Can you do a juice cleanse once a week?

Juice cleanses have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to detoxify the body and promote weight loss. Some popular juice cleanses involve drinking nothing but fruit and vegetable juices for 3-7 days in a row. While this can produce quick results, it may not be realistic or sustainable for most people to do a full juice cleanse that frequently. However, many wonder if it’s possible to incorporate shorter juice cleanses into their routine, such as doing a one-day cleanse once a week.

Potential benefits of a weekly juice cleanse

There are several potential benefits to doing a one-day juice cleanse on a weekly basis:

• Increased vegetable and fruit intake – Juice cleanses packed with green veggies and fruits can be an easy way to flood your body with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
• Elimination of processed foods – Taking a break from processed snacks and meals once a week may help reset your taste buds and cravings.
• Improved digestion – The nutrients and enzymes in fresh juices can promote gut health and improve digestion.
• Energy boost – Juices are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream providing an energizing effect.
• Detoxification – A juice cleanse can give your liver and kidneys a rest from having to metabolize solid food.
• Weight loss – Replacing higher calorie solid foods with lower calorie juices a few times a week can aid in weight loss.

Downsides to consider

While there are benefits, there are also some potential downsides to doing a weekly juice cleanse that should be considered:

• Hunger – Only drinking juices may leave you feeling hungry, irritable and fatigued compared to eating solid meals.
• Lack of protein – Juices lack protein which is needed to maintain muscle mass during weight loss.
• Nutrient deficiencies – It can be hard to meet all your nutrient needs without incorporating solid foods.
• Cravings and overeating after – Cleanses can lead to intense cravings and overeating when you finish.
• High cost – Purchasing ready-made juices or lots of fresh produce to juice at home costs more than groceries.
• High sugar – Fruit juices are high in natural sugars with little fiber which can spike blood sugar.

Making the most of a weekly cleanse

If you want to try doing a juice cleanse once a week, there are some tips that can help make it more sustainable and minimize side effects:

• Pick a low-sugar vegetable juice cleanse over fruit juices.
• Add some protein like whey powder or Greek yogurt to your juices.
• Always eat regular meals the rest of the week to obtain adequate nutrition.
• Don’t calorie restrict on other days to avoid rebound overeating.
• Choose a day with little social commitments so you aren’t tempted.
• Stay well hydrated by sipping herbal tea in addition to juices.
• If hungry, opt for additional juices rather than snacking.
• Follow cleanses with nutrient rich meals full of healthy fats, protein and fiber.

Example of a weekly juice cleanse

Here is a sample one-day juice cleanse that could be repeated weekly on a chosen day:

Time	Beverage
7 AM	Lemon ginger blast – lemon juice, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, water
9 AM	Green goodness juice – kale, cucumber, celery, parsley, lemon
11 AM	Carrot apple beet juice – carrots, apple, beets, lemon
1 PM	Gazpacho juice soup – tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, garlic
3 PM	Protein power juice – spinach, berries, Greek yogurt, almond milk, protein powder
5 PM	Ginger immune boost – orange, mango, ginger, turmeric, lemon

Drinking herbal teas, water with lemon and mineral water can also be sipped throughout the day as desired. This plan focuses on getting a wide variety of vegetables along with anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric and ginger. A Greek yogurt protein drink provides some satiating protein as well.

The bottom line

Incorporating a one-day juice cleanse into your weekly routine can provide some benefits as long as you are mindful about limiting sugar, adding protein, staying hydrated and following cleanse days with healthy solid meals. However, juice cleanses are not necessary for good health. Focusing on eating a balanced whole food diet, managing stress levels, staying active and getting enough sleep can provide similar benefits without the need for fasting from solid food.

As with adopting any restrictive diet, it’s wise to chat with your doctor before beginning a weekly juicing regimen, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or nutritional needs to consider.

While juicing may be trendy, it’s not a magic bullet for weight loss or detoxification. But short one-day cleanses may provide a nice reset and help increase your consumption of fruits and veggies if done safely and strategically.