3 To 7-Day Detox/Juice Cleanse—What To Expect Before, During And After

Last updated on 1 MAY 2024

Looks like you’ve finally made your mind and decided to embark on a short juice cleanse.

A FABULOUS decision, congratulations!

The 3 to 7-day juice cleanse is the most popular juice detox program out there: quite effective, but not as difficult as a 10 to 14 or even a 21-day course. It’s also the favorite pick of busy people and constant travelers, as it allows transforming a work trip or a long weekend into a rejuvenating retreat to better health!

Let’s dive right into the juicy details of your juice cleanse: the duration, the effects, the possible health reactions … and some fabulous juice recipe ideas, of course. 🙂

3 To 7-Day Detox/Juice Cleanse

WHY You Should Do A 3 to 7-Day Juice Cleanse

A 3 to 7-day juice cleanse is just enough to start flushing out the numerous toxins that routinely enter the body in the form of unhealthy food choices, environmental pollutants, or as a result of some hidden health issues.

A shorter cleanse (1-2 days) usually isn’t enough to ignite this process as it’s basically an adaptation period during which your body will be super busy dealing with the so-called “withdrawal symptoms” from the toxins we are all oh-so used to.

While opposing the change and coping with the abstinence, the body won’t be too effective at relaxing and letting the nasty stuff out—that’s why 3 days is the minimum recommended duration.

However, extra-short juice cleanses are great for getting used to juicing in general and prepare yourself for the real detox duration!

Last but not least, keep in mind that this program won’t be enough to fully cure a chronic illness but it could become a confident first step in the right direction.

BEFORE You Start On The Detox/Juice Cleanse

Ready to get started? Below are just a few pointers to keep in mind:

• If you are new to juicing, consider starting with a few 1 to 2-day juice fasts just to get used to the process. Embark on your 3 to 7-day juice cleanse only when you feel comfortable enough with being on a juice regimen.
• 2 to 3 days before beginning the detox program, start gradually eliminating the following foods from your menu: processed foods, flour products and pastry, dairy and meat, any stimulants (caffeine-containing), sugars, carbonated drinks. Read how to prepare yourself for a juice fast.
• If you want to address a health issue, it is important to first start on a gastrointestinal cleanse. Read here, how you can do a proper gastrointestinal cleanse. A parasite cleanse will also take you a long way, especially if you have issues of excessive cleanse and bloating. Juice fasts can be done in conjunction with both these prep cleanses that will superboost your healing efforts.
• Make sure to have at least 8 hours of sleep every night as this is when detox processes are most effective in the body. Learn to respect your body’s biological clock  and you will get the most out of your detox efforts.
• It is generally recommended to take a break from any supplements during your detox program except for 30-50 billion count probiotics and omega-3 fish oil or flaxseed oil. If you’re doing the gastrointestinal cleanse and/or the parasite cleanse, then follow those protocols where supplements are concerned.

What You Can Expect AFTER Completing This Juice Cleanse

Every person is unique, so there is no universal and detailed prediction as to what you can expect from your 3 to 7-day juice detox/cleanse. These are, however, the most commonly experienced health improvements:

• Decreased cravings for sugar and processed foods
• Steadier, better digestion and bowel movement
• Improved energy levels and mood
• Deeper sleep and enhanced rest effectiveness
• Significant weight loss (mostly water)

These are all direct effects of toxins being flushed out. Just think about it: the amount of energy in your body is finite, so if this energy is invested into ONE thing, something ELSE gets less of it. If your detox organs put a ton of energy into fighting toxic effects, you are automatically left with less energy for your everyday activities and life in general.

That’s why when the harmful stuff starts leaving your body—your energy levels are very likely to spike and your rest will be enhanced. But, once again, this won’t be enough to fully heal a chronic illness—aim towards an extended juice fast for a more complete healing. It is also about a diet and lifestyle change beyond juice fasts.

Keep in mind that juice cleanses can be carried out either as a fast (when you don’t eat anything, just drink plenty of juices, water, and broth) or as a feast (raw fruits and veggies are allowed in addition to everything from the fast option). The latter is easier to do but provides slower healing. Read more about the differences between a juice fast and a juice feast.

Possible Healing Reactions DURING This Juice Cleanse

The first week of juicing is marked by significant healing reactions that are basically a form of “withdrawal symptoms.” Some of them are caused by a temporary imbalance in the adaptive systems in your body (headache, hunger pangs) while others are just a manifestation of the previously deposited toxins leaving your body (diarrhea, acne, coated tongue).

Here’s a list of the most common healing reactions:

• Hunger pangs and hunger in general
• Nausea, rarely vomiting
• Coated tongue
• Unpleasant breath and body odor
• Dizziness, headaches
• Muscle aches
• Skin pimples, acne, rashes

In addition to all the signs mentioned above, women may experience various changes in their menstrual cycle and womanly discharge. For example, there may be a delay in menstruations, a change in their volume or features (color, thickness, smell). You shouldn’t worry about this much: it just means your body is “recalibrating” its systems and functions.

Read more about physical healing reactions and emotional healing reactions.

What To Drink And How Much

Let’s start with the essential principle: listen to your body. There’s no universal set of rules when it comes to juice cleansing because everyone is unique—and so are our little health imperfections.

Some people will need about 32 ounces (roughly a liter or one quart) of juice daily while others will need thrice that volume and that’s perfectly normal! Relax, keep it easy, and start out with the following principles:

• During your “meal times” (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) it’s recommended to drink a solid portion of juice (about 17-27 ounces or 500 to 800 ml) as this will allow maintaining your body’s usual digestive rhythms. Don’t drink it all at once—instead, sit down and sip it bit by bit just as you would have eaten a regular meal—bite by bite.
• In between your meals, feel free to drink more juices, broths, and caffeine-free herbal teas, whenever you feel like it. The idea is not to get hungry.
• On top of your juices and broths, make sure to drink at least 70 ounces (about 2 liters) of water daily to ensure proper hydration.
• Whenever you feel that the healing reactions are getting too intense, consider this a sign that you are having a bit too much of juice and somewhat less water than recommended. Slow down with the juicing and restore water balance.

Juice Plan For A 3 To 7-Day Detox/Juice Cleanse

As this cleanse program is very brief (at least compared to 14 and 21-day juice cleanses), our primary goal is to provide as much detox potential as possible in a comfortable and safe manner. This can be done by including enough metabolism-boosting ingredients such as ginger, turmeric, and lemon (by the way, lemon also slows down oxidation—thus keeping your juices fresh for longer!) along with an abundance of greens.

Also, don’t forget to drink at least one beetroot juice during your 3 to 7-day juice cleanse for some powerful detox of the liver!

Below, you will find some great juice recipes for short cleanses, but remember that you’re limited only by your imagination! Mix and match different greens, veggies, and fruits to find what works best for your body.

Suggested Juice Recipes

You can make a few liters of juices at one go if you like to save time. In which case, read how you can store your juices for maximum nutrient retention. When I juice fast, I like to make it easy and juice 4 liters at one go, using my favorite juice cleanse recipe.

But, here are some other juice recipes you can use. Just multiply the amount accordingly if you wish to make more. Always use organic, if possible, unless you’re using a slow juicer that can help minimize the inclusion of artificial chemicals in your juice.

Juice Recipe #1

• 1 bunch of kale
• 1 bunch of celery (about 12-14 ribs)
• ½ pineapple
• 1 lemon with peel
• A piece of ginger root (about 1-inch thick)

Juice Recipe #2

• 1 bunch of spinach
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• 1 bunch of celery (about 12-14 ribs)
• 2-4 green apples
• 1 lemon with peel
• A piece of ginger root (about 1-inch thick)

Juice Recipe #3

• 6-8 medium-large beetroots
• 1 medium jicama
• 1 fennel bulb
• 1 lemon with peel
• A piece of ginger root (about 1-inch thick)

You can also make up your own juice recipe, depending on what’s seasonal and available at your market. If you’re not used to making green juices, here’s a guide that you can refer to that may be helpful.

In general, just cultivate a curious mind and read plenty of information about every vegetable, and fruit. All of them have unique properties and health benefits, so make sure to tailor your juice cleanse to better meet the needs and peculiarities of your body.

Go to the Juice Fasting Section for more articles.

Happy Juicing!

About Sara Ding

Sara Ding is the founder of Juicing-for-Health.com. She is a certified Wellness Health Coach, Nutritional Consultant and a Detox Specialist. She helps busy men and women identify their health issues at the root cause, in order to eliminate the problems for optimum physical/mental health and wellbeing.

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