New diets are popping up everywhere, ranging from drastic diet changes to short ones lasting up to three days. Recently, the controversial juice cleanse has become popular amount consumers, but is said not to be a completely effective way to keep off weight unless it is extended. However, many people who go on a juice cleanse receive nutrients they do not normally receive. By giving your body micronutrients, you can go days by just drinking 100% fruit and vegetable juices, with nothing else added. Therefore, the typical orange juice you find at the supermarket does not count as a meal replacement, because it does not contain many nutrients and high amounts of sugar. You can find juices, such as the 1915 brand or Evolution, at your local health market, or make your own at home. However, buying fresh juice, such as The Power of Juice in Newport, or making your own is a healthier method because live enzymes are found in fresh juices rather than juices sold in a supermarket with long shelf lives.

The difference between juice and smoothies is that juice is just the juice that comes from the fruit or vegetables, while a smoothie is the whole fruit/ vegetable blended into a drink. Smoothies contain fiber and other nutrients that juice does not, but the nutrients from the juice is immediately sent to your cells.

With my experience on a juice cleanse, I started over April vacation when I was not in school. I believe this made the cleanse easier for me because I could disassociate eating with my regular school routine. For example, I think switching juice for my daily “before school breakfast” would have been more of a challenge for me than a day where I was not in school. This is because many people attach everyday routines with certain foods they eat. This everyday rituals, for example having a cup of coffee in the morning, becomes something we look forward to. When we cleanse our body of these rituals, we tend to direct our focus on the absence of these foods, rather than the present moment.

I began my morning cleanse with water and pineapple juice. I felt normal in the morning, but I was thinking about my daily breakfast. Later in the day, I began feeling a slight headache, which is a normal symptom for people who go on a cleanse. This is normally caused by dehydration, so it is important to drink plenty of water.

Another thing I noticed during my cleanse was the constant advertisement of food. I realized I could not watch television without seeing a flashy ad for a restaurant or major food brand, listen to the radio, or walk down the street without being reminded of food around me.

Therefore, I would say my juice cleanse was a success because it made me realize I was not dependent on my daily food rituals. For anyone else wanting to try some kind of detox or cleanse, they should research what kind best fits them. Also, detoxing with a friend can be a helpful support.