A juice cleanse is centered around helping your body detox and clear out all those annoying toxins that have accumulated from unhealthy eating. While it can help for your body to feel better overall post-cleanse, there are definitely also some negative side effects that come with going cold turkey on your favorite junk food.
To make sure that you are making an informed decision going into your juice cleanse, we have compiled a list of the different side effects of a juice cleanse and how best you can address them.
Headaches
There are many reasons why you can be experiencing headaches on a juice cleanse including lack of water, calories, caffeine withdrawal, blood sugar irregularities, and even sugar withdrawal. During the juice cleanse, make sure that you are drinking the juices regularly and at the time periods that are stipulated. It is also important to note that even during the juice cleanse, it is important that you continue to drink water and hydrate yourself throughout the day.
Flatulence and Bloating
If you generally do not take in a lot of fruits and vegetables, the sudden increase can lead to bloating and a lot of flatulence at the start. This is your body adapting to the change in your diet and should pass within one to two days. If you are struggling with this symptom, try to consume kombucha, other types of fermented drinks, or take a probiotic supplement.
Brain Fog or Fatigue
If you constantly consume caffeine and refined sugars, your body can become dependent on these substances for a boost of energy throughout the day. This means that going on a juice cleanse where you no longer have access to all these foods can affect your energy levels. If you are finding that the fatigue is becoming unmanageable, it might be good to not cut out caffeine entirely. Instead, try to limit yourself to a serving a day to give your body some time to adjust to your dietary changes. In fact, some juice cleanses also incorporate fresh-brewed coffee into their juice cleanse regiments.
Strong Cravings
One of the largest cravings that you will have is the desire to chew on some textured food. It is completely fine to snack on some raw vegetables and fruits that will not break your cleanse. Sometimes the cravings can also arise due to dehydration, caloric reduction, or just a desire for familiar foods. It is important to know that cravings can perpetuate an unhealthy cycle of dependence on junk food. Instead of blindly giving in to them, make sure that you are in tune with your body on what nutritional needs you truly have.
Skin Reactions and Breakouts
People tend to forget that our skin is our largest organ and that any detoxifying dietary changes will also affect your skin’s functions. It is normal for your skin to break out or feel more irritated as you are purging the toxins from your diet. You will be able to expedite this process by drinking more water or exercising to sweat it out.
