I have never been able to go on a juice fast for more than 24 hours. However, I do try to eliminate all solid food from my diet at least several of times a month. I pick a Wednesday and drink only fresh vegetable juices and smoothies throughout the day, along with filtered water and herbal tea. If you drink only pure vegetable juice then you are eliminating fiber from your diet and so I try to drink both while on my 24 hour cleanse. Plus the smoothies keep you fuller longer.
Here's a typical day: 6am (Herbal Tea with Lemon), 7am (Healthy Green Juice), 8am-11am (Herbal Tea and Water), 11am (Green Protein Power Smoothie) 12-2pm (Herbal Tea and Water), 2pm (Green Juice, Beet Blast or Crazy Carrot Juice), 3-5pm (Herbal Tea and Water) 6pm (Tropical Thunder Protein Smoothie), 7-9pm (Herbal Tea and Water).
The following day I wake up feeling refreshed, lighter and energized. Perhaps just giving your digestive track a break from having to work so hard gives your body a needed lift. I'm not a nutritionist and long-term fasting is not for me, but I do believe that I benefit from drinking fresh vegetable juice daily and following a 24 hour cleanse.
I like experimenting and throwing a bunch of veggies in a juicer or blender and tasting the outcome. Some come out horrible tasting but most are quite delicious. Here are a few of my favorite drinks--just please make sure that you use all organic ingredients--you don't want to drink pesticides!
- Healthy Green Juice--My Morning Cocktail
- High Antioxidant Green Smoothie
- Beet Blast: 1 medium beet, 2 medium carrots, 1 green apple, 1 small English cucumber, 1" piece fresh ginger root, juice from 1/2 lemon
- Crazy Carrot: 1 large orange peeled, 2 large carrots, 1/4 cup pineapple, 1" piece fresh ginger root, 1/4 tsp turmeric, juice from 1/2 lemon
- Green Protein Power Smoothie: 1 cup almond milk, 1 medium banana, 2 tbsp almond butter, 2 tbsp Warrior Force-Extreme Chocolate Plus Protein Powder, ice if banana isn't frozen
- Tropical Thunder Power Smoothie: 1 cup coconut water, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup frozen mango, 1/4 cup frozen pineapple, 2 tbsp soaked chia seeds.
What Supplements to Add:
When drinking pure juice, I usually do not add any supplements, other than a 1 tsp of flax oil. Or after juicing I will add the juice to the blender, add a 1/2 avocado or 2 tbsp hemp seeds and blend. This adds fiber and protein to the juice and also gives it a creamy consistency.
When drinking smoothies I add different supplements. My favorite supplements are by Health Force Nutritionals. I use their Warrior Food Protein Powder, VitaMineral Green, Earth, Maca, Vitamin C, and Spirulina. All of their products are raw and I really like the taste--they do not taste gritty or gummy. I pick and choose depending on what benefit I want. I will also add soaked chia seeds or hemp seeds for protein/fiber and of course flaxmeal or flax oil.
Also, I prefer drinking juice over smoothies and green smoothies made with kale and mango over pure fruit smoothies. I never drink smoothies made with strawberry or raspberry and prefer mango and peaches because they taste less sweet. To sweeten a smoothie I may also add soaked pitted dates, or pure maple syrup. When making a green smoothie, the ratio of veggie to fruit should be 3:1.
And of course, all of this is not possible without a good juicer and a high-speed blender. I have a Breville Fountain Juicer and a VitaMix. I use them daily. It killed me to spend $400+ for a VitaMix and thought about owning one for years but it has been worth ever penny. I use it every day and hardly ever pull out my food processor.
And one final note, I drink a shot of wheat grass daily, or try to at least a couple times per week. I usually make my own during the summer but choose to buy it during the winter because it can get moldy because of moisture. If you're interested in making your own this summer go to my link on "Growing Wheatgrass--My Liquid Sunshine"! It's really fun to make...the taste not so much, but I do believe that it is good for me!
To your Health!
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