Before You Do Juice Cleanses: Take It with a Grain of Salt

Debunking common myths about juice cleanses

Energy level. Because most fruits and veggies are low in protein, going on a short-term juice cleanse may not meet the daily recommended dietary allowance of complete protein by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In the long run, insufficient protein intake can lead to muscle loss and feelings of unsatiated. In addition to protein intake, juices are also high in fructose. When paired with fiber removal resulted from juicing and low protein content, you are likely to experience sugar crashes and fatigue.

Digestion. It is almost impossible to deny the improved digestion due to drinking juices only: your un-bloated stomach and frequent visit to the toilet can't lie, huh? But the improved digestion is largely a result of eliminating gluten, high fructose corn syrup, and other foods that most people are sensitive to. On the other hand, juice cleanses decrease our digestive system's workload because fructose is easier to digest than protein and fat. But juicing also leaves out the fiber-rich pulp, which gets things moving through the GI tract. As a result, you could experience constipation.