Fast Weight Loss With the Detox Juice Diet

Diet plans, diet tips and diet techniques are everywhere you look. Books, instructional videos, hypnosis books on tape, infomercials on television and advertisements on the radio all claim to have the weight loss plan you have been searching for. Sources say a detox -- or detoxifying -- juice diet will allow you to lose weight fast; but what is it, is it safe and does it work?

Not a Ful-Blown "Fast"

Typically the word "fast" indicates the participant will not ingest any food or water whatsoever, but detox juice diets allow both food and water. The food allowed is juices, giving you the nutrients you need to survive without making your digestive system lift a figurative finger.

Detox juice diets do not limit the quantity of juice you can drink and highly encourage drinking large quantities of water so you never feel empty or hungry during the diet. If the plan you want to follow suggests any limit on the amount of juice or water you take in, consider finding a different plan.

Does It Work?

If you are looking for a way to lose weight not just quickly, but permanently, the detox juice diet may not be the best option for you. Much like other diet plans that restrict your intake of carbohydrates, this type of diet will too. With carbohydrate restriction, you lose water in your system, causing the number on the scale to go down (water weight) until you begin to eat carbohydrates again.

The restriction of carbohydrates makes your body go into ketosis, a state where you burn fat stores for energy rather than carbohydrates. The process of ketosis can lead to an unpleasant odor emanating from your pores, a trait some will call proof it is working. The juice ingested during a detox juice diet will prevent you from entering ketosis, but the same principle applies; the scale is going down, but it's water that is being lost rather than fat.

Problems With It

If you decide to embark on a detox diet plan, be aware of a few things that signal you should consider taking a break from the plan. If you lose weight too quickly, you will most certainly gain it back even quicker. A health, safe average weight loss is one to two pounds per week. Many detox diet plans do not offer essential nutrients and lead to losing electrolytes; watch for fatigue, headaches, nausea and vomiting. All of these symptoms are signs you need additional nutrients.

If your goal is to jump-start your diet and wellness plan, however, then perhaps a detox juice diet is a good option for you to consider for short-term use at the start. Following the plan for a couple of days may give you a boost and inspire you to continue on your journey. But no matter what you decide, contact your physician before starting on any diet plan.