In the last few years, detox diets such as juice cleanses have become people’s go-to diet for quick weight loss. But do they work and are they good for health? We spoke to leading health experts to learn about this popular detox diet. Here’s what they had to say.
“A juice detox helps in weight loss due to the lack of fibre, which reduces the appetite. However, it is not sustainable in the long run as once a person is off the cleanse, they will regain weight quickly. What you should do is not to drastically switch to a juice detox diet, but instead find a middle ground and start working from there to improve your eating habits and lifestyle gradually,” states Harman Virk, co-founder and CEO, Oxie Nutrition.
PROS
1. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants
Juices are made using fruits and vegetables, which are high in a number of vitamins and antioxidants. “The good thing about juice cleansing is fairly obvious—you are consuming a good amount of fruits and vegetables, which we know should make up half of our food plate. Studies show that fruit and vegetable juices can boost levels of essential vitamins and antioxidants, including folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene. So, a juice cleanse is helpful in plugging the nutrition gap for people who find it hard to eat enough fruits and vegetables,” says Dr Nidhika Bahl, nutritionist and founder, HealthTalkWorld.
