If I had a penny for every time someone asked me how beneficial Juice Detoxes really were, I’d be sipping coconuts on a sun lounger in a Barbados holiday home but I didn’t get the pennies (it should really become a thing) and I’m not sipping coconuts…so instead, I decided it was time to give a juice detox a go myself so that I could accurately answer everyone’s questions. A few key points to look out for if you are attempting a juice detox:
1. Go Cold Pressed.
There’s been a huge amount of publicity about cold pressed juices within the last few years and for good reason in my eyes. There is debate as to whether there are significant advantages to the nutritional value of cold pressed juices in comparison to normal blended juices, but I sit on the cold-pressed side. First, I find the texture and taste much smoother and fresher and secondly, there is a lot to be said for making juices in a heat-free environment. Most juice blenders use a centrifugal system meaning that when the vegetables and fruits are put inside, they are exposed to heat which can quickly decrease the nutritious value of the produce. Cold-pressed juices however are ‘pressed’ (excuse the obviousness) which therefore doesn’t create any heat. I also find that most cold-pressed juices use purely organic ingredients. They do come with a price premium, but what is health worth?
2. Consider your reasons.
This is the big one! So many people think of juice detoxes as a way to lose fat and get super skinny, super quickly. Losing fat may be a result of juice detoxing but it should never be the reason why you do it in the first place. It’s not what they are made for nor will it serve you well in the long term, have a look at my blog about kick starting fat loss here.
Juice detoxes were created to cleanse, to give your body a break from working hard, to digest food like meats, processed sugars, alcohol and much of the additives and preservatives that come with them. What happens is, when the body no longer needs to be ‘switched on’ 100% of the time to work to keep it in good balance – it can actually start focusing on clearing all the bad toxins and nasties that have accumulated over time, all the while receiving tons of health benefits from vitamin and mineral rich fruit and vegetables.
I came across Detox Delight, who are in fact one of the few exceptional detox companies in Dubai (and also operate in 5 other countries) and what I loved most was their variety. Personally, the thought of not eating food for 3 days is not one that really appeals to me! I get so much enjoyment out of food and the love surrounding it, but equally health is everything and it’s not always the easiest! I went about the detox a little differently given my primary reasons were to experience it for myself so that I could tell you, clients, fiends and family what I really thought. Therefore I had 3 different versions of Detox Delight’s detoxes across the 3 days. My partner Jack also tried their Active delight which is especially designed for males and a very active person. Read on for our feedback and thoughts!
Day 1
Carly:
Botanical Delight – A completely vegan Detox which mixes food and juices
Hurrah! A detox with food! I was really excited to try this combination as I eat a lot of meat, eggs, fish and it’s a brilliant opportunity for my body to have a break from them. It arrived bright and early on Sunday morning complete with a snack box, menu (such a lovely touch!) and full information on each of the juices.
The Chia seed pudding and lunch were delicious and I had a juice in-between, going pretty strong up until around 3pm! I had trained that morning so naturally I would have been in a calorie deficit for the day but the AH-mazing spicy crackers picked me right up! Made with flax seeds, sunflower seeds, red pepper and seasonings, they were an absolute dream. Dinner was light and I went to bed satisfied, full and happy! A lovely little package and detox if you don’t think you can go all out and just juice. The benefits are still there and it’s a great compromise on the typical juice detoxes.
Jack:
Active Delight – 8 Powerhouse juices
When the possibility of a juice detox came to light, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t hesitant about the prospect of facing 3 days of pure liquids. I start most mornings with a trip to the gym and didn’t want to risk losing any mass or physical fitness that I’ve worked on because of anything from lack of calories to protein intake. However, with the benefits of detoxing clearly evident and the option of having the tailor-made ”˜Active Delight’ package, the concept seemed very interesting.
This package is specially designed for males who require a higher calorie intake and for everyone who is extremely active. 8 juices a day, all packed full of nutritious ingredients with a “Good morning” vegan protein shake to start it off every morning ”“ which beats the taste of my normal protein shakes surprisingly!
I had to space my eight juices out with an hour and a half in-between each one. I usually eat a lot throughout a day so during the morning I felt I wasn’t giving my body enough, however I actually never felt hungry and had enough energy to get me through the day (the three energy boosting vegan balls helped ”“ they were great!). The two Chlorophyll Waters (Filtered water and Wheatgrass), although not the most delicious juices of the bunch, did satisfy my thirst in both the morning and the afternoon. I finished the day with a “Good night” vegan protein drink which boosts my fat and hormone metabolism during the night.
Day 2
Carly:
Juice & Soup Delight – All juices with one soup to finish off your day
I quickly realised that I was being eased into the detox going from day one of 50:50 juice and food to day three of 100% Juice. Nevertheless, the addition of pea soup with cashew cream on day two was a lovely thought to look forward to at the end of the day.
I woke up hungry and had my first juice which hit the spot straight away, and felt pretty immersed in the detox pack. Each day of my detox, there was an added protein juice using ingredients such as silk tofu and soy yoghurt. As I still trained every day of the detox, I wanted to make sure my protein intake remained at a good level without compromising the benefits of the three days. I would recommend it to anyone else in a similar position. The afternoon came and I really did hit a lull! I think it was partly down to my ethos behind the lifestyle I lead, which is all about no restrictions and finding the perfect balance. Therefore, not being ”˜allowed’ food is quite novel to me but this was of course for health benefits rather than a ”˜diet’ so the reasons behind why I was doing it in the first place carried me through to dinner.
The pea soup for dinner was lovely and the cashew cream is something I’ll definitely be making myself! It’s nice to have something hot to balance out the cold-juices throughout the day. Definitely a harder day than Day one but on reflection it went by very quickly and got my geared up for my final all-juice blast!
Jack:
Active Delight – 8 Powerhouse juices
The first thing both Carly and myself said when we woke up in the morning was how we were actually quite hungry. After the “Good Morning” protein shake though, my appetite was completely satiated and I really felt a feeling of ”˜cleansed’. The juices on the 2nd day were slightly different ”“ they ensure that you still get all the nutrients and calories that you need, but change the flavours to ensure I didn’t have any repetition. The second day hit me a little like Carly, being the first time I found it difficult not having any solids, especially mid-afternoon. However, I knew that the longer I stuck to the detox the better my body would feel. I played paddle tennis that evening and started off a little sluggish, but once I had warmed up I felt I actually had more energy than usual. The “Good Night” drink was a chilli/pepper one”¦not my favourite, but gulped it down anyway knowing that it was going to help my body throughout the night and I’d wake up feeling good.
Day 3
Carly:
Super Green Delight – All nutritious juices
Surprisingly, I was really looking forward to my last day. I had been eased into the juices and was ready to power through! The morning went quickly as I was out with not much time to think about food or drink for that matter, and the afternoon was just as breezy. The juices for the Super Green delight are so nutrient and flavour rich (and there’s a quite a few of them) you’re able to refresh your palate every few hours and get another hit of energy. I still had my protein juice on that day, a blend of silk tofu, filtered water, carob, vanilla and stevia. This was definitely the harder of the 3 detoxes, especially for a big foodie, but I went to bed satisfied with a real feeling a ‘cleansed’.
Jack:
Active Delight – 8 Powerhouse juices
The third and final day of the detox ”“ I looked back on the last two days and realized that I hadn’t actually felt hungry as I thought I would have, at any point in the three days. I was enjoying it and felt as though I was able to remain physically active alongside detoxing although the afternoon did come with another lull, simply from craving some solid foods. It’s all part and parcel of the detox and although you don’t fly by every hour of the 3 days, I do firmly believe it’s worth it in the end.
I was jealous of these!
Detox Verdict?
I think there are a lot of benefits to be had from detoxing. Whether that be deciding to cut out meat, alcohol, sugar or anything else from your routine for a certain time period, it’s clear that you will reap some rewards. However, it’s a fine balance between not falling down the hole of restrictions and carefully monitoring everything you consume for a large period of time because that’s when life doesn’t become fun anymore! I would highly recommend giving detoxes a try for a short period of time to benefit your body, rather than for fat-loss reasons.
If I were to do the detox again, the Botanical delight (Vegan food + Juices) would be my first choice. It gives my body a break from a lot of the food I eat day-to-day whilst being an enjoyable detox to do. It gives you the boost of nutritious juices and benefits that come from detoxing. If you’re a little more accustomed to just juice detoxes alone, then there’s no doubt the super green delight is a nutritional powerhouse! I personally would look to do more regular stints of short 3-day detoxes rather than a 5 to 7-day alternative.
Jack said he felt that he was able to maintain an active lifestyle in and out of the gym whilst still doing the detox, which he was pleasantly surprised about. He does eat a lot most days, so I think the solids were missed but with the health benefits so prominent, and after getting his feedback ”“ I would highly recommend men giving them a go too! He didn’t lose any mass throughout the 3 days which is testament to the designed detox and proof in it’s effectiveness.
If you want to give one of Detox Delight’s Detoxes a try then check them out here and let me know how you get on! #HappyDetoxing!
