What is the Green Juice fast documentary?

The Green Juice fast documentary is a film that follows a group of people as they embark on a juice cleanse for a period of time. Juice cleanses, also known as juice fasts, involve consuming only fresh fruit and vegetable juices for a set number of days. The goal is to give the digestive system a rest while flooding the body with nutrients from raw, unprocessed whole foods. The Green Juice documentary provides an inside look at the juice fasting experience.

Overview of the Green Juice documentary

The Green Juice documentary was filmed in 2015 and released in 2016. It was directed by Joanna Steven and produced by Anouk Zijderveld. The film follows five people participating in a 3-day green juice cleanse under the guidance of juice fasting expert Jason Vale. Jason Vale is a leading authority on juicing and has guided thousands of people through juice fasts at his health retreats. The documentary showcases the physical and emotional journey of the juice fast participants.

Throughout the film, we get an up-close look at the juice fasting process. The participants share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences as they consume nothing but raw vegetable and fruit juices for 72 hours. In addition to monitoring the personal journeys of the juice fasters, the documentary also features commentary from Jason Vale explaining the science, benefits, and safety behind juice fasting.

Cast of the Green Juice documentary

The documentary follows five juice fast participants:

• Sarah – A busy working mom looking to improve her health.
• Peter – A businessman hoping to kickstart a healthier lifestyle.
• Jane – A woman struggling with chronic fatigue and digestive issues.
• Mark – An athlete searching for improved performance.
• Anne – A retiree with diabetes and high blood pressure.

In addition to the fasters, the documentary features expert guidance from:

• Jason Vale – The founder of Jason Vale’s Juice Master retreats.
• Dr. Helen Crew – A physician specialized in nutrition and functional medicine.
• Dr. Jeremy Ortiz – A psychologist who counsels patients on diet and lifestyle changes.

Juice fasting details

The juice fast documented in the film follows a specific protocol under Jason Vale’s guidance. Here are some key details on the juice fast:

• Length – 3 days
• Approved foods – Raw fruit and vegetable juices
• Off-limit foods – No solid foods allowed during the fast
• Daily juice intake – Six 16-ounce juices spaced throughout the day
• Exercise – Light walking encouraged
• Supplements – None

The juices provided consist of vegetables like kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, and carrots blended with fruits like apple, pineapple, lemon, ginger, and beetroot. Jason Vale emphasizes consuming a wide variety of produce to obtain diverse vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

Benefits of juice fasting highlighted

According to health experts in the documentary, some key benefits of juice fasting include:

• Giving the digestive system a rest
• Increasing energy and reducing fatigue
• Enhancing detoxification and elimination
• Providing the body with high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
• Improving skin, hair, and nail quality
• Reducing inflammation and joint pain
• Balancing blood sugar levels
• Losing excess weight and body fat
• Increasing focus and mental clarity

The medical experts emphasize that the flood of nutrients can help the body repair and rejuvenate itself at the cellular level. Fasting allows the body to put its energy toward self-healing that may be impeded in normal day-to-day functioning.

What happens during the fast?

During the 3-day juice fast documented in the film, participants go through a range of physical and emotional experiences. Here is an overview of what happens to them during the fast:

Day 1

• High energy and motivation
• Some light headaches as the body adjusts
• Feeling of emptiness or hunger comes and goes
• Cravings for coffee, solid foods, and junk foods
• Increased thirst and frequent urination as the body releases fluid
• Feeling “lighter” and more clear-headed

Day 2

• Surge in energy for some fasters
• Mild headaches or dizziness as electrolytes fluctuate
• Food cravings subside
• Feeling calm and focused mentally
• Sleep disturbances or vivid dreams at night
• Skin looks more radiant and glowing

Day 3

• Significant increase in energy and alertness
• Reduced inflammation and joint pain
• Substantial reduction in cravings
• Feeling empowered mentally and emotionally
• Vision and senses seem sharpened
• Weight loss of 5-8 lbs depending on individual

The experts note how the body goes through significant changes during the fast as it sheds toxins and returns to a healthier balanced state. Each faster experiences this detoxification process in their own unique way.

Challenges of juice fasting

While the juice fast has many benefits, it also poses some challenges, especially for beginners. Some key challenges the fasters faced included:

• Cravings – Intense cravings for coffee, chocolate, chips, bread, and other foods were common during the first 1-2 days.
• Withdrawal symptoms – Headaches, fatigue, irritability, and nausea were experienced as the body detoxified.
• Blood sugar swings – Unstable blood sugar levels caused mood swings, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
• Hunger – Feelings of emptiness and rumbling stomachs made the fast uncomfortable at times.
• Changing habits – Breaking daily habits like breakfast and coffee was challenging mentally and emotionally.
• Social pressures – Maintaining the fast around friends and family eating normally was difficult.

Experts in the film emphasize preparing mentally and physically to handle these challenges. Proper preparation and guidance make juice fasting safer and more sustainable.

Breaking the fast and restarting eating

Ending a juice fast properly is critical according to Jason Vale. He recommends a structured transition plan to ease the body back into digesting solid foods. Vale advises:

• Chewing food very thoroughly to aid digestion.
• Continuing to drink fresh juices to provide nutrients.
• Breaking the fast with simple foods like fruits, greens, broths.
• Slowly reintroducing heavier proteins and starches over 2-3 days.
• Avoiding processed foods, meat, dairy, caffeine, sugar, and alcohol immediately after the fast.

Vale also encourages continuing with healthy, whole food choices after ending the juice fast to maintain the benefits long-term.

Lasting impacts of juice fasting

At the conclusion of the 3-day juice fast, participants reported a range of health improvements and lasting benefits including:

Participant	Benefits Reported
Sarah	Lost 8 lbs, had more energy, got sick less often
Peter	Lost 12 lbs, reduced medications, thought clearer
Jane	Digestion improved, skin was brighter, had less pain
Mark	Faster recovery, achieved new personal records, felt empowered
Anne	Blood sugar stabilized, lowered blood pressure, had more vitality

All the participants noted improvements in energy levels, mental clarity, mood, and skin appearance. The experts emphasize that juice fasting can “reset” the body’s health when followed by healthy lifestyle choices.

Takeaways on juice fasting

After watching the experiences of real fasters, here are some key takeaways on juice fasting from the Green Juice documentary:

• Juice fasting allows the body’s systems to rest and rejuvenate.
• The first 2 days involve significant detox symptoms before benefits emerge.
• Cravings, hunger, and habits make fasting challenging at first.
• Proper support and preparation are critical to succeeding.
• The body undergoes dramatic changes surprisingly quickly.
• Fasting instills a sense of empowerment and self-mastery.

The documentary paints juice fasting as a potentially transformative strategy – if done correctly and safely. However, experts always advise consulting a physician before attempting any major diet change.

Conclusion

The Green Juice documentary provides an inside look at juice fasting – the good, the bad, and the unexpected. We witness real people undergo physical, mental, and emotional transformations through their 72-hour juice fast experience. While not easy, the participants unanimously feel juice fasting delivered significant benefits from cleansing effects to weight loss. The film offers an objective perspective on the realities of juice fasting while emphasizing the importance of precautions and supervision. For anyone curious about trying a juice fast, it offers an insightful overview of the process and results.