60 Day Juicing Fast

Are you Crazy?!
I couldn't be without real food!
I need to be chewing something!
I have to eat!
That sounds unhealthy!

Those are the top five things I hear every time I go shopping and buy only fruits and veggies, or lose pounds and people ask me what I'm doing, or family ask me what's new. My favorite is the last. Think about it. Juicing fruits and veggies and peole who are eating highly processed foods and high sugary drinks are telling ME that I'M eating unhealthy? To be brutally honest, by saying those things up there, you sound like an addict. Do you really have so much lack of self control that you couldn't do it even for a week?

Sounds silly doesn't it? However I can't blame them entirely. The food that is available in stores these days has literally brainwashed us into thinking that it's good for us.I recently came across a "wellness depot" by a company that I will not name here out of respect. They offered a free 16 oz smoothie, 16 oz. Tea, and an Aloe Vera shot with a wellness profile. Out of curiosity, I joined my mom as she went to receive her free trial drinks. When I was sked for which flavor smoothie I wanted I asked to see the nutritional information. The girl blinked at me in surprise and then went to retrieve the label for both the smoothie and tea. When I was handed the containers the first thing I asked was: "Why is the tea coming as a powder and just not leaves?" She had no real answer for me. as I looked through the Nutritional information I read a key ingredient that showed up on both: Fructose Syrup and Flavoring. I knew exactly what that was, but I asked her what it was and she said it was fruit flavors and sugar derived from fruits. I smiled and shook my head. "Actually, it's one of the 50 names for High Fructose Corn Syrup." Again, blank stare.

Then she asked if i still wanted any, and I politely declined and told my mom that I would go get real Juice from the whole food and organic store instead. The girl asked me what I was doing and I told her a 60 Day Juice Fast. When she asked what it was I told her. I also told her all the benefits of a Juice Fast. She then replied: "That seems very hard and unhealthy." I just smiled back at her and said: "At least I'm not taking in High Fructose Corn Syrup in any of my meals for 60 days, so I'm finding it quite easy to do." After that I left, because I really didn't want to stir up trouble. I'm glad my mom enjoyed her tea and smoothie for the both of us.

Flash forward a week and I lost 10 pounds from my juice fast and was working out one morning at my gym. I go to Curves because I have Scoliosis and the workouts are low impact on my back. So during the circut, someone asked me how I was doing with Culinary and with my weight loss. they know me a the Pastry Chef Instructor, even though I was so much more than that. (I find it funny that they know me as the Sweets Chef in a gym!) I told her my pounds lost and told her about the Juice Fast. Another lady joined in and told us that her son's ex girlfriend had done a cleanse that was prescribed to her doctor. (This was NOT a juice cleanse! Again, I'm not naming the cleanse out of respect) This girl would mix this powdered drink every day for every meal for a period of time and she lost a ton of weight! In addition to her thyroid and gallbladder and another organ I can't remember. I was shocked! How can a doctor prescribe something like that and still have her on it when she lost the first organ?! Her doctor told her that she needed to lose a little more and her boyfriend at the time replied: From what organ this time?

I posted that story because I want people to realize that a Doctor is studied and trained in medicine and not always nutrition. A Nutritionist is specifically trained and studies in the health and wellness of people through micro-nutrients, macro-nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Please ,PLEASE be careful on what your doctor says and what nutritionists say. The doctors doesn't have much training on nutrition and the nutritionist doesn't have much training on medicine. Make sure that you contact your doctor about the side effects from your pills that you may or may not have by changing your eating habits. At the same, time, you may be safe. I did have a doctor tell me that he didn't think anybody should do any sort of cleanse. That told me that he didn't know what I was talking about.

Chef Marie CM