Photo Illustration: Bridget Clegg: Courtesy Raw Generation
After an especially tough couple of years on our health, it's time to get those wellness goals back on track. Combined with a healthy diet and exercise, a juice cleanse is one of the most delicious and convenient ways to get your daily dose of fruits, veggies, and powerful antioxidants — all in one bottle.
"The biggest driver of a juice cleanse is to reset your digestive tract, setting you up for balance and wellness," says Rita Katona, co-founder and chief brand and innovation officer of So Good So You, a woman-owned brand of certified organic cold-pressed shots. "If a full-on juice cleanse is too overwhelming or extreme for your lifestyle, there are many other ways to support digestive health, including with prebiotics and probiotics," she adds. (For more health information on some of the pros and cons of starting a juice cleanse, here's what other experts have to say, too.)
If you're choosing to do a juice cleanse, there's one important (and often-misunderstood) thing to keep in mind: It's not a shortcut to weight loss. But if your goal is to boost your immune system, help improve gut health, or recirculate valuable vitamins and nutrients in your body after a few too many happy hours (virtual or otherwise), there's a juice cleanse out there that can certainly help in those areas.
From a celery juice cleanse designed to improve digestion to extensive 3-, 5-, and even 7-day cleanse options for a total system refresh, the variety available now is far better than it once was. Here are a few things to consider:
Choose organic: Since most — if not all — portions of produce end up in your juice (especially if you're going the DIY route with a home juicer), the safest way to juice is to go pesticide-free. Store-bought juice cleanses will indicate whether they're organic or not on their labels. If going organic isn't an option (particularly when juicing at home), a produce wash — available in most food stores and groceries — can help reduce pesticides in your produce. Consult the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen list to help you figure out which fruits and veggies need the most attention!
Prioritize veggies: According to Ray Doustar from the Everyday Juicer, a 90/10 rule is best — with vegetables making up 90% of the ingredients in your juice, and fruit only 10%. The reason? Fruit has a much higher sugar content than vegetables do, and having more of this natural sugar in your juice can spike insulin levels, causing cravings and yes, even weight gain.
Restart your system with one of these top-rated, delicious, and expertly curated juice cleanse and shot options. And remember — you are what you drink.
Note: You should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting this or any other cleanse program to determine if it's right for your needs.
If you want to seriously detoxify your system (and maybe even shed a few pounds while doing so), this intensive 7-day raw juice cleanse can help jumpstart your goals (as it did for many customers). Although Raw Generation offers 3-, 5-, and 7-day cleanse options, we think their 7-day option is the most effective for those seeking a major detox.
Even though a 7-day cleanse sounds intimidating, you'll still get 24 grams of protein, plus lots of essential vitamins and minerals with all six juices sipped over the course of one day. Included in this cleanse? Sweet Greens, Citrus Carrot, Tart Greens, Sweet Roots, and Cool Greens.
A gentle cleanse designed to help flush out toxins, this single-day pack is meant to help restart your system and revitalize your energy. Although this cleanse is offered in 2-, 3-, or 5-day increments, we think the 2-day option is the best choice for those looking for a quick and efficient detox.
This six-pack cleanse from Project Juice includes a selection of green juices, purifying citrus juices, and delicious blends. The juices are designed to be consumed independently of food, and each of these nutrient-dense juices is numbered in the order of consumption for a user-friendly experience. You'll get a bottle of Celery Sunrise, Jade Ginger, D-Tox, First Aid, Rainbow Roots, Cashew Mylk, and two juice shots — the Mental Energy Shot and The Detoxifier Shot.
Fun fact: Nearly 20 pounds of USDA-certified organic produce is pressed into each day's allotment of six bottles.
This 3-day organic juice cleanse includes 7 daily functional juices, 1 shot, and a recipe for a hearty breakfast each day. This option is great for those looking to do a juice cleanse without a lot of sugar or protein, or for those who simply love drinking their fruits and veggies through interesting flavor combinations.
Suja recommends pausing consumption of coffee, alcohol, dairy, red meat, sugar, and white-flour bread products a couple of days before starting this juice program as a way to gently transition your body into the cleanse. Relatedly, eating more fruits, veggies, and whole grains before the cleanse is also recommended.
Jessica Rosen, certified holistic health coach and Raw Generation’s cofounder, recommends drinking celery juice “first thing in the morning on an empty stomach as part of your daily routine” to see benefits in gut health, skin, inflammation, energy levels, detoxification, and much more.
USDA-certified organic, this powerful cold-pressed blend of pineapple juice, kiwi, orange juice, and spirulina also has 1 billion CFU (colony forming units) of probiotics for an all-around energy and detoxifying boost — while providing 230% of your recommended daily value of Vitamin A.
“Adding a shot or two to your daily routine, in addition to healthy mealtimes, is a good way to incorporate healthy juices without a sugar overload or depriving your body of nutrients,” says Katona.
In addition to a variety of probiotic single-serve shots, So Good So You also offers detox and deep cleanse juices for those times when your gut needs a hard reset (like after that holiday partying binge).
If you're feeling lethargic, worn-down, or on the verge of getting sick, an immune system-boosting wellness shot might be just what the doctor ordered.
Ethan's Immune Boost shots provide the healthy, potent dose of antioxidants that your body craves. Just as effective as a juice cleanse but in a much smaller, portable format, these mini 2-ounce organic shots contain vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and reishi mushrooms, which are all known to promote immune function.
They recommend to “sip, shoot, or mix.” but we personally find the shot the most effective when taken by itself, as our daily morning shot before breakfast.
If you're ramping up your fitness goals in 2021, you'll need to make sure you're getting enough protein in your daily diet. Raw Generation offers 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day Protein Cleanses designed to support your workouts and replenish your energy levels.
With 40 grams of protein per day — plus greens and superfoods — this Protein Cleanse helps you maintain an exercise routine while you simultaneously cleanse. Each cleanse includes three cold-pressed juices and three plant-based protein smoothies per day to help your body burn fat and have more sustained energy for those newly-added workouts.
Hello, cold-press curation! This clever pack of 7 includes a set of low-sugar, vegan, organic, dairy- and gluten-free juices, and is perfect for a digestive and craving reset. If you're ever looking to tame that sweet tooth, look no further than this bunch that includes 2 bottles of Mother Earth Juice, 1 bottle of Soul Garden Juice, 1 bottle of Love Me Juice, 1 bottle of Celery Juice, 1 bottle of Ginger Fireball, and 1 bottle of Cleansing Aloe Water.
Eunice Lucero-LeeSenior EditorEunice Lucero-Lee is the Senior Editor for Best Products, and is a beauty, astrology, and pop culture obsessive whose work has been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, The Numinous, and woman&home, among many others.
Danielle St. PierreSenior Food & Drink EditorDanielle is the former food & drink editor for BestProducts.com, where she put her knowledge as a cocktail consultant and connoisseur to use; her work can also be spotted on Thrillist, Food & Wine, and Delish.
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