Juice cleanses are a great opportunity, especially at the start of the new year, to put new resolutions straight into action and kick off the year with a fresh mindset. But what actually speaks against fasting in summer?
Let's keep it short: nothing! In fact, there are many reasons for fasting in the warm season! Among other things, fasting acts as a natural cooling function for your body. But there are more reasons, and also a few things you absolutely should keep in mind when fasting in summer! Find out in our blog post below!
Why do we recommend fasting in summer?
Do you also find it easier on hot summer days to skip big meals and keep the snack drawer under your desk closed? Today we're making use of this and other phenomena. We give you six reasons to support your decision to do a juice cleanse in summer!
1. The influence of light and warmth on our motivation
You've surely noticed that you feel fitter and livelier on sunny, warm days than on cold, rainy ones. The feeling that you could move mountains and tackle new projects is boosted by the nice weather. Reasons for this include the increased release of the happiness hormone serotonin, which influences your mood and has a euphoric effect. Among other things, it is activated by sunlight and exercise in the fresh air.
Your vitamin D stores are also topped up again thanks to sunlight, which gives your energy a boost.
People who fast make use of these two effects in the summer months. Because while in winter it's hard for us to get involved in new projects and we conserve our energy reserves, in summer it's easier for us to muster enough motivation to reach our goals.
2. Fasting as a natural cooling function on hot days
While people who fast often freeze in winter and complain of an increased sensitivity to cold, this side effect will work in your favour when fasting in summer. The reason for the increased sensitivity to cold is the reduced energy supply.
While in everyday life our body is supplied with enough energy through meals, during fasting the energy cycle switches to getting energy from the body's own stores. During a fasting cleanse, energy is drawn from the fat deposits and the protein sources, i.e. the muscles. The switch in energy supply means that metabolism turns down the energy requirement and blood pressure also drops. In the hot summer months, this process can bring a welcome cooling effect.
3. The wish for light food and refreshing drinks
Another reason why fasting will feel easier in summer than in winter is a reduced feeling of hunger and the wish for cool, refreshing drinks - in this case, of course, our tasty juices!
We're less hungry in summer than in winter because of the higher temperature. In winter, it's our body's job to keep our organism at a cosy 37 degrees. That takes energy in the form of calories. We feel a stronger urge to eat richly and give our body enough energy.
As temperatures rise, the need for energy goes down. In fact, from an outside temperature of 20 degrees, energy needs drop by 0.5 percent for every degree it rises.
4. How summer activities affect fasting
We all know it: in winter you make yourself comfortable on the sofa with a good book, a bar of chocolate and a cup of tea, and by the evening ten horses couldn't drag you out the door, while in summer you spend your time on fun leisure activities in the fresh air.
All the energy reserves built up over the winter get used up again in summer while hiking, cycling and inline skating.
With all the leisure activities, there's no time left for comfort snacks and cooking evenings. Exactly the right time for fasting. Because the activities you've planned will quickly make you forget any hunger, and exercise in the fresh air counteracts possible muscle loss.
And while your friends treat themselves to a scoop of ice cream, you simply grab your next Juice Gold and enjoy the fresh taste of pineapple, apple and mint.
5. How fasting affects a fresh complexion in summer
While pale skin stays hidden under a thick layer of clothes in winter and, thanks to make-up and blusher on our cheeks, we still look fresh and fake a natural complexion, in summer our skin is on display, thanks to shorts and airy summer dresses. And on hot summer days we'd rather go without make-up too.
In summer, a juice cleanse can help promote firmer-looking skin and help with blemishes. By giving your gut a break, your body's natural cleansing process, autophagy, is stimulated, and cellular waste can be cleared away more quickly.
6. Getting a summer body thanks to intermittent fasting
For everyone who noticed at the start of summer that their summer dresses fit a bit tighter after winter than the year before, we have good news. The positive effects of summer also carry over to intermittent fasting. With the 5:2 intermittent fasting programme from frank you get first results in no time and can reach your goal weight with 2 fasting days per week.
We recommend using the good weather for your fasting days. Plan your leisure activities for the days when you're fuelled by our spicy ginger shots, cold juices and the tasty soup. You'll see, fasting days have never gone by so quickly.
And light summer cooking will also have an effect on weight loss.
Conclusion: what to keep in mind when fasting in summer
Who would have thought that the summer months are particularly well suited to fasting? To make your juice cleanse a complete success and keep possible fasting symptoms from jeopardising your plans, you should pay particular attention to your fluid balance in summer.
Alongside the juices provided, we recommend drinking plenty of water and unsweetened teas, at least 2 litres per day! Do you know our Feel Good Tea? We often enjoy the refreshing combination of lemongrass, rosemary and thyme in the afternoon as iced tea!
