Juice Cleanses: Are they really worth it?

Juice cleanses have become the latest celebrity fad, with everyone from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to Blake Lively reportedly using them to flush toxins from their systems and kickstart weight loss. But is this detox technique actually good for you? We've spoken to the experts to find out...

Juice cleanses

Pros

1. 'A juice cleanse an be an excellent way to give your digestive system and liver a rest,' explains The Nutri Centre's nutritionist Cassandra Barnes. 'Most of us eat every few hours and snack between meals, which means that our bodies are constantly working to process food. This can cause us to feel sluggish and tired over time.'

2. 'Juiced fruit and vegetables don't require much work to process but provide high amounts of easily absorbed vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to assist with detoxification as well as overall health and vitality,' says Cassandra.

3. 'Possible benefits of juice cleanses include feeling lighter and more energised,' she adds. Remember you could always try these NutriBullet recipes as an alternative.

Cons

1. 'Juice cleanses only help you lose weight because you dramatically lessen the amount of calories you consume,' says Marisa Peer, author of You Can Be Thin: The Ultimate Programme to End Dieting...Forever. 'Most people who lose weight through juicing will gain it back again.'

2. 'The best vegetables to include in your juices are kale, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, watercress and sprouts, but these have a bitter taste when juiced,' says Marisa.

3. 'Juice cleanses are not suitable for everyone,' says Cassandra. 'Check with your doctor first if you have any health conditions or are taking medication. Some people will also get hungry, and have headaches or feel irritable during the first day or two.'

And finally...

'Avoid including too much fruit in your juices,' says Marisa. 'The body recognises fruit as sugar and we are not designed to consume so much of it, so rapidly. Remember that fructose is stored as fat unless it is used up as energy.'

'Cleanses are best done in the warmer months of the year,' says Cassandra. 'And only do a juice cleanse for 1 to 3 days, unless you are working with a nutritionist or health practitioner.'