3 Day Juice Cleanse (with food) Recipes, Facts and Benefits
So, you ate like I did for Labor Day or just couldn’t help yourself when the freshly opened Oreos were calling your name from the cupboard.. I get it!
I spent my weekend in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico enjoying time off with friends and eating limitless chips and salsa (sorry, allergic to avocado so no guac for me), tasty tacos and too many shots of Casamigos tequila. Not to mention, I totally bagged the idea of “Gluten-Free” this weekend due to the fact that I can’t miss out on freshly made flour tortillas (although I just realized corn tortillas are GF… next time I guess). I can’t think of any time I wasn’t eating while visiting Mexico…
Well, luckily I flew back into LA and realized very quickly my body didn’t look or feel right AT ALL. With photoshoots lined up, I really needed to kick my ass back into gear with healthy food, no gluten, workouts and hydration so nobody could see the proof of what I had done. Obviously healthy eating wasn’t enough for this job, so I whipped out my Breville juicer and made a game plan!
SHOP MY LOOK: Bikini: $23 Cupshe.
First and foremost, I want to really discuss the benefits of juicing and why I find it to be one of the BEST ways to regulate a healthy lifestyle.
It boosts your immune system. Immune systems are the core of what helps us stay healthy, looking and feeling our best. When it lowers, we are more susceptible to a very long list of things that our bodies endure such as: digestive issues, fatigue, sickness and infections, allergies, etc. Keeping our immune systems in check is so important! Remember, stress is a huge factor here too.
It aids digestion. This is from firsthand experience, as sometimes we all experience digestive issues. I have always dealt with digestion problems typically caused my unmanaged stress, but it really sucks! Juicing has helped me tremendously become “regular” and keep things flowing ;)
The most important, it is a huge blast of vital nutrients in liquid form, making it easier to absorb. The average American doesn’t meet the daily recommended nutrients. This is for a variety of reasons, but it’s definitely hard to get EVERY single nutrient at 100% in your body as you need it. Fortunately, juicing really helps these numbers skyrocket, fulfilling those gaps where you are deficient. I LOVE juicing mainly for the nutrient boost I can get when I need one. No need for Vitamin B6 shots here! Juicing contains so many vital nutrients, and especially after a weekend of not eating very good, my skin, hair, nails, liver, gut and rest of my body are craving something GOOD. This is going to replenish quick and easy, and taste amazing too!
SHOP MY LOOK: Bikini: $23 Cupshe.
You may be wondering why I don’t just take a multivitamin instead of a juice?
Well, for a couple of reasons. Multivitamins are great if you have a certain deficiency your doctor has recommended.. But multivitamins do not contain phytonutrients, the bacteria in fruits and veggies that help fight disease and keep your body running properly.
Also, many multivitamins contain a certain amount of vitamins and minerals that are supposed to help you, right? Well remember just like anything, balance is key! You can actually overdo nutrients and that can cause a reverse effect, harming instead of benefitting you.
One last thing, multivitamins are a nutrition gamble because of the way they are packed together in pill form, making it harder for your body to digest and absorb the nutrients inside of them. Typically we digest multivitamins faster than our body can figure out how to break them down. It is far better to eat your vitamins and minerals through a healthy diet. Researchers have found that multivitamins do not have an overall benefit long term.
SOO….
With that said, I highly recommend trying a juice cleanse. I will be doing a 3-day, one juice per day, cleanse WITH FOOD- replacing 1 meal to get my body happy and healthy again.
Why am I eating on a juice cleanse?
Juice cleanses without food can be beneficial as well if your body is used to it and handles it well. I always follow one golden rule with my diet: Listen to your body.
If you feel tired, foggy, irritable, hangry or notice any signs of malnourishment, eat!! There’s no disadvantages from having some food on a cleanse. I actually found that I do better, and that my body is happier when I eat on a cleanse. I try to keep my lifestyle healthy, and incorporating a juice instead of a meal is great!
But, I don’t just eat anything…
The food that I DO eat, I try and keep as raw. as. possible. I stick to the fresh produce section and avoid processed food in packages, alcohol, refined sugars and definitely anything with Gluten. This is a lifestyle, not a diet!
Portion your meals and eat around 1500-2000 calories depending on your body.
Portion your food.
Don’t over exercise if you are eating less calories.
Listen to your body.
Trust me, this shouldn’t be a punishment. It should feed GOOD!
Pro Tips for juicing:
All organic produce is best
Most juice cleanses generally lack in 3 areas: Protein, Insoluable Fiber and Fats. I recommend eating a diet high in these nutrients to get the best benefits from a juice cleanse!
Making the juice fresh is better, but you can always bottle it ahead of time too. I use glass containers and reuse them. Juices typically last around 3 days.
You can use very ripe fruit, its actually better. Don’t throw away bad product, juice it!
Don’t peel your fruits and veggies
Use as many vegetables as possible and minimum fruit to avoid high sugar content
JUICE CLEANSE RECIPES BY @THELIFEOFLIBS
Day 1: SKIN GLOW UP JUICE
1/4 Red Bell Pepper [Regulates Mood and De-stress]
1 Beet [Increases Metabolism, Fights Inflammation, Regulates Blood Pressure]
Large Sweet Potato [Iron, Strong Bones, Beta-Carotene]
1.5 In Fresh Ginger [*Superfood, Relieves Muscle Soreness, Anti-Inflammatory, Lowers Blood Sugar, Aids Digestion, Fights Infections]
1 Cucumber [Hydration, Weight Loss, Heart Health]
7 Carrots [Good Vision, Regulates Blood Pressure, Biotin]
1 Pear [Glowing Skin, Lots of Phytonutrients, Prevents Cancer]
DAY 2: DETOX GREEN JUICE
1 Bag of Kale [*Superfood, Fights Acne, Heart Health, Strong Bones, Collagen]
1 Bag of Spinach [Anti-Inflammatory, Strengthens Muscles, Boosts Metabolism]
Handful of Parsley [Fights Disease, Anti-Inflammatory, Weight Management]
1/2 Lemon [Fights Wrinkles, Aids Digestion, Promotes Hydration]
1/2 Cucumber [Hydration, Weight Loss, Heart Health]
1/4 Red Bell Pepper [Regulates Mood and De-Stress]
2 Apples [Fiber, Weight Management, Brain Health]
2 Carrots [Good Vision, Regulates Blood Pressure, Biotin]
DAY 3: ENERGY JUICE
1 Bag of Mixed Greens (kale, arugula, baby spinach)
1 Beet [Increases Metabolism, Fights Inflammation, Regulates Blood Pressure]
1/2 Lemon [Fights Wrinkles, Aids Digestion, Promotes Hydration]
1/2 Orange [Anti-Aging, Lowers Cholesterol, Alkalize the Body]
Large Sweet Potato (unpeeled) [Iron, Strong Bones, Beta-Carotene]
1 Pear [Glowing Skin, Lots of Phytonutrients, Prevents Cancer]
1/2 Cucumber [Hydration, Weight Loss, Heart Health]
1 Watermelon Spear [Hydration, Prevents Cancer, Relieve Muscle Soreness]
Handful of Strawberries [Weight Management, Prevent Acne, Immune Support]
Handful of Blueberries [Anti-Aging, Antioxidants, Improves Memory]
Additional links:
Click here for the Go Raw Pumpkin Seed Sprouted Bar