Raw produce is more nutritious than cooked, because none of the nutrients in raw produce have been destroyed by heat. Juicing raw fruits and veggies preserves all their vitamins, minerals, enzymes and natural goodness.

But raw fruit and vegetables can be contaminated with disease-causing micro-organisms and pesticides — leading to food-borne illness. Store-bought fruit juices that stay on the shelves for a long time are pasteurized to kill these dangerous organisms which simultaneously also kills all the beneficial enzymes whereas the fresh, raw juice you make at home or buy at juice bars can become a breeding ground for bacteria.

The raw produce you use may also contain pesticides or be genetically-modified, which involves the addition of foreign genes that would not occur nature to improve taste, yield or disease resistance. The solution? Drink fresh, juice made from organic , raw fruit and vegetables and keep any left-overs in a sealed container in the fridge.

Personally I try and drink all my juice within a day of making it just to be on the safe side. This danger is the same with regular food you eat every day. Organic, clean and non-contaminated food should always be at the top of your list. Dental issues. In fact, a fruit juice can contain more sugar than a soda.

This sugar is not equal. Soda has corn syrup and white sugar. That is not exactly the same as fruit sugar. This sugar is consumed by the bacteria in the mouth and converted to an acid that can wear away tooth enamel and lead to cavities.

Dental plaque is the build-up of this bacteria on the tooth surface. However, studies attempting to prove the link between fruit juice and tooth decay are by no means conclusive. So, the jury is still out on this one and the safest best is to practice good dental care.

Make sure you drink your juice through a straw and brush and floss your teeth regularly. Some dentists recommend waiting half an hour after your juice to begin brushing because your enamel will be less likely to wear away acid softens our enamel so much that if we brush right away we can literally brush away some of our teeth.

Drinking juice quickly is also better than sipping at it slowly over the day. After your juice, drink some water to help neutralise any acid that may remain in your mouth.

I also like to use a glass straw. Adding some fiber back into your juice can help increase saliva flow, which is a natural defence against cavities — washing away food particles and neutralising the acids from attacking your teeth.

Fluoride may lessen the effects of fruit juice on teeth though studies about the harmful effects of fluoride also exist so brushing with fluoride toothpaste may be helpful. Fruit juice has so many benefits that offset the dangers of juicing, so ensure that your commitment to greater health is not foiled by practicing good dental hygiene and visiting your dentist for regular check-ups.

Potential health problems. However, one of the main dangers of juicing is that it can lead to potential health issues — particularly for those who are currently taking medication or who have certain pre-existing conditions. For instance, the high levels of potassium and minerals from excessive juice consumption can build up to dangerous levels in the blood for those with kidney disease.

And the high levels of antioxidants and low protein content of juice can potentially be dangerous for those undergoing chemotherapy. The Vitamin K content of greens including kale, spinach, collards, chard, parsley and mustard greens can interact negatively with those on blood thinning medication such as warfarin lowering its anti-clogging abilities.

Grapefruit juice can be dangerous for those on cholesterol-lowering drugs blocking absorption. Oxalic acid found in parsley, spinach, bananas, beetroot, chard and star fruit binds with calcium to form oxalate crystals that can cause irritation of the kidneys and even kidney stones , irritate the mouth and intestinal tract and block absorption of iron and calcium.

Gout, osteoporosis, kidney disorders and rheumatic arthritis can be aggravated by oxalic acid. Always drink plenty of water to prevent the formation of oxalate crystals. Others should avoid juicing cruciferous vegetables cabbage, collards, bok choy, kale and broccoli because they are goitrogenic, meaning they can suppress thyroid function if eaten raw.

These vegetables may also cause gas, bloating and stomach upset — so those suffering from these issues may benefit more from eating them cooked or steamed which deactivates the goitrogens. Meanwhile sorbitol, a natural occurring sugar in some fruits peaches, pears, cherries, apples and prunes can cause stomach issues and diarrhoea.

It really does sound quite scary. But even with these top 5 dangers of juicing, the nutrients obtained by juicing outweigh the risks. Juicing helps your body absorb and metabolize the many vitamins and minerals that fight disease and support greater health.

While people with certain medical conditions need to be aware of the risks of juicing certain foods, juicing is an easy way to maintain health and prevent disease as part of a healthy diet.

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I've recently lost 10 pounds by using the weekend weight loss plan. They typically last around days. For many, a juice drink can provide a quick fix and be used as a reset button to kick-start a new, healthy eating regime. However, done sensibly and for a short period, there may be ways in which you could benefit from incorporating some form of juicing in your diet.

Using a juice diet to kick start a new diet plan or healthy eating regime may help you stick to a long-term weight loss plan. Gut health is a rapidly emerging field, with plenty still to be researched, but the importance of a healthy gut has been well documented.

A study looking into the effect of a 3-day juice diet shows that beneficial strands of gut bacteria were increased during 3 days of juicing. However, after two weeks of returning to a normal diet, gut bacteria returned to baseline.

Nitric oxide has been shown to help with cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and improving tolerance to exercise. However, this has been largely debunked by the experts. When it comes to toxicity, the danger is always in the dosage.

Consume any substance in extreme, excessive amounts and it can be dangerous. For example, even too much water can cause serious health issues. Another of the supposed main benefits of juice drinks is weight loss.

The way in which a juice diet will help you lose weight is by reducing your calorie content. Some juice diets can be as low in calories as a day.

Additionally, large amounts of weight loss in a short space of time increase the likelihood of losing important lean body mass. The brain communicates with the body and gut and increases hunger hormones in an attempt to raise energy intake as a way to restore lean body mass.

As the body restores fat at a faster rate than lean body mass, the result is an overall increase in body fat, leaving you in a worse position than when you started the diet.

This limits the amount of muscle loss and reduces the risk of weight being piled back on. As juices are typically made up of fruits and vegetables, juicing diets are often very low in protein. Protein is extremely important for building skeletal muscle. Muscle is extremely important for maintaining metabolic health as it provides a glucose storage point for energy, helps with fat oxidation, and increases resting metabolic rate.

An example of the dangers of prolonged juicing is highlighted in a case study, where an individual stayed on a juice diet for 6 weeks. An excessive intake of oxalate, which is found in foods such as beets and parsley, ultimately led to kidney failure.

Although a juice diet may provide initial motivation, when looking to lose weight and keep it off, the most effective way is via a modest, sustained energy deficit where you eat fewer calories than you burn in a day , with a diet containing adequate amounts of protein and plenty of exercise.

Our articles should be used for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you're concerned, consult a health professional before taking dietary supplements or introducing any major changes to your diet. Klein, A. and Kiat, H.

Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics , 28 6 , pp. Obert, J. and Chapin, S. Popular Weight Loss Strategies: a Review of Four Weight Loss Techniques. Current Gastroenterology Reports , 19 Lien, Y.

Juicing Is Not All Juicy. The American Journal of Medicine , 9 , pp. Getting, J. and Kasten, M. Gardner, J. Death by Water Intoxication. Military Medicine , 5 , pp. Henning, S. and Li, Z. Scientific Reports , 7 1.

by Judith J. Wurtman, PhD. Retrieved November 16, Juicerexia: When Juicing Becomes An Eating Disorder , by M. by Katy Lindenmuth. This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for medical advice.

These disorders are very complex, and this post does not take into account the unique circumstances for every individual. For specific questions about your health needs or that of a loved one, seek the help of a healthcare professional. Why Choose Discovery For Families A Child With Eating Disorder School Program For Professionals When To Refer For Alumni Discovery App Center for Discovery Brochure Blog Insurance Contact Us Careers.

The Dangers of Juicing Diets. Juicerexia The Dangers of Juicing Diets: Experts Reveal the Health Risks of the Juicing Craze Promoters of juice diets, fasts, and cleanses promise weight reduction, clear skin, boosted energy, and diminished cravings for food.

Increasing Your Intake of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables is Bad for You? Drinking Fresh Juice is Good, but Regular Fasting is Bad Because of the restrictive nature of most juice cleanses, many people wind up with full-blown eating disorders. Call Us Now at Sources Huffington Post: Juice Cleanses: The New Eating Disorder?

Search Blog. Helpful Links Find a Location Verify Your Insurance Take a Quiz. Related Pages. Some people do this to detox, while others do it to supplement their current diet. This is largely due to processing methods and the time it takes to get produce from the field to the supermarket 4 , 5.

Polluted environments and high stress levels can also increase your requirements for certain nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant compounds that may protect against disease 6 , 7. If you find it difficult to get the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables into your diet each day, juicing can be a convenient way to increase your intake.

Furthermore, a review of 22 studies found that drinking juice made from fresh fruits and vegetables or blended powder concentrate improved folate and antioxidant levels, including beta carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E 9.

If you struggle to eat enough fruits and vegetables each day, juicing is a convenient way to get a wide range of important nutrients.

Plenty of evidence links whole fruits and vegetables to a reduced risk of disease, but studies on fruit and vegetable juices are harder to find.

The health benefits of fruits and vegetables are partly due to their high antioxidant content, but fiber also plays an important role. Many antioxidants are bound to fiber and get released in your digestive system A high intake of fruits and vegetables shows promise in many areas of health.

For example, juices may reduce your risk of heart disease. Apple and pomegranate juices have been linked to reduced blood pressure and cholesterol levels 11 , Additionally, consuming fruit and vegetable juices in liquid form or blended concentrations may reduce homocysteine levels and markers of oxidative stress, both of which are linked to improved heart health 9.

These are antioxidants found in plant foods and believed to protect brain cells. Despite these results, more studies are needed to better understand the health effects of fruit and vegetable juices 9.

Juicing advocates often claim that drinking juice is better than eating whole fruits and vegetables. For example, the antioxidants that are naturally bound to plant fibers are lost during the juicing process. They may play an important role in the health benefits of whole fruits and vegetables 15 , Some soluble fiber will remain, but the majority of insoluble fiber is removed.

Higher fiber intakes have been associated with lower risks of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes 17 , Studies have shown that increasing soluble fiber , in particular, may improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels 19 , One study compared eating whole apples to drinking apple juice.

It found that drinking clear apple juice increased LDL bad cholesterol levels by 6. This effect is thought to be due to the fiber content of whole apples People also tend to feel more full when they eat whole fruits, compared with when they drink the juice equivalent 20 , 22 , One study compared the effects of blending and juicing on the nutrient content of grapefruit.

Results showed that blending, which retains more fiber, is a better technique for obtaining higher levels of beneficial plant compounds The level of fiber in your juices will depend on what type of juicer you use, but some sources suggest adding leftover pulp to other foods or drinks to increase fiber intake.

Additionally, a study found that adding naturally occurring levels of fiber to juice did not enhance feelings of fullness Eating whole fruits and vegetables is better for your health.

Juicing causes you to miss out on beneficial fiber and antioxidants. Most juice diets involve consuming —1, calories per day from juices only, resulting in a severe calorie deficit and fast weight loss.

Some plans involve drinking nothing but liquids, while others include some food as a snack or meal. Depending on the type of cleanse, they typically last anywhere from three days to three weeks.

For example, people doing the Master Cleanse drink six to 12 glasses daily of a mixture of lemon juice, cayenne pepper, maple syrup and water, for 10 days.

At night, they sip a laxative tea. But are these so-called detox diets of liquefied fruits and vegetables or lemonade-flavored drinks helpful, or just plain hype? The premise of doing juice cleanses and other types of liquid detox regimens is false, said Liz Applegate, director of sports nutrition at the University of California, Davis.

There are detoxifying enzymes in the liver that break down alcohol and other drugs, and the kidneys handle water-soluble toxins, Applegate said.

Applegate described six pitfalls of following such liquid cleansing plans, and their potential dangers. Many juice fasts and liquid diets involve consuming no protein at all, or have very low amounts of it, Applegate told Live Science.

People need a daily supply of protein to build healthy immune cells and regenerate muscle following a workout, she noted. Fruits and vegetables have only small amounts of protein; however, some prepackaged juice plans may include a nut-milk beverage, such as cashew or almond, as one of the daily drinks, which offers a little protein and fat.

Consuming fruit and vegetable juices for three days may not be harmful for a healthy person, Applegate said. Older adults may be more susceptible to infections if they attempt a juice fast or liquid diet because they may already have lowered protein stores.

In addition, juicing fruits and vegetables removes most of the fiber in them. Eating such a limited amount of fiber as part of a juice regimen won't hurt most people's diets for a couple of days, but it could be a drawback in that it leaves you feeling hungry.

Fiber helps people feel full and satisfied, Applegate said. Depending on which cleanse a person does, and how many bottles of juice or glasses of "lemonade" they drink, the calories that a person winds up consuming daily can range from about to 1, calories.

When done for 10 days, the low-calorie intake that comes with doing a Master Cleanse or other regimen could send the body into starvation mode , meaning it will try to conserve calories by slowing down metabolism, because the body is unsure when it will be fed again, Applegate said.

Doing a juice cleanse typically reduces calories in a person's diet, and can help people lose a little weight, Applegate said. But when people exclude their favorite foods from their diet for a period of time, they tend to reward themselves afterward, and even go overboard, she noted.

Any pounds shed during a cleanse are mostly water weight, and will likely be gained back once usual eating habits resume.