Juice Fast Or Water Detox?
Some medical experts claim that detox programs and the products associated with them are merely marketing gimmicks. The Chief Dietician of St George’s Hospital Medical School in London, England, Dr Catherine Collins, says “The concept of ‘detox’ is a marketing myth rather than a physiological entity.” There are many people who do not make their living from selling detox programs and products who would disagree with the learned doctor. These are people who engage in detox programs and are convinced they can feel the difference. Dr Collins continues by saying, “the idea that an avalanche of vitamins, minerals, and laxatives taken over a 2 to 7 day period can have a long-lasting benefit for the body is also a marketing myth.” The keyword there being ‘long-lasting’. So far our research is yet to uncover any detox product or program proponent that claims the benefits are long-lasting, as in do it once and that is it forever. While they claim the benefits do last, this is due to changes in lifestyle motivated by the results of the detox as much as the actual detox itself.
Is Water As Effective As Juice?
Just flushing your system with good, clean water in large quantities is not enough. Why do you think they used to put prisoners on a bread and water diet for punishment? Because it punishes but, without the bread, the water alone won’t sustain life. If you go too long with just water and no nutrients of one kind or another the effects will become harmful rather than helpful to your health. A juice fast has the benefit of adding large amounts of nutrient and especially micro-nutrient to the body, washed down with water, lots of water. It is the combination of the juice with the nutrients and the water to cleanse and unclog the colon that gives the program its value. Either one by itself is liable, over time, to do more harm than good.
How Long To Detox?
Whereas some people, such as Joe Cross of ‘Fat, Sick And Nearly Dead’ fame did a juice fast for sixty days, the average detox program is usually 3-5 days. If it was just water and perhaps a ‘scourer’ like lemon or other citrus juice than any longer would cause damage, especially to diabetics. Add in vegetables and other fruits and the faster can go another five to ten days (15 in total) without too much to worry about. For most people who just want to get their system back into shape and under some semblance of control, this is long enough. Repeated two or three times a year and they are well on the way to much better health and wellbeing. Other people like to do it longer and more often but of course, as always, seek medical advice before and during any such regime.
