Fit & Proper: Cold-pressed juice cleanse: Are you doing it right?

A cold-pressed juice cleanse is like yoga for your body. Like yoga, it can do wonders, but there is a procedure that most people are unaware of or underestimate. It is believed that if one has indulged in alcohol or unhealthy eating, one can just go for a detox cleanse and it will work like magic and negate the damage done. But that is not true.

Detoxing the body with a juice-based diet allows it to absorb more phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables than what you'd get from your regular diet. The benefits of a juice cleanse also include improved digestion, clearer and healthier skin, higher mental alertness, more energy and of course, a flatter belly.

But remember, a detox cleanse can give you amazing benefits only when it is done the right way. A juice cleanse has to be accompanied by other lifestyle changes for good results. A regular exercise regimen and a good nourishing diet are essential. A cleanse has to be a bouquet of cultivated choices for the health conscious. Most early adopters of the cleanse programme struggle with their commitment to a healthy diet. The underlying message is that juice-based cleansing can't be isolated as a mere remedy to a hangover or a shortcut to weight loss. It has to be more than that.

QUICK TIPS

• Before you take up a cleanse, consult your nutritionist or physician.
• Do your research. It is important to understand the cleanse programme. You must know what nutrients you are consuming and at what time of the day. Also identify the problems you're looking to tackle.
• Read the label. The nutritional label of a juice can reveal a lot about what makes it natural and how it can help.
• Do a pre-cleanse. Every cleanse needs to be preceded by a pre-cleanse ritual. This must involve a day or two of cutting out any meat, caffeine, alcohol and junk food from your diet.
  

* If you follow a healthy diet and are off it, then one to two days are enough to put you back on track.
* If you are eating well most days and indulge during weekends, then you need three to four days to get ready for
a cleanse.
* If your diet is full of processed food and you are not consuming enough fresh foods, then a pre-cleanse should be followed for five days.
* If you regularly consume junk food, food and beverages with high sugar content, and have high caffeine intake, then its recommended to follow a pre-cleanse for seven days.

Anuj Rakyan
Founder and MD, RAW Pressery