Why juicing may not help you lose weight

Juicing is extracting the liquid from fruits and vegetables while removing the solids. This is done with a motor-driven juicer or by hand. The juice extracted from the fruits and vegetables usually does not contain any seeds, skin or pulp which is a source of fibre. It, however, contains nutrients and antioxidants.

Lately, juicing has become increasingly as a way to detox. There are no scientific studies that prove replacing solid food with juice can help in detoxing the body. Your body gets rid of toxins on its own through the kidneys and the liver which makes juicing for detox unnecessary. Some people use juices as supplements and for weight loss purposes. This has not been supported by any research.

Juicing in many cases does not necessarily make one lose weight and these are a few of the reasons why.

1. Juicing may reduce calorie intake in the short-term

For you to lose weight, you must maintain a calorie deficit. This means that you will consume fewer calories than you burn. While juices contain few calories making them ideal for weight loss, once you get back on your regular diet, you are bound to put on weight and at times more weight than you had before.

2. Juicing diets and fullness

In order to feel full, you need to eat an adequate amount of protein and fibre. These can only be found in solid foods. Juicing is a liquid diet which lacks these important nutrients. You will thus feel hungrier sooner making you reach out for a snack. This will be a hindrance to your weight loss plan.

Proteins and fibre also help reduce your appetite. Fibre helps slow the digestion process helping you feel fuller for longer. Lacking these in your diet will make you eat more and consequently weigh more.

3. Juicing affects metabolism

Juice diets lack calories and can lead to losing weight too fast since your body will turn to fat reserves for energy. The lack of proteins leads to a reduction in muscle mass. This reduces your body’s metabolism since your muscles don’t have the energy to convert calories into energy.

When your calorie intake is low, your body goes into starvation mode, burning fewer calories with the majority being stored as fat. This will lead to less weight loss.

4. Increased risk of infection

Following a juice diet for an extended period of time deprives your immune system of important nutrients. Studies have shown that even a mild depletion of the immune-enhancing nutrients like zinc and iron can impair your immune health system. When your immune system is compromised, you are prone to falling ill faster and your body may take longer to heal wounds.