Staying healthy is all about forging good habits. It’s easy enough to eat healthy and exercise as long as you remain committed, always staying focused on your health goals. Whether that means losing weight, building muscle, or simply getting in the best mental and physical shape you can, it’s always focus that’s key. Of course, that’s the hard part; staying focused, driven, and committed is a major challenge, and it’s often the main reason people fail to achieve their health goals.

This isn’t to disparage anyone who has struggled with focus during their health journey. It’s difficult – very difficult – to always keep a healthy lifestyle at the forefront of your mind, especially in today’s fast paced society, while always being bombarded with ads for fast food, snacks, and other unhealthy, addictive treats.

Progress is slow, and often difficult; but, as with achieving any goal, the first steps are key; one of the best things you can do to start your journey off right and stay focused on your health is a juice cleanse.

WHAT IS A JUICE CLEANSE?

Many people enjoy a healthy juice as part of their daily routine. The benefits of getting extra vitamins and minerals through juicing are well studied; many people report improved energy, better skin, and all sorts of other benefits as a result of their juicing habits. A juice cleanse is simply taking this healthy habit to the next level.

When you partake in a juice cleanse, you’ll begin a diet that lasts several days – most juice cleanses last for three, although they can be longer – during which time you only subsist on fruit and vegetable juices. The purpose of this is to rid your body of the toxins that have built up over years of a modern lifestyle, while also providing you with plenty of the vitamins and minerals your body craves.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A JUICE CLEANSE?

Needless to say, there will be plenty of benefits that go along with providing your body with the nutrients that many people these days are so deficient in. The first benefit that people who do juice cleanses report is improved energy; because juices can be absorbed by your body quickly, you’ll feel that extra boost of energy almost instantly as your body can immediately put those vitamins and minerals to work.

Besides the immediate benefits, there seem to be other, more long-term benefits of juice cleansing as well. Enzymes from the plants you’re consuming will help to give your digestive system a boost, while improved circulation from the increased vitamin and mineral intake will help supercharge your immune system and flush out cholesterol and other toxins.

HOW DO I START ONE?

When starting a juice cleanse, it’s first important to make sure the juices you’ll be drinking are the best quality healthy juices you can find. Look for cold-pressed juice; this means that the juice has been extracted from the fruits and vegetables slowly, helping to preserve as much of the vitamins and fiber as possible. Many large juice chains produce their products by grinding up the juice as fast as possible for maximum efficiency, however, this has the significant drawback of generating heat, which can destroy vitamins and minerals.

Look also for a juice cleanse that will provide a complete array of all the essential vitamins and micronutrients your body requires. It’s not enough to simply drink the same juice each day, several times a day. You should ensure that you’re getting a sampling of many different natural ingredients so that you don’t find yourself deficient in any particular nutrient.

Once you’ve chosen the juice cleanse which you think will be right for you, consult with your physician. Juice cleanses are great for weight loss and general health, however they should not be used to treat any specific conditions unless recommended by your medical professional. In the days leading up to your juice cleanse, reduce and finally eliminate your intake of toxin-producing substances such as alcohol and tobacco, as well as sugar, dairy, seafood, and all processed foods. Begin drinking more water to get your body used to the increased amount of fluids that go along with a juice cleanse.

HOW WILL IT HELP ME FOCUS ON MY HEALTH?

Of course, a juice cleanse alone won’t be enough to achieve the health goals you want. It’s only the first step. However, it’s a crucial part of the journey, because it will not only start to help your body recover from years of unhealthy modern living, it will also help you stay focused on your long-term goals. It will help start the habit of eating healthier food, as well as drinking more water. It will also allow you to sample many different juices, and it’s nearly certain you’ll find a few you like, which you can incorporate into your regular diet. Juicing regularly, of course, is part of a long-term healthy lifestyle.

Juicing also provides you with improved energy; many people compare it to coffee, but without all of the drawbacks that coffee has, such as nervousness and hyperactivity. Instead, you’ll feel awake, alert, and ready to tackle anything the day throws at you. Of course, this improved energy will motivate you to exercise, further helping you reach your personal health goals.

Taking the time and effort to eliminate toxins from your body will also leave you feeling great; once you feel that way, you’ll be unlikely to want to turn back. Your commitment to your health and well-being will be renewed, as you’ll be motivated to work extra hard to prevent more toxins from building up and robbing you of your newfound vitality.

Ultimately, your juice cleanse will be the crucial first step in forging habits that, while challenging to maintain at first, you will end up wondering how you ever got by without them. Exercise, regular stretching, improved sleep, a plant-based diet, and an overall improved outlook on life will lead to a healthier, happier you.