Fresh fruit & vegetable juices have been shown to possess health-promoting properties and has been used for centuries by naturopaths to help treat a range of ailments. Lime juice was, for example, found to be an effective cure for scurvy in the sixteenth century and this saved thousands of sailors' lives. In more recent times, scientists have identified the nutritional and biochemical properties of freshly-prepared fruit and vegetable juices which account for their use in helping treat many health problems.
Extracting the juice from fruits and vegetables yields a liquid that's rich in sugars, starches, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, but low in mass--in other words a concentrate that contains almost all the nutrients of the plant without the fibrous cell walls that originally contained them. The juices are used in two ways: as a supplement to a normal diet, or as a substitute for solid food (a "juice fast"). Most treatments are do-it-yourself, although the oversight of a physician is occasionally required.
JUICE SUPPLEMENTS When combined with other dietary regimens, juice therapy can be used to augment athletic training, or simply improve overall health. A typical supplementary juice regimen calls for 3 to 4 eight-ounce glasses per day, taken throughout the day.
JUICE FASTS Juice therapists advocate juice-only fasts to cleanse and rejuvenate the body. Such fasts are also a good way to detect an unsuspected food allergy. If you experience a major improvement in chronic symptoms during a juice fast, chances are they were caused by an item in your regular diet. Reintroducing your favorite foods one at a time after the fast should quickly identify the culprit.
Juices can also provide at least some nutrients if you are unable to keep solid food down--for example, if you're undergoing cancer chemotherapy or have a severe illness. They are especially good for convalescents because they are easier to consume and digest than solids, yet still provide the much needed nutrition. Juice fasts typically last for 2 to 5 days. Juice advocates often recommend them for general health improvement twice a year, in spring and fall.
Juice fasts provide minimal calories and little fat or protein. They are not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and they are also unwise for infants, young children, and the elderly.
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