Explainer / What juice cleanses really do to your body, according to experts: the 3-day detox may be out of vogue, but judicious juicing can lead to weight loss and a health kick
- Juicing was a serious health trend, with Pressed (New York), Kreation (Los Angeles), Wild & The Moon (Paris) and Genie Juice (Hong Kong) just a few of the renowned juiceries at the height of the 2010s craze
- Will juicing work for you? Possibly – experts Thailand’s Dr Varisara Rudravanija, and Dr Marian Alonzo at The Farm in San Benito, Philippines, say considering underlying health conditions is key to managing risk
Once upon a time juice cleanses were considered the holy grail of detoxing. Previously confined to wellness retreats around the world, the trend peaked in the 2010s when every major city boasted their own “juicery”, from New York’s Pressed New York and Los Angeles’ Kreation to Wild & The Moon in Paris and Genie Juice, right here in Hong Kong.
As with all health fads, the three-day (or seven-day, depending how hardcore you were) juice cleanse was soon replaced by other trends: intermittent fasting, bone broth, protein shake regimens – you name it. Many juice companies disappeared, went totally online, or shifted their focus to what was even newer and hotter.
But if juice cleanses are no longer de rigueur, many continue to incorporate juicing in their wellness routine. Even local cafes, coffee shops and hotels have added “healthy” juices or shots to their menus – proof, surely, that they are still a popular part of some people’s diet.
What also hasn’t waned is the scepticism about the effectiveness of cleansing in pursuit of a detox or weight loss, with experts warning that juicing doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all solution.
“Although juice cleanses may seem safe, they are not for everyone, especially people at high risk of eating disorders and those with low energy,” says Dr Varisara Rudravanija of Bangkok-based wellness retreat RAKxa Integrative Wellness.
“Juices may be high in sugar, so they are not recommended for those controlling their blood sugar levels or for patients with chronic kidney disease.”
One regional advocate is Dr Marian Alonzo, medical chief at The Farm in San Benito, Philippines, which is known for its juicing detox programmes. “We’ve long been advocates of medically supervised juicing to jump-start the body back to optimal health,” says Alonzo.
“Most misconceptions about juicing stem from experiences related to people with medical conditions, or those who overdo juicing to a point bordering on the extreme. Moderation and listening to the body are crucial.”
While experts advise against long-term, unsupervised cleanses, there are ways to safely incorporate juicing into your diet to harness some of its health benefits. Studies have noted that people who have done juice cleanses have experienced better absorption of nutrients and an increase in inflammation-fighting bacteria in the gut.