Are you confused by all the information out there about juices, smoothies, juice fasts and feasts? I used to be too. Don’t let confusion stop you from upgrading your diet and adopting a healthier lifestyle! Whether you want to go on a juice fast, skip your regular breakfast and start your day with a green smoothie, or replace your usual snack with a large glass of green juice – these guidelines will help you to get started right away.
Green smoothie for breakfast
Green smoothies are delicious, healthy and extremely nutrient dense. They make a great breakfast or light meal, and provide more ready-to-use energy than any juice will. Thanks to their high amount of fiber, they will make you feel full and satisfied for a long time. Even if you only have one glass of green smoothie a day, your energy levels will go up and your weight will go down. You don’t even have to worry about your digestion: green leafy vegetables and fruits require about the same amount of time to digest, so they combine really well.
Try starting your day with a green smoothie and see if this lowers your cravings for processed foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats. Green smoothies are a great way to overcome emotional eating and curb cravings, especially for refined sugars. Don’t worry about the fruit sugars either: the leafy green vegetables will keep your blood sugar levels stable and your energy levels high. For more information & recipes on green smoothies, I invite you to get your personal copy of my *free* raw recipe eBook ‘Julie’s Top 7 Fast, Easy & Delicious Raw Smoothies & Shakes’ by signing up to Julie’s Lifestyle’s mailing list.
Green juice as a snack
Fresh green juices are by far the best way to regenerate your health and deeply cleanse your body. If you have busy schedule – like most of us do nowadays – your body is probably under a lot of ‘chronic’ stress. This can greatly impact your digestion and reduce your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. Even if you are enjoying a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every single day, you might not be absorbing the nutrients. Thanks to lack of fiber in fresh green juices however, the vitamins and minerals go directly into your bloodstream. No need to worry about the absorption. Green juices – as well as green smoothies – also allow you to try different kinds of leafy green vegetables that you wouldn’t particularly enjoy in a salad.
At the beginning of your raw journey, your taste buds will need to get used to the strong taste of leafy greens – especially the bitter ones. Try a green juice with several kinds of leafy greens, as well as some cucumber, apple and lemon to soften the taste. Avoid store bought juices; these have lost most of their nutrients because of the pasteurization process. Juicing will improve your digestion, greatly increase your mental clarity and give your clearer skin with a glowing complexion. So next time you feel thirsty or in the mood for a quick snack, have a green juice and watch your energy levels soar! And if you are wondering which juicer to buy: my personal favorite is the slow juicer from Hurom. It is easy to clean and delivers great results. Or you can just use your blender and a nut milk bag like the fair trade ones for Rawsome Creations.
No need to fast, let’s feast!
Juice fasting means you only drink fresh juices for a certain amount of time to deeply detoxify your body and allow yourself to heal. This is particularly interesting if you have a lot of excess weight to lose or if you are totally hooked on fast food, cigarettes or alcohol. The first days will be tough, as you will be going through a physical and emotional detox – but persevere and you will be experiencing amazing results in no time. If you are planning on going on a juice fast for more than 10 days, please consult a holistic doctor.
Juice feasting means you can have as many green juices as you like, but you can still have a salad, soup or savory smoothie for lunch or dinner too. This is particularly interesting if you don’t have that much weight to loose, if you already eat healthy and if you like to exercise. Juice fasting might help you to loose weight, but it won’t always mean that you are burning fat; you might be losing lean muscle tissue as well. One way to avoid this is by adding protein powders such as hemp, chia or pea protein to your juices.
Now I would love to hear from you! Have you tried a juice feast or fast yet? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
Photo credits: .melanie via photopin cc
