If you rely on coffee but are interested in a good juice cleanse for your waistline, you've come to the right spot. One of the biggest concerns for those trying out a juice cleanse is if they can drink coffee.
Well, the answer is a little bit more complicated than you think, and it might be wiser to give caffeine a break during your cleanse.
Can You Drink Coffee During A Juice Cleanse? (Full Detox Guide)
Consuming coffee during juice cleanses isn't the best option for your health.
During juice cleanses it's best to give your usual relationship with coffee a break as it will impact you differently on a liquid-only diet. Coffee, specifically caffeine intake, impacts our bodies and brain receptors and drinking it while you're probably deficient in certain vitamins (like B12), fiber, and protein isn't the best choice.
Things you typically find in meat, beans, and carbs will all be gone from your diet, so keeping your regular coffee from Starbucks is certainly not recommended. The problem is that drinking coffee while on a juice cleanse is that it can block the sleep receptors in your brain, increase stress hormones, and alter your pH levels.
That's why coffee is generally considered a no-go during a juice cleanse.
Can you drink coffee on a 3-day juice cleanse?
If you're going all in on a 3-day juice cleanse, you won't want to be adding coffee consumption to your diet. The entire method of a juice cleanse is to clean out your system by using natural juice only, avoiding processed foods and sticking to a healthy diet. This is what helps support weight loss.
The primary function of your liver is to act as a filtration system, and adding coffee to your diet can disrupt the detoxification process. You will also want to avoid drinking alcohol or juices with sugar added.
Can you drink decaf coffee on a juice cleanse?
If you usually have decaf during a pre cleanse then you might be wondering if it's ok? Unfortunately, even decaf coffee can have caffeine in it so it's not suitable for your all liquid diet.
Depending on the producer, decaf can have anywhere from 0.2-3ml of caffeine per serving. So, while decaf does remove around 97% of the caffeine, it doesn't remove it all. Also, decaf still has quite a bit of acidity in it, and therefore, clean drinking water is a better solution.
If you are going to drink decaf, just make sure to do so without milk or added sugar but if you want to get the best results out of your cleanse, we suggest refraining from all types of coffee entirely for the detox period.
Of course, it's hard to abandon our drinking and eating habits, and we know there are coffee addicts who simply can't go through a day's work without a shot of espresso. The reality is, if you do decide to consume caffeine, your order has to be as simple as possible.
A simple black coffee (iced, if preferred) can be a part of a detox juice diet as it has very little caloric intake. If you feel the need for caffeine for energy, that is. Make sure your black coffee has no sweeteners, creamers, dairy milk, or even plant based coconut milk or almond milk (basically keep it as a real black coffee), as they can add calories to the otherwise zero-calorie beverage.
How does coffee impact your body on a juice cleanse?
Blocks sleep receptors in the brain:
There's useful little molecules out there called Adenosine receptors which caffeine has the habit of blocking since caffeine is an adenosine blocker.
If you're an early bird looking for a morning boost, this works great, but if you're on a juice cleanse and need a good night's rest, then caffeine can prevent you from getting the sleep you need.
Can increase stress hormones:
After caffeine has blocked your sleep receptors, it is followed by a surge in cortisol which is a steroid hormone, as well as epinephrine. This can be likened to a big energy boost.
The problem is that while an energy boost from black coffee can be great for someone who is not on a juice detox, those that are on one do not want this boost to be stress-induced, which is exactly what drinking caffeine does.
Can alter pH levels:
Of course, caffeine is packed with acidity. If you are attempting to detoxify and stabilize your system, then all of this acidity can alter your pH levels and cause unwanted symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux.
Tips To Survive A Juice Cleanse Coffee-Free
Now you might be thinking, I want to try this juice cleanse cold turkey, no coffee. Here are some tips on how to survive a juice cleanse coffee-free.
- 1Cut Out Added Caffeine Sources Before Your Juice Cleanse
This includes energy drinks, chocolate, Coca-Cola, and caffeinated teas. Even though you might feel a huge rush of adrenaline from a chocolate bar, all of these milligrams of caffeine add up, so it's best to cut them out of your diet at least 2-3 weeks prior. - 2Consume Less Coffee Before And After Your Cleanse
This might seem like an obvious one, but many dieters decide to indulge as much as they can for a day or two before detoxing. This is not recommended as it can mean you feel some caffeine withdrawal symptoms when you do go cold turkey. Instead, slowly cut down on drinking coffee by at least a third before you start your cleanse so it's easier to avoid coffee on a juice cleanse. - 3Stay Hydrated
Many juicers feel just as energized with their fruit and veggie juices by day 3. Drinking plenty of water helps with this as it regulates your body temperature and improves your sleep quality, so make sure you drink water throughout your juice fast. - 4Find Alternatives To Help With Cravings
We recommend trying a herbal tea, green tea, or a caffeine-free coffee alternative to help kill cravings during your juice cleanse. We still advise cutting it out as much as possible, but this is a way healthier alternative to coffee.
The Best Coffee Alternatives For A Juice Cleanse
As we mentioned earlier, the best coffee to drink during a juice cleanse is a simple black coffee or Americano (hot or cold). This is if you simply must drink coffee; otherwise, here are the best alternatives for you during your juice cleanse.
Header | Best Coffee Alternatives For A Juice Cleanse |
|---|---|
Herbal Coffee | These are roasted and grounded herbs, grains, fruits, and nuts. They are brewed to taste like coffee. The best part is that there’s no caffeine or tannic acidity. |
Decaf Coffee | Decaffeinated or caffeine-free coffee is available, and it's a great way to cut down on caffeine from a juice cleanse. |
Herbal Tea | There is a range of decaffeinated herbal teas available in coffee shops. They’re a great way of adding flavor (like raspberry, mint, or herbal green tea) to suit your taste buds. |
Frozen Water with Fruit | The night before work, add a bottle of water with either lemon, berries, oranges, mint leaves, or cucumber slices in the freezer. It is a great way to stay hydrated during your cleanse. |
Caffeine Pills | Like drinking a cup of coffee, taking a caffeine pill helps with a temporary boost in energy, memory, and focus. However, this option may not be safe for everyone, so do your research and never take over the stated dose. |
Frequently Asked Coffee & Juice Cleanse Questions
What are the key benefits of juice cleansing?
If you've had a period of overeating greasy or fat-enriched foods, then a juice cleanse will benefit you. The intake of only fruits and vegetables can boost levels of important vitamins and antioxidants, including folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene.
Are there risks to a juice cleanse?
When you are juicing, you consume a lot fewer calories, so some dieters experience low blood sugar levels because the body does not have enough energy. Also, it's important to note that if you have/had any conditions or diseases within the body (kidneys, heart, liver, or bowel conditions, etc.), we advise you to see a medical professional before juicing.
Does a juice cleanse make you poop?
When you are only consuming juices, whatever your body doesn't absorb passes into your large intestine. This is where it is fermented by bacteria and can cause you to build up stool quite quickly. If you introduce juice cleanse laxatives to lose weight quickly, you could lose too many nutrients in your stool.
This can lead to dehydration and imbalanced electrolytes, so we recommend sticking to a plain juice cleanse. It should be enough to eliminate the toxins in your body. [1]
Does a 1-day juice cleanse do anything?
A one-day juice cleanse is a great way to remove some of the “dirt” from our insides. [2] It also gives our digestive system a break, especially if it is used to being fed fatty, meaty food. Instead, you are flushing your body with tons of nutrients, so you should expect to notice an increase in energy and bowel movements after your cleanse.
Conclusion
A juice cleanse can replenish your body, help with weight loss, and even improve your energy levels. Just remember to cut down on your coffee intake before you start and introduce coffee back slowly when you finish.
We bet you will feel great after, and it might bring you to appreciate your morning cup of joe a lot more.
References:
1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323136?c=729411048094
2. https://www.pulpandpress.com/one-day-juice-cleanse-benefits
