Thinking about trying a juice cleanse? Let me recount my years of cleansing, from my first DIY one to this year’s Plenish cleanse. My first was during my final year of my undergrad. I’d just finished my finals, and I felt sluggish. I’d been eating poorly, and my mind was clogged full of revision. I had actually wandered out of my final exam feeling like I was in a dream… What was I meant to do now?! So, I decided to try a juice cleanse. I’d been interested in eating seasonably (and had even dedicated my dissertation to the subject) so a juice cleanse felt just right. For my first, I tried a three-day DIY cleanse, where I made each juice myself, and rested at home. It was pretty chill!
Since then, I’ve regularly gone on cleanses, as a quick and easy way to get back in tune with my body. I find that I eat poorly when I’m overworked, tired, or stressed, and a juice cleanse helps signify a positive change in my body and mind. It helps me to invest in myself, replenish any lacking nutrients, and kick-start a healthier way to eat.
This year, I opted for a Plenish Juice Cleanse. I’ve been a fan of Plenish juices for years, as they’re often stocked in independent coffee shops across London. But their juice cleanse plans were a new discovery! Here’s how I got on…
Preparing For My Juice Cleanse
If you’ve been keeping up with me over the last few months, you’ll know life has been quite hectic. Most recently, a house move, and a trip of a lifetime to Argentina, to be precise! So, a cleanse was on the cards. It’s time to get back into a rhythm with my body and reduce the digestive issues I get when I travel and get stressed…
To start, I looked over the Plenish cleanse plans and decided to go for Level 2 cleanse, over the course of five days. Having previously done 1, 2, 3, and even 7 day cleanses, I’ve found a five-day cleanse best suits me. It means I can start on a Monday, and be finished by the weekend!
If you’re new to cleansing, I’d recommend starting at their Level 1 cleanse, which provides a well-rounded selection of juices, and an introduction to the hero of any juice cleanse: the big green juice. A good green juice sadly doesn’t taste all that nice, but it’s packed full of green goodness, so you’ll often find more complex cleanses feature more mean greens.
Alongside choosing a cleanse that’s right for you, it’s important to prepare in a healthy and mindful way. My guide to preparing for a juice cleanse will give you a good overview. You may simply need to start cutting meat and dairy from your diet, or you may need to speak to your GP. As with all my content – do what’s right for you. I can only share what’s right for me.
What’s In A Plenish Juice Cleanse?
Across all of Plenish’s juice cleanse plans, they use 100% organic fruit and vegetables. In my experience, this is the marker of a good juice cleanse. With organic fruit and veg being used in large quantities to create each juice, I personally don’t like the idea of pesticides also coming into the mix.
For the Level 2 Cleanse that I chose, I received a daily juice plan consisting of six 500ml juices:
- Lift Sweet Green Juice
- Shield Sweet Immunity Juice
- Boost Essential Green Juice
- Kick Spicy Lemonade
- Fuel Hard Green Juice
- Savour Caco Super M*lk
I also like that Plenish is taking steps to be more sustainable. For starters, their juices are carbon negative, meaning they are actively reducing the carbon footprint of each product, as well as offsetting the rest. The company is a certified B Corp, meaning it treats people and planet well across its supply chain. And in terms of the waste caused by each juice, Plenish uses 100% recycled plastic in their bottles, as well as paper-based packaging, and even ice packs that come in a soft plastic that can be recycled at supermarkets.
(In an ideal world, there would be a way to receive the juice without any packaging at all, but this is a close second. And before you ask about glass – my understanding is that the increased carbon emissions from the weight of the glass would outweigh the benefits!)
How I Got On During My 5 Day Juice Cleanse
Day 1
After a few days of eating raw, vegan food, I was ready for my cleanse. I woke up at my usual breakfast time and went straight to the fridge. There it was, my first juice! I washed the handy glass straw that came with my cleanse and got to drinking. Lift, Shield, and Boost were all sweet, tasty juices, so I got through them easily. Unfortunately, it was when I got to 4pm and went for the Kick juice that my caffeine headache rolled in, and it was a doozy! I pledged to drink my usual afternoon coffee on the next days, and soldiered on.
Day 2
Day 2, and I was more prepared this time! I woke up excited for my first juice, and found myself really enjoying the ease of the cleanse. No food prep, no washing up, score! Today I drank a coffee at my usual time, and felt a lot better. At dinner time, I decided to add in a miso soup, which is my own recommendation to anyone wanting a savoury addition to their cleanse. By bedtime, I was ready for my Savour nut milk and sleep!
Day 3
Day 3, and I had to head into my coworking space for the day. I packed up my juices, got my trusty glass straw, and went on in! With a jam-packed day, I ended up drinking two juices consecutively in the afternoon, as well as a whole load of water (because hydration is key!) I then met with a friend in Wagamama and enjoyed my fourth drink of the day alongside a miso soup (potentially the cheapest dinner out I’ve ever had!)
Day 4
On Day 4, I got off to a good start. I realised that I really enjoy having small breaks across my day, and the juices gave me that moment away from work. It felt nice to take 15-minute breaks for each juice and make that time my own. But then, my downfall: I dared to have a double-shot coffee and my heart rate stayed elevated for about three hours. You’d think by now I would have known not to, but!
Day 5
On the final day, I began to feel nostalgic about the juices – it was too soon to finish! I was in a rhythm and felt more connected to my body. I’d lost a little weight, my skin was a little clearer, and most importantly, I felt good. For my final juice, I headed to the beach, and drank through Fuel, before heading home for a long bath, pyjamas, and my Savour nut milk in bed.
The Results…
Over this cleanse, I began to realise that my body enjoys a routine – even if I don’t tend to. It made me realise that I need to dedicate more time to my meals, and really appreciate them. Of course, it’s not always possible to make food or choose healthy food, but the cleanse did help me to re-centre on those food goals.
I enjoyed Plenish’s plan much more than many others ranked in my juice cleanse plans review, too. The instructions were clear, with a QR code that meant I could keep them on my phone rather than in a paper booklet. The juices were tasty, with the exception of Fuel, but that was to be expected. And the brand itself is taking steps to be sustainable too, which I love to see.
Now that I’ve finished my cleanse, I’m considering purchasing a juicer for our new home. I’ve also got an Oddbox subscription, so I can up my intake of fruits and veggies. And on alternate weeks, we’re getting vegetarian Hello Fresh* meal kits, to ensure I stay eating more healthily even when pressed for time!
