It’s been over a year since my first “juicing” article went online – and yes, I’m still juicing ? This doesn’t mean that I live only on juice, but I do include one or two ginger-turmeric-apple-shots into my weekly diet, or even sometimes drink “liquid chlorophyll” before breakfast. And I must confess that – or at least I can surmise that – this has been helping my defenses, because to be honest, I have not been sick once in the last year. Well, except perhaps for the few weeks following my second round of surgery last year – but more on that later.

I still wouldn’t do a “juice cleanse” per se, and my skepticism regarding the subject is as persistent as it was a year ago. Speaking long-term, a healthy awareness of our bodies and a bit of sacrifice is the best & healthiest means for a “cleanse”.

Unfortunately, this year (for the last time! Yay!) I was placed on a “liquid food only” diet for a few weeks, because my second operation was scheduled for the last quarter of 2019… and yes, you lose weight automatically, because the body works at full speed to heal bones, nerves & muscles and accordingly needs energy (kJ) along with other nutrients which are impossible to consume in solid form.

However, I started to boost my body & immune system continuously by feeding it with all kinds of anti-inflammatory ingredients: turmeric, berries (in season), (sustainably caught) fish, nut spreads, spinach and much, much more. Heaven Lynn Healthy has terrific dishes that are always plant-based, easy to copy and won’t break your bank. The site is my daily source of inspiration and its “Better Than Takeout: Thai Peanut Noodle Soup” was one of my Top 3 dishes in 2019.

Last year, I wrote a lot about celery juice and possible trends. I think there will definitely still be some new “juices” this year (cucumber juice, anyone?), But my motto is: just try it out and see what the body can handle. Some love to drink pure juices, like carrot juice with a little oil (preferably linseed oil) – and others (like me) love mixed juices from fruits & vegetables. On the one hand, you should definitely make sure to use seasonal fruits & vegetables so that our CO₂ footprint doesn’t continue to escalate. It’s also good to try “unloved” varieties like red beetroot (or even yellow beetroot in winter) and mix it with domestic apples to make the juice sweeter. Sauerkraut juice is also great for the intestines, but the taste is an unreasonable burden for me – that’s as far as I’m willing to go for my health 😉

I firmly believe that consuming a juice here & there can stimulate digestion, strengthen our organ systems and sometimes even replace one or two meals. BUT – and it’s a big one: starving the body down for a short period of time with a full-on “juice cleanse” is more damaging to you – mentally & physically – than it is beneficial. Your liver will already thank you graciously if you take a break and do without alcohol, sugar, flour & meat and instead eat more vegetable stews, legumes and perhaps even one meal less. Because if the body has less to process, it can also rest, regenerate and recharge your batteries.

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