By Claire Georgiou, Reboot Naturopath, B.HSc ND
Juicing for improved energy and wellbeing are up there with weight loss when it comes to why people choose a juice cleanse or regular daily juices.
I’ve heard over and over from my clients just how much more energy they have once they commence juicing. Many tell me that they used to finish their workdays zonked out on the couch, with no energy for anything except consuming something easy for dinner and rolling into bed. But once they start juicing, they notice with sheer excitement just how much they can get done over the weekend or after work that they couldn’t muster ever before. This gives me great joy to read and hear over and over again.
When including 1 or 2 juices per day combined with healthy eating, I see substantial energy improvements over the first 1 or 2 weeks of daily juicing. If you’re on a juice-only Reboot, most people notice this improved energy within 3 to 5 days on average.
Increased nutrition overall
Juicing allows more produce to be ingested then could possibly be eaten. You can get 5 to 6 serves of fruit and vegetables in one glass. All these nutrients support the energy cycle and metabolism within the body while also providing high-level antioxidants and plant compounds for cell health, reducing inflammation and disease-causing free radical damage.
Quicker nutrient delivery
Juicing allows nutrients to be more easily absorbed and utilised by the body. Chewing and breaking down our food is a complex task, and if your digestive system isn’t in tip-top shape, you might not process nutrients very efficiently. Gastritis, IBS, IBD (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis), diverticulitis, celiac disease, infections, or any state where there may be reduced mucus membrane health can impact nutrient absorption from food.
Juicing aids nutrient delivery by giving your digestive system a break, enabling our bodies to reduce the energy normally demanded by our digestion, allowing you to use that energy for other tasks.
Increased hydration
A reboot plan increases your fluid intake substantially. To feel fully energized, the body needs to be properly hydrated.
Goodbye junk foods
While juicing, you’re (hopefully) avoiding processed foods, sugar, caffeine, MSG and other energy-zappers. While some of these may give you a momentary “high,” the eventual crash isn’t far behind.
Improved sleep
Many of my clients report better sleep, while juicing, so they’re left feeling more rested and energetic the next day.
Liver detoxification and elimination
The efficient elimination of toxins (and ingesting fewer toxins in the first place) will also improve your energy levels, as the liver and kidneys are given less of a workload while also increasing a broad range of plant based nutrients that are required for the most basic liver detoxification pathways.
Pain reduction
Chronic symptoms such as headaches, rashes, general aches and allergies can improve due to improved nutrient intake. Any of these can leave you feeling drained, so less pain means more energy.
Happiness!
That’s right: My juicing clients and Rebooters actually experience greater contentment and happiness. Juicing can also help balance blood sugar levels, reducing moodiness and energy “crashes” that can result from extreme blood-sugar highs and lows. My clients tell me their thoughts are clearer, too.
If improved energy levels aren’t happening for you as much as you’d like, here are some considerations that can help.
How much juice are you drinking?
You probably need more even if you feel you are drinking enough. We suggest 4 to 6 and often it’s 5 to 6 juices that works best for people on a juice-only fast. More juice = more nutrients!
Watch the sugar
Aim to keep your juices 80% vegetables and 20% fruit. If your juices include more fruit than veggies, your body may be having a harder time managing the higher sugar load.
Drink water, too
It can be beneficial to measure it out to ensure you are well hydrated and to observe the colour of your urine. It is ideal for your urine to be a light straw colour. Here is a great urine color chart.
Water assists with the transportation and elimination of waste. Water is also required for the delivery of nutrients around the body, and it supports clear cognition, healthy blood viscosity, digestion, and overall body moisture. So along with juice, make sure you’re drinking around 64 ounces per day.
Get your Zzzzzz
It can be tough to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, but you need it! Here is more on how to support healthy sleep and what foods can help us to get a better sleep. It’s also important to remember that sleep supports healthy weight loss.
De-stress
Chronic stress can put the body in a constant state of fright or flight which may cause fatigue, lethargy and slow weight loss. It can be hard to identify if you are stressed particularly when you’re in the middle of it, but here are some signs that you may be stressed and here is more on techniques to manage stress.