October 1, 2018, 4:05 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

Five days without solid food: Our author pushed her limits with juice fasting. Find out how she fared in the video diary.

I was persuaded by my FITBOOK colleagues to try a nutrition experiment (though I must admit, the initial idea was mine). We’re talking about a five-day juice fasting regimen. Excuse me?

What Exactly Is Juice Fasting?

Juice fasting is a form of therapeutic fasting. Typically, such a regimen lasts five to ten days—depending on how comfortable you feel and whether you’ve done it before. During this period, as the name suggests, only fruit and vegetable juices, tea, and water are allowed. You abstain not only from solid food but also from additives and stimulants like coffee and alcohol. The intake of many vitamins and minerals is supposed to improve well-being and promote general regeneration. By the way, since I had never done anything like this before, my family doctor and a nutrition expert accompanied me.

Also of interest: What happened when I tried to go eight weeks without sugar

What the Experts Say

Both my doctor and nutrition expert Jörn Utermann view the experiment with skeptical amusement. “It’s not dangerous because it’s only five days. But it certainly won’t do you any good,” my family doctor said upfront. I was surprised: After years of the internet suggesting that juice cleanses are a kind of miracle cure, I had hoped for more encouraging words!

The nutrition expert explicitly advises against juicing fruits and vegetables. Important fibers would be lost in the process. He suggests drinking fruits and vegetables pureed—as smoothies. Additionally, I should try not to overburden my body in everyday life.

Writing a Juice Plan

If you want to plan a juice cleanse yourself, prepare for a lot of work. Chopping and juicing everything yourself takes time! I deliberately wrote my juice plan the week before the cleanse so that I only had to shop and chop. The blender does the rest. But even that involves a lot of work. If you have a 40-hour workweek, prepare for early mornings. Especially when the first symptoms start and exhaustion sets in, it’s not exactly fun. Keyword: symptoms.

My Symptoms

Even though I do little physical work, fasting takes its toll on me. I feel weak and also suffer from severe stomach cramps. At the office, I’m tired and unfocused. On top of that, I’m constantly cold. My usual six to seven hours of sleep suddenly aren’t enough. Over time, my motivation for the experiment dwindles, and bad moods set in.

Supposedly, the low should be over after one to two days. I should start feeling awake, fueled by endorphins. Supposedly. But I don’t notice any of that. I only dream of Saturday when I can finally bite into something solid again.

Also of interest: Eating more consciously with the food pyramid

The Break

Day five: Even though losing weight wasn’t my goal, the scale shows two kilos less than on day one—still, I’m fed up! After battling nasty stomach cramps from night four to day five and not even vegetable broth can keep me warm, I’ve had enough. I give it another chance after getting up and drink my breakfast smoothie as usual. I wrestle with my ego, which warns me against quitting so close to the finish line! But by mid-morning, the headaches return, and I feel—pun intended—completely juiced and powerless.

Also of interest: From skinny to muscle-bound in 10 weeks—self-experiment in video

At lunch, I don’t line up at the juice bar as usual but get myself a nice currywurst with fries. For dessert, I even add a big cup of coffee. Amen! After the brief loss of control, I try to eat healthily in the following days. I notice that I feel better day by day.

Disappointed by juice fasting? Yes and no. Because I also draw a positive conclusion: I eat more consciously again and only drink coffee when I really need it. As a self-confessed snack and caffeine junkie, that’s a win.

Also of interest: These foods are hidden sugar bombs

Finally, the Conversation

Finally, I had a conversation with nutrition expert Utermann. “The headaches are mainly due to caffeine withdrawal. If you usually drink four to five coffees a day, that’s a consequence of a sudden withdrawal,” he says. Additionally, the body suffers from a lack of iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 and doesn’t get enough nutrients from the one-sided diet. As no proteins are consumed, the body has to draw them from existing muscles, which suddenly start to break down. This leads to fatigue and weakness.

What Was the Cause?

Is juice fasting dangerous? No. Did I feel better and more vital from juice fasting? No. Can you lose weight with juice fasting? No, at least not in the long term! Can you do it by eating a balanced diet? Definitely. Living on just fruits and vegetables isn’t the right way in the end! Instead, it’s important to focus on a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients.

How I fared and felt during the five days in detail can be seen in the video! A small note: Somehow my phone ran out of audio juice during the juice diet. Please excuse the not always perfect sound quality.