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The life of a food columnist may seem glamorous to some -- tasting events, restaurant openings, dining out several nights a week -- but sometimes it feels downright gluttonous. After a particularly over-the-top week, when I received an email from the folks at Blueprint Cleanse offering me a free sample 3-day juice cleanse, I jumped right on it.
The idea behind a three-day juice cleanse is that it will help your body purge the "toxins" you build up in your system during the course of your everyday life (and boy, do I build up toxins). The cleanses come in three intensity levels -- the website provides guidelines to help you select the level that matches your current eating style. I opted for the level two cleanse, which is basically the middle of the road. The site is also chock-full of information about how to prepare for the cleanse (try to slow down on the meat, cheese, alcohol and processed foods a few days before), answers to frequently asked questions, and an entire page devoted to "detox assistance," which made me somewhat nervous.
The night before the cleanse was to start, I received two small insulated bags containing two days worth of juice. I eyed the packages suspciously -- was this really all I was going to ingest for the next few days? Was I crazy?!? I was relieved to find a "cheat sheet" tucked into the bag, with specific methods of "cheating" that would interfere the least with the cleanse. Okay -- if I could cheat, it couldn't be that bad. I woke up the next morning, sipped on hot water and lemon as I was advised by the Blueprint Cleanse staff in an email they sent to get me started, and I was off.
I kept up my regular workout routine during the entire three days, so after the gym I had my first juice -- a vegetable-based powerhouse that served as the backbone of the cleanse I had chosen. Of each day's six juices, which are conveniently numbered so that you drink them in the proper order, three were the vegetable-based juice. The one problem I had with this concoction was the presence of celery. I hate celery, so of course all I could taste was celery. This could be rough -- this was half of what I was to eat for the next three days. I powered through it and headed to work. According to the instructions, I needed to drink at least 12 ounces of water in between juices, and I could have as much green tea as I wanted, which I was hoping would provide me with enough caffeine to make up for my daily dose of java.
Day one was, in a word, awful. I had a low-grade headache, I felt nauseated on and off throughout the day, and wanted to just crawl into bed. I cursed myself for not really cutting down on anything in the days before the cleanse -- how could I resist sharing the delicious chicken liver toasts and the roquefort burger at the Spotted Pig two days earlier? I found the celery-free juices to be much more to my liking -- one was a pineapple mint, another tasted like lemonade with a touch of cayenne, and the final juice of the day contained cashew nut milk -- it was almost like a dessert.
Day two was infinitely better. The headaches and nausea were gone and I had enough energy to make it through a personal training session and a swim class. I did, however, find myself thinking about food. A lot. On my way to swimming I got a whiff of someone cooking garlic that smelled better than I remember garlic ever smelling before. The memory of the meal at I had eaten at the Spotted Pig a few days earlier was the subject of several daydreams. I also realized what a large role food plays in my life -- even something as simple as heading to my office cafeteria, putting together a salad at the salad bar, and bringing it back to my desk is a welcome break in my day. I love to cook, shop for food at the farmer's market, and I read about 60 food-related blogs a day (I still had to read these during the course of the cleanse, which didn't make things any easier). Food is also a key part of my social life -- if I'm not at a work event or a food event for Gothamist, I'm often meeting up with friends over a meal. I'd imagine this isn't the case for everyone, but cutting out food for three days actually meant that I wasn't particularly social -- I stuck to work, the gym, and home. As I was scheduling the cleanse, I found it difficult to even find three days in a row I didn't have some sort of food-related event that I had to attend; I went to one lunch meeting at work, my juice in tow.
I woke up on day three quite relieved that it was my last day. I had received my last juice delivery the night before -- I was hoping that maybe day three didn't have the veggie/celery juice, but no such luck. I progressed through them, and as I finished off my last juice in the evening, I realized something interesting -- despite how awful I felt the first day, I didn't once feel hungry during the course of the cleanse.
Taking a three-day break from food was truly challenging for me. That said, when it was all said and done, I felt pretty healthy. When I woke up the next morning, I stepped onto the scale -- I had lost four pounds in three days. I was so excited to introduce solid food back into my life, although the instructions on the site warned me to go slow. I tried -- I really did. I had a smoothie for breakfast, so as not to shock my system. I had a salad for lunch which I swear was the best work cafeteria salad I have ever eaten. I marvelled at the texture of each ingredient, and noticed how much I had missed texture during the course of the cleanse. By the time dinner rolled around, I ended up joining some friends for tacos at Mercadito Grove. So much for easing back into it.
My friends and family have all asked me if I would do it again. As hard as it was for me, I'd have to say that I might. If I wanted to drop a few pounds quickly for a special event (I've never done this, but I could imagine a situaton where I might -- something like an ex-boyfriend's wedding) or if I felt like I was in dire need of detox (like how I felt when I returned from JazzFest in New Orleans a few years back, for example), I'd certainly consider it. It was simple -- the folks at Blueprint did all the work for me, were available when I had questions, and delivered the juices to my door. If you're considering doing a cleanse and are not as food-focused as I am, you might even find it to be relatively painless. I would, however, check in with my doctor before doing it again, and would recommend that you do so as well. When I told my doctor that I did this, she cautioned that a cleanse may in fact flush out healthy bacteria in your digestive tract along with everything else and that any weight lost would likely come right back (she was right on that front).
A three-day, level-two cleanse like the one I did is $195, which includes delivery. For more information, visit Blueprintcleanse.com.
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um, you paid 200 bucks for three days worth of shakes? I'll tie you up and leave you in a closet for three days food-free for only $149.99.
Hopefully, the fact that you wasted all that time to write an article about an unhealthy scam because a publicist sent you a free sample will dissuade others about wasting their time on such nonsense.
There's no such thing a "detoxification" and certainly depriving one's body of nutrition for three days just to drop a few pounds of water weight is the most idiotic thing anyone could do.
the whole concept of autointoxication by the digestive system is complete bullshit and is potentially dangerous, and has been thoroughly debunked by medical science. Other "treatments" for this make believe condition include enemas, laxatives and colonic cleansings. Maybe Laren should volunteer for a nice colonic irrigation and tell us all about her experience too. If anyone is interested in the facts, read this:
quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/gastro.html
A good site, they have articles on many other subjects of BS pseudo medical "treatments" aimed at preying on weak minded and/or desperate people who are easily convinced they are sick when they are not, or whose health is so dire that they are willing to try anything, often to their further detriment, such as vitamins, herbs, crystals etc.
She didn't pay $200. It said right in the first paragraph that it was a free sample. Which is a smart business decision for the company. These things probably cost them about $10 total. If they can get some publicity and even one customer, they've made back that free sample cost and then some.
I think I saw an informercial for something like this while channel-surfing one afternoon. I only saw a minute or so, but they just had me rolling on the floor laughing at their claims. "Even the FDA says you have several pounds of undigested food caked on the sides of your colon." Suuuuure, they do. Man, there must be a sucker born every second.
Actually Matuko, there is such think as a detox. The body can contain up to 10 lbs. of hardened fecal matter, and if you have ever switched from water to lemon water, this will soon become apparent as you shed this useless material.
Additionally, your body does get filled with toxins, which lay dormant in various tissues and can be released in various ways.
Massages, certain diets and even acupuncture can go a long way in ridding your body of these substances.
Also, Raze, no. It was free. This is how companies promote themselves, which is totally legitimate.
Is this the start of Gothamist using PayPerPost? or am I missing how this is even remotely related to NYC?
If you really want to "detox" just cut back on alcohol, cigarettes and fast food.
within a week you will look and feel better.
no juices required.
Hey Kevin, I have a really nice late 19th Century bridge for sale, you might be interested in. I'll let you have it for cheap.
Anyway, I'm off, I have some burgers to eat.
No mention of the changes in the smell of the breath, embarrassing flatulence, changes in bowel movements including diarrhea and all the other things associated with these bogus liquid cleanse products?
Check her references, she must actually shill for this juice company.
i liked the review. i would never spend all that money on juice that someone has bottled. but if you can't do it without the convenience, then it makes sense.
it makes sense that this would be on Gothamist. a lot of new yorkers are interested in fasting and detoxing. all of y'all haters should be too. you live in a dirty place.
if anyone is thinking of juice fasting: do it! it's great. just use fresh fruit and puree it or juice it yourself. you'll feel great! you can get free information at any of the raw food stores in nyc.
when you meat eat greens.
when you eat greens, eat em raw with no dressing or steaming.
when you steam, wear a dressing such as a towel.
I've been using a book which promotes no-fad-dieting, just sensible eating and exercise (and boy, are the workouts tough) - the book also de-bunks common diet and fitness myths, among them juice fasts. The body detoxifies itself (hello, liver!) and eating/drinking nothing but juice for three days doesn't actually 'detox' you any more. The 'weight' lost is water weight. If you just cut back on sodium for a few days you'd probably get a similar effect.
You know, if I posted more nonsense about "10 lbs. of hardened fecal matter" and "your body does get filled with toxins, which lay dormant in various tissues and can be released in various ways" right after somebody posted a link to, quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/gastro.html
I'd probably be a little embarrassed. But then again, I'm not Kevin Bracken.
Indeed, Quackwatch also provides the following helpful page:
"Twenty-Five Ways to Spot
Quacks and Vitamin Pushers"
"18. They Use Disclaimers Couched in Pseudomedical Jargon.
...
Some approaches to "detoxification" are based on notions that, as a result of intestinal stasis, intestinal contents putrefy, and toxins are formed and absorbed, which causes chronic poisoning of the body. This "autointoxication" theory was popular around the turn of the century but was abandoned by the scientific community during the 1930s. No such "toxins" have ever been found, and careful observations have shown that individuals in good health can vary greatly in bowel habits. Quacks may also suggest that fecal material collects on the lining of the intestine and causes trouble unless removed by laxatives, colonic irrigation, special diets, and/or various herbs or food supplements that "cleanse" the body. The falsity of this notion is obvious to doctors who perform intestinal surgery or peer within the large intestine with a diagnostic instrument. Fecal material does not adhere to the intestinal lining. Colonic irrigation is done by inserting a tube into the rectum and pumping up to 20 gallons of water in and out. This type of enema is not only therapeutically worthless but can cause fatal electrolyte imbalance. Cases of death due to intestinal perforation and infection (from contaminated equipment) have also been reported."
www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/spotquack.html
The downside of long-term juice diets and fasts is that their lack of protein, fats, and other nutrients actually cause lethargy, weakness, and even mental confusion.
what a bunch of BS. Get an enema. It's cheaper and feels better.
Wow, so much hating on fruits and veggies!! I tried this cleanse and felt fantastic. I wonder if detox works for hostility...
MH, thanks for re-posting this, but evidently the main disease that these people suffer from is an inability to read or listen to anything that goes against their deeply ingrained superstitions.
While they are for the most part only harming and fooling themselves, the sad thing is, they can also end up harming others. This reminds me of the story about a vegan couple that killed their newborn baby. They fed it a vegan diet and it starved to death. They had no idea what they were doing.
nobody is hating on fruits and veggies, annie. everyone is hating on the fucking snakes who sell this extremely overpriced product to oblivious consumers.
big difference.
But you also get a free insulated "goody bag".
surely, that means it's good stuff that it needs to be fresh and insulated.
if you don't get your goody bag, make sure you complain.
A great book on healthful diets is "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. It is just about eating a nutrient-rich diet. No fads needed.
Prune Juice can do that AND more
Its a warrior's drink
Okay, Nick. Then I guess I'm one of the oblivious consumers you mention. Hmm...I don't feel oblivious. I actually feel healthy, happy and more aware of how I eat. To me, it was money well spent. And maybe it's just not for everyone.
no one has mentioned the salt water cleanse (ha!), which actually feels pretty good once in a while. as for fasting, it's just not for me. I still suspect my muscles are eating themselves and my metabolism will be permanently f*cked up if I deny myself food.
Cleanses are great, but this Lower East Side company does an even more intense cleanse, of 5 days! Check it out for $350, and can be delivered anywhere in Manhattan!
www.organicavenue.com
101 Stanton Street b/t Ludlow and Orchard
Annie: so, I'm guessing you work for Blueprint Cleanse? you sound super-shilly in that last post, its like some sort of marketer prose.
Annie (and others), welcome to a phenomenon known in the medical science world as the Placebo Effect.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo_(origins_of_technical_term)
Sending me $200 via paypal will make you feel really good too, and you dont even have to drink anything or give up eating stuff! It's awesome!!! Let me know if you're interested, I'll give you the info :)
Not an employee, just a juice drinker. So sorry to disappoint.
i drink juice too... i usually spend about 2 bucks for a bottle of it, though.
I don't know about your guys, but one cup of black coffee in the morning pretty much clears the pipes.
"Fecal material does not adhere to the intestinal lining"... Not only that, but the intestine sheds cells continuously, meaning that not even its own external cells adhere to its lining!
No one is hatin' on juice here, btw. Just pseudoscience. The claims do not stand up to scientific testing and observation.
Best cleanse ever:
http://www.blessedherbs.com
I had a ball!
For a mere hundred bucks I'll send you my special detoxifying regimen.
(Hint: It consists of FIVE days of cold pizza, week old hot'n'sour soup and a few cases of Old Milwaukee. Guaranteed to turn your colon inside out, purge your system of years of toxins, restore that glamorous lustre to your hair, and will actually detoxify the colons of anyone within a 50 metre radius, re-align the iron molecules of your cheap wine, demagentize your DVDs and totally increase the fidelity of your stereo system.)
I feel an info-mercial coming on.
Bofug
Wow...that was intense reading all these post! So...I did this cleanse. Have to say I feel great. My skin is glowing. I have more energy, and my mind is much clearer. It is a pretty steep price, however I don't have time to juice, or to even run around the farmers market looking for all the ingrediants to make these concoctions. It helped me to feel good inside and out. Science really hasn't done that for me lately.
DONT PARTICIPATE IN THIS FAST UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. It made me very ill, and then their customer service person, an aggressive, uneducated-sounding person named Victoria, refused to give me a refund. A horrible experience.
Almost any "cleanse" makes many people feel good and energized because of the reduced calories. In the first few days of not having enough to eat, the body increases energy as a strategy to help us obtain more food. (Of course, it can't keep this up for long.)
The placebo effect is also a contributing factor, of course.
The energy and good feelings have nothing to do with "cleansing toxins". Fecal matter does not build up in your body over time and neither do toxins. Waste products are quickly excreted.
The authors note that muscle gains result when exercise activates certain hormonal and signaling factors in muscleThe things mentioned are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone. The above thought is smart and doesn’t require any further addition. It’s perfect thought from my side.
Cynthia
The lemonade master cleanser