With stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek swearing by them, juice cleanses have become an undeniable trend in the beauty, health, and fitness arena. While they have their naysayers who maintain that our bodies are perfectly capable of cleansing themselves (which I whole-heartily believe), for me, doing a one, two, or three-day juice cleanse has proven to be the perfect “break†for my system when I’ve found myself over-eating from stress for an extended period of time.
I live a very healthy lifestyle; I workout 5 to 6 times a week (spin, cardio, pilates…I’ll try anything!), eat a truckload of fruits and vegetables, and consume almost no processed or fried foods. Unfortunately, I do have a sweet tooth and have been known to overindulge (cake, ice cream, mousse, I love it all and once I start, well, sometimes I can’t stop!). Recently, after indulging in my cravings a little more then I’d like, I opted for a one-day Ritual Cleanse to not only give my body a physical break, but to help clear my head (you’d be surprised at how great it is to not only not have to grocery shop, but to know exactly what you will be putting into your body before the day begins).
Ritual Cleanse’s classic cleanse comes ready-to-go (the company ships nationwide) with six fresh-pressed, 100% organic vegetable and fruit juices that are designed for you to drink throughout the day for maximum nutrient absorption. A single day of this cleanse has more than 15lbs of the highest quality raw fruits and vegetables. The juices are made with all kinds of goodies like kale, celery, romaine, cucumber, agave, cinnamon, lemon, and ginger (don’t worry the “green†juices have apple to sweeten them). What sets this cleanse apart from so many others, however, is that it comes with a unique fitness option. Called “Shred”, those who lead an active lifestyle can opt to add two of these juice components for a pre- and post-workout boost. No other cleanse offers something like this.
When you consume all eight juices you take in about 1,400 calories, which is enough to not only safely exercise, but after my one-day run with this “detox†I felt refreshed, more alert, and not the least bit dreary. I also didn’t get a headache like I have on other juice cleanses.
I drink green juice on a near-daily basis and, even by my lofty standards, Ritual Cleanses’ were awesome. The best drinks, however, were hands-down their milkshake-like cashew milk (drink six) and post-workout almond drink, which were both dessert-like and fabulous. 
However; I can’t stress enough that, day-to-day, I eat a TON of natural foods so drinking these kinds of vegetable-rich juices is something my body is very familiar with. Friends of mine often ask me about cleansing and I tell them that if they’re steak-loving, french fry-eating gals who cringe at the sight of leafy greens, a cleanse like this will feel like torture. Further, while cleansing is often used as a way to shed a few extra pounds, it’s not an effective dieting tool and you’ll gain back any weight you lose. Ritual Cleanse calls their cleanse “Reset†and to me, that’s exactly what it is.
If you’re interested in trying the cleanse that I just finished click here. Don’t forget to drink lots of water and tea between juices and if you feel like snacking – I usually do, not because I’m hungry, but just because I get the urge to chew on something – reach for carrots, celery, zucchini, or any other raw veggies!
Images: Ritual Cleanse
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