Juice Fast Day 1

Juice Fast Day 1

Friends have lost a lot of weight by juice-fasting, but that wasn’t my only motivation to spend the week sipping from a bottle. I’ve read and seen a lot of studies and first-hand experiences of the benefits your body receives from fasting. Historically people have fasted for days to weeks out of religious devotion. But beyond reflection of the mind, it’s been suggested that this time of quiet for the stomach gives your body the chance to cleanse toxins and rest.

So let’s see what happens in 7 days. I’ll post juice recipes, my moods and ultimately if I lose a few pounds.

What I (and my boyfriend) reportedly have to look forward to:

* Mood swings

*Ache breakouts

*Bad breath

*Increased body odor

*Dizziness or fainting                                                         But there’s more…

Health Benefits of Juicing

  1. The juice requires hardly any digestion, so all its nutritional goodness gets rapidly into your system.
  2. Improving the cardiovascular system and heart health: Both antioxidant vitamins C and E  prevent the damaging effect of free radicals on artery walls.  Vitamin C can be found in most vegetables and fruits, and vitamin E is in blackberries, kiwi, asparagus and spinach. Potassium and magnesium are essential for proper heart function and a regular heart beat. Blackberries are a good source for both these minerals.
  3. Detoxifying the liver: One of its main functions is to clean the blood and remove toxins and metabolic waste. Antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and N-acetyl cysteine are potent liver cleansers. In addition, B-vitamins riboflavin and niacin also aid liver cleansing.  Cabbage, brussel sprouts and cauliflower have been found to be great for the liver.
  4. Alkalizing your system (vegetable juice only):All vegetables are alkalizing. Fruits on the other hand are not. Alkalizing benefits include improved brain function, improved heart function, slowing down the aging process, improved joint function and better digestion
  5. Helping with healthy skin, hair, nails and eyes: The antioxidants vitamins C and E help to prevent skin damage from sun exposure, due to their free radical neutralizing abilities. The health benefits of juicing blackberries and blueberries together will provide you with a good source of vitamins C and E. B2 deficiency can cause cracked lips, hair loss, dermatitis, greasy looking skin and other skin problems. Putting kale, spinach, and asparagus in your juicer recipes will provide you with vitamin B2. The most potent nutrient for healthy eyes is vitamin A, its precursor beta-carotene, is found in abundance in orange colored fruits and vegetables. Beta-carotene is turned into vitamin A by the body.  This vitamin is essential for the retina to function properly and prevent night blindness. Both vitamins A and C reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Carrot juice is a very good source for both of these vitamins.
  6. Improved immune system: Drinking juicer recipes regularly is going to give you a wide variety and more than adequate amount of antioxidants which are essential for a healthy immune system. Phytochemicals have amazing and varied health benefits, most notably anti-cancer properties.

Juicer Recipe 1: Breakfast

2 bananas

1 1/2 cups of frozen blueberries

Splash of soy milk

Verdict of breakfast: Delicious. I’m used to a tummy full of toast with marmite so this is certainly lighter. Not hungry.

Juice Recipe 2 – Real O.J (for lunch)

 3 large organic oranges, skin and all.

NB: If you juice the whole orange, skin and all, the juice may have a slight bitter taste. I don’t mind it, but I’m aware that others may prefer to peel first.

Juicer Recipes #3 – Alkaline Juice (2pm)

2 large oranges

1 red apple (pipped)

3 stalks of kale

Juicer Recipes #4 – A Very Berry Medley (5pm pick me up)

Juicer Recipes

2 cups of strawberries
2 cups of blueberries
2 cups of raspberries

This should be a mainstay desert on every restaurant’s menu.

Not sure what’s on the menu for dinner yet, stay tuned.

 

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