Diabetics
If you have diabetes, you should definitely speak with your health-care professional before starting any juice fast. Your body already has difficulty processing sugar and depends on fiber to slow the process down a bit. When you fast, you’re basically absorbing all of the sugar in your juice at once. For somebody with a natural insulin metabolism, that’s fine: there will be a bit of an energy burst but no negative health impact. For a diabetic, this sugar spike can be a real issue. Talk to your doctor about either modifying a juice fast to suit your needs or finding an alternative option that will meet the goals that you wanted to attain via juicing.
Pregnant or Nursing Women
Obviously, if you’re pregnant or nursing, you need to talk to your doctor about whether or not juice fasting is OK for you and the baby. Your nutritional needs are much different than they are when you’re just feeding yourself, and juice fasting is probably not ideal for you right now. For one, you need protein, and so does the baby.
Another thing to remember if you’re serious about detoxing is that your body is going to be flushing all of those toxins out in whatever manner it can. Do you really want poisons going into the baby via your blood or breast milk? Finally, your caloric needs are such that, in order to consume enough juice to produce sufficient milk or nutrients for the baby, you’d have to drink almost constantly. It’s a better idea to wait until the baby is born and weaned to start a fast or change your diet drastically in any way.
People Who Take Medications
Many medications are dependent upon the digestive process for correct release and distribution. There are also many medications that need to be taken with food in order to prevent nausea or ulcers. In addition to these concerns, juice fasting alters your blood proteins and can affect how your body reacts to your prescription. Because your doctor assumes that you’re eating a solid diet with a “normal” caloric intake that includes calories from fiber, fats, and protein as well as beverages, you need to tell him that you’re considering juicing when he prescribes a medication. Since some medications are necessary for survival or personal well-being, make sure that you check with your doctor before starting a juice fast.
People with Physical Illnesses or Eating Disorders
When your body is weak from illness, a juice cleanse isn’t a good idea. If you’ve suffered from any kind of eating disorder or other self-image issues, you probably shouldn’t start anything as extreme as a fast without consulting your health-care professional to ensure that it’s the right decision for you.
Finally, people who have the following ailments or disorders shouldn’t participate in a juice fast:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Impaired immune function
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Low blood pressure
- Malnutrition
- Ulcers
- Any other condition that affects your strength or wellness
A better alternative for a detox if you’re dealing with any of these conditions is to eliminate processed foods, simple sugars, prepackaged foods, alcohol, and white flour from your diet. Instead, eat organic foods, gluten-free grains, grass-fed proteins, and wild-caught fish; pair these quality meals with fresh juices to reap benefits from both. You’ll be eliminating many toxins from your diet just by making these easy changes.
