By now, fasting and cleanses are a big topic in probably every circle of friends. Even if you haven't tried it yourself yet, you surely know someone who has already done a fasting cleanse. The respect people have for going without solid food is usually unfounded, though. Fasting cleanses are rather a great experience to get to know yourself and your body better and to make a healthy change of diet.
To take away a bit of the worry, it helps to read the experiences of other fasters. That way your own fears usually disappear by themselves, or at least you know in advance which problems and challenges to prepare for. Below we present a before-and-after comparison. We also share experience reports on the juice cleanses from Frank Juice, so you have everything worth knowing about the juice cleanse at a glance.
Why is juice fasting one of the most popular cleanses?
As a simple form of short-term fasting, juice cleanses are considered especially easy to fit into your everyday life. No solid food is eaten during a juice cleanse, but the juices you drink provide roughly 650 to 845 kcal per day. The exact amount of calories depends on the intensity of the cleanse. The juices make sure you're supplied with important nutrients.
Juice fasting, on the other hand, is not considered a suitable way to lose weight. You may lose weight during the fasting period, but that shouldn't be your main motivation. Rather, you are giving yourself and your digestive tract a restorative time-out. A juice cleanse promises not only a pleasant, light feeling but can also be seen as an ideal start to a healthier change of diet.
Many juice cleanses are designed for 3 days, but there are also 1 day, 5 day and 7 day cleanses. That is above all a question of experience. If you've never done a juice cleanse and have no experience of the before-and-after effects, you should start with the 3 day juice cleanse.
The 3 day juice cleanse from Frank Juice
Of course there are numerous providers of different juice cleanses. Even so, the Frank Juice offer stands out from the wide variety of the huge market. Besides the quality, the mission behind Frank Juice is convincing too: Frank Juice works exclusively with high-quality whole fruit and vegetables. You won't find any concentrates or purées at Frank Juice. The raw ingredients are cold-pressed during production and gently preserved using the so-called HPP process.
Thanks to the cold-pressing process, all nutrients within the juices are fully retained. Heating would destroy vitamins from fruit and vegetables. In addition, the extensive choice of juice cleanse variants provides a broad range, with the ideal juice cleanse for every taste.
Experience report: juice cleanse before & after
Since the 3 day juice cleanse from Frank Juice is the absolute bestseller, we'll take a closer look at this cleanse in its different intensities. For the cleanse you can choose from different intensities: Starter, Medium and Pro. This choice is available for all juice cleanses from Frank Juice, regardless of the duration you pick. The exact differences by intensity are as follows:
Starter:
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Greatest variety of juices, higher fruit content, the most energy
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Suitable for beginners and anyone who wants a bit more variety
Medium:
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Varied, with a balanced share of green juices
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For beginners and experienced fasters who love the balanced ratio of fruit and vegetables
Pro:
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The cleanse with the highest share of green juices, with lots of vegetables and less fruit
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For fans of green juices and anyone who wants to experience fasting intensely
From Starter to Pro, the share of green juices goes up while calories are reduced at the same time. For all intensities, you drink 6 juices per day.
The preparation
Good preparation is the be-all and end-all, and that goes for a juice cleanse too. The Frank Juice range is available both online and in retail. For the full choice of juices for your juice cleanse, we recommend ordering in the online shop. The juices are filled into 100% recyclable bottles that already consist of at least 50% recycled PET. After the juice cleanse you can simply swap these bottles back for the deposit value.
It also makes sense to add so-called relief days before the cleanse. On these relief days, your body is prepared for the upcoming juice cleanse by going without heavily processed foods, nicotine, alcohol and caffeine. You can also use Glauber's salt or special teas the day before the juice cleanse starts to clear out and cleanse your gut.
It's also a good idea to clear out your fridge before the cleanse. Many fasters report that the cleanse is easier when they aren't tempted by tasty food at home in the first place. To boost your motivation and have someone to swap notes with during the juice cleanse, you can also get a friend to join in. Together, the juice cleanse is much more fun and sticking with it is easier!
Starting the juice cleanse: day 1
Many people choose days for the start of their juice cleanse when they have less to do and aren't exposed to everyday stress. A day at the weekend is ideal. That way you can focus fully on yourself and your body. Motivation is especially high at the beginning. It's also normal, though, for first side effects to appear after a while:
Headaches or increased tiredness can occur as side effects of a cleanse because the body switches from the usual carbohydrate metabolism to fat metabolism. This shouldn't worry you. Your body is simply showing you that it is in adjustment mode.
Right in the middle: day 2
During the cleanse it makes sense to avoid restaurants, the canteen at work or other occasions where people eat. That makes going without easier. It's also an advantage to give yourself some time out and focus on your body. Vegetable broths or teas are a good idea during the juice cleanse to counteract side effects and a heightened sensation of cold. So if you have a headache, for example, or feel very cold, treat yourself to a tea or a vegetable broth in addition to the juices.
Even if you feel sluggish, a little movement can help. Going for a walk or a gentle jog in the fresh air often works wonders and distracts you from the missing food. It also gets your circulation going.
The home stretch: day 3
Because of the calorie deficit, the feeling of hunger increases and is often clearly noticeable on day 3. But the hunger is mostly accompanied by lightness and euphoria, because the juice cleanse is coming to an end. There may still be side effects on this last day, such as difficulty concentrating and tiredness, but there are already many positive changes in the body. The juice cleanse is already paying off in full!
Summary of the juice cleanse
The Frank Juice cleanse lasted three days. That left plenty of time to get to know juice fasting and to spot changes in your body. We can also give you a few tips to take with you.
For example, it's best not to drink the last juice too late. No juice should be drunk shortly before going to sleep. What matters, on the other hand, is that you have a juice with breakfast. Try to start with a green juice, as your body can absorb the nutrients best on an empty stomach. That way you start the day with plenty of energy and motivation. Also always drink plenty of water or unsweetened tea.
After the fasting cleanse, it's important to gently reintroduce your body to usual meals and to eat easily digestible, rather smaller meals.
Also use your cleanse as a starting point for a healthier diet without too many industrial products, coffee, sugar or alcohol.
Conclusion on the 3 day juice cleanse: before & after show clear differences
Besides a better, fresher feeling in your body, after juice fasting you are usually also more motivated to eat healthier afterwards and to give up many unhealthy foods. The purely liquid diet may challenge you at first, but most people get used to the change quickly, and the effect of a juice cleanse afterwards is clearly noticeable.
By living on juices alone, you also don't have to bother with shopping, recipes and cooking. For many people that's a welcome break from everyday life and an ideal start to a healthier lifestyle. After the juice cleanse you'll also be rewarded with a whole new feeling in your body and sense of wellbeing. Your health will thank you for it too. Juice fasting can be a great time-out for body and mind.
