a lower total sugar content. The Ultimate Cleanse can help those already consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables to go even deeper with their cleanse as it has the added benefit of containing extra nutrients, minerals and probiotics from the Grasses of Life products.