Juice therapy

safety

Juice therapy is not for everyone. Patients with medical conditions such as diabetes or hypoglycemia should not start the juice diet without careful medical supervision. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding a fast or diet.

theory/evidence

Juice therapy is based on the idea that optimal nutrition does not take much time or energy to digest. Proponents of juice therapy believe that the body has more energy to devote to healing and repairing if it does not have to digest a meal that is high in fat and protein.
Proponents also believe that juice can help repair the body since fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes and natural sugars. In addition, juices contain an abundance of alkaline elements, which may help to normalize the acid-base balance in the blood and tissues.
Specific juices have been used for certain ailments. For example, grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes and spinach are used to treat acne. Grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, celery, carrot, lettuce and spinach are reported to help patients with arteriosclerosis. Sour cherry, pineapple, sour apple, lemon, grapefruit, cucumber, beet, carrot, potato, lettuce and spinach are used to treat arthritis. Lemon, pineapple, peach, carrot, radish and celery are used to treat asthma.
However, more research is needed to draw firm conclusions about the beneficial health effects of juice therapy.