How to Start a Juice Cleanse

Denise Mari is the founder of Organic Avenue and has been devoted to juicing for well over a decade. The greatest three benefits of juicing are “clarity of purpose, clarity of skin and energy for life,” says Mari who has learned that cleansing is as much about the mind as it is the body. “Juicing triggered an awareness for me that inspired Organic Avenue. It’s my purpose to help people have a real-world transformation.”


Editor’s Note: Before you begin a juice cleanse, please consult your doctor.

If you want to start juicing, you’ll have to get a juicer which is totally different from a blender. “The difference is that a juicer removes the fiber whereas the blender doesn’t,” says Ryan Neller of Organic Avenue. We love the Breville
Juice Fountain Plus for its ease of use and quick cleanup.

$149, available at Breville.

A complete juice fast can be a shock on the body if you go at it cold turkey. Neller suggests easing your way into a cleanse by cutting back your food intake a few days in advance. “I would have fresh juice with raw food for a few days as a transition into a full juice cleanse. Take out heavy meat and dairy and replace it with salads and other raw foods.”

There’s no denying that the first few days of your cleanse will be tough. It’s normal to experience slight headaches, hunger pangs, facial blemishes and more frequent trips to the restroom. By day four, you will start to feel lighter and actually have more energy since your body will not need to expend energy digesting food. Furthermore, your body will be using all the additional nutrients from your fresh juices to detoxify your system and make repairs.

If you’re not into the DIY juicing approach, Organic Avenue offers a wide range of freshly made juice regimens that can be delivered to your doorstep. One of their newest juice programs is the three-day LOVE Beauty Cleanse which offers organic juices and a Tata Harper Facial Treatment Kit for an all natural detox from the inside out.

$199 for three days of juices and skin care, available at Organic Avenue.

Mari says that she’s seen tons of her clients over the years complete a successful cleanse even though they may have wanted to quit. The secrets to keeping at it? Center your thoughts. “Most people will find that after a while they don’t feel hungry during the cleanse. With hunger, sometimes there’s a psychological thing going on rather than a real physiological need for food at a certain point. Take it one day at a time.”

If you’re not used to drinking kale, collard green or spinach juice, be prepared for a taste bud overload. While carrot apple juice may be a welcome tasty treat, some vegetable juices could be more of an acquired taste, but one that’s well worth the benefits. The Cooler Cleanse is another juice delivery service that offers a wide variety of juice flavors that are both tasty and nutritious.

$157 for three days, available at Cooler Cleanse.

Plan your fast when you know you’ll have time to rest, but if your schedule does get booked at the last minute, be prepared by having all-natural, pre-bottled juices on hand. We love the Red Jacket Juices because they are 100% all natural with no sugar or coloring added and have just 3 simple ingredients in every bottle.

Starting at $2.29 per bottle, available at Red Jacket Juice.

It’s important to drink a lot of water with your juices to help flush toxins from your body. The more water you consume, the easier it is for your body to wash away the waste. These Metromint Waters are pure water infused with real mint and no sugar, preservatives or sweeteners. Choose from peppermint, spearmint, lemonmint, orangemint, chocolatemint and goodberrymint.

$21.96 for a case of 12, available at Metromint.

Congrats! You’ve just finish your first juice cleanse and are ready to chow down. Before you dig in, be sure you’re prepared to ease slowly back into solid foods. “Break your fast with a salad for breakfast,” advises Neller. “During the rest of the day, have another big salad and you can also have steamed vegetables. In the next few days you can also eat nuts and whole grains. I would wait three days after the cleanse before resuming eating meat and fish.”

At the end of your cleanse you’re guaranteed to feel more energetic and confident as a result of your sacrifice. Now that you’ve reset your system, it’s a good time to reevaluate your diet and make any additions or subtractions for optimal health, clearer skin and increased energy. “Our bodies have to constantly repair and regenerate if we are eating processed or fatty foods," says Mari. "If you give it wholesome, healthy food, you will build your body to peak potential.”