Last week I shared a post about Clean Juice, a company delivering raw, organic products with a refreshing level of honesty and authenticity. We also discussed the benefits of cold press juice (why it’s different from pasturized juice) and why Clean Juice’s cold press cleanses are different from other juices cleanses. This week, as promised and requested, I’m sharing my experience and results from doing a 1-Day Clean Juice Cleanse.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I only recommend products or businesses I have tried or believe would be beneficial. All opinions expressed are my own honest thoughts.
Setting It Up
All Clean Juice products are crafted fresh to order, including their cleanses. So you actually schedule your cleanse in advance by selecting the date you want to do it and placing your order in person or over the phone with the shop. The cold press juices have a shelf life of about five days, so Clean Juice staff take into account what day you will be picking up the cleanse and what day you will be actually starting it to ensure maximum freshness. You do need to pay for the cleanse at the time of order, but you can schedule it for whenever you want, whether that’s the next day, week or month.
I scheduled my cleanse a week ahead of time for my weekly gym rest day (which that weekend just happened to be on my birthday). I planned to pick it up the day before on Saturday then start it first thing in the morning on Sunday. They logged my pick up date, start date and phone number into the cleanse log and then it was as easy as strolling in on Saturday and picking it up!
Types of Cleanses and Prices
Clean Juice offers six cleanse options. You can do a “Juice Til Dinner” cleanse for $36, which includes four juices and you juice through breakfast and lunch, finishing the day with a light dinner. You can also do one of their standard full day juice cleanses, from the 1-day cleanse up to 5-day cleanse. Each full day cleanse is $54 and includes six juices (so the 1-day is $54, 2-day is $108, and so on up to the 5-day cleanse). Clean Juice also offers a discount of 10% off group orders of at least 15 cleanses (which could be a neat thing to do together as a group with people from your gym, church or office). I did the 1-day cleanse.
How It Works
Once you pick up your cleanse, it really is as easy as following the directions on the box. Each juice is placed in a numbered slot in the box, letting you which order to drink them. It also has a list of instructions and tips printed on the side to help you navigate your experience. You can have coffee during the cleanse (huzzah!) and should drink a full glass of water between juices. There are also some tips for dealing with hunger, should you experience any throughout the day. I also really liked that you can call your local Clean Juice shop to help answer any additional questions or concerns throughout your cleansing process.
You can exercise on your cleanse day, but don’t go crazy. Clean Juice cleanses do contain protein, but it still won’t be the day for an ultra heavy lifting session, half-marathon or a bunch of high impact cardio classes. Keep any workouts light and simple. You’re also encouraged to listen to your body throughout the day and use that time as an opportunity for self-reflection. Since this was my first ever real juice cleanse, I figured it would be easier to do on a rest day.
My 1-Day Juice Cleanse
I started my morning as I usually do, with a cup of iced coffee. I omitted my usual addition of coconut milk and Stevia and instead added cinnamon and a splash of the cashew milk from my cleanse kit. (Which technically I’m not sure if I was supposed to do since the cashew milk is scheduled for the evening… But since it was already on my menu for the day and I was struggling with drinking my coffee black, I decided to risk it.)
After my coffee, I was excited to crack open my first official juice of the day, the Sweet Green, which was made from a combination of cucumbers, apples, kale, spinach and mint.
I tasted a lot of the flavor from the cucumber coming through, light earthy notes from the kale and spinach and a gentle sweetness from the apples in this juice. I didn’t really detect too much of the mint. Overall, it was light, crisp and refreshing. And I felt surprisingly full after drinking the whole thing. I drank it in one sitting, as the Clean Juice staff recommended doing, to help keep my stomach full. After that, I was supposed to wait 2-3 hours before my next juice and drink a big glass of water in that time.
By mid-morning, it was time for my next juice. I was still feeling pretty full and content but couldn’t wait to open the Orange (mainly because I’d previously sampled it and knew it was good stuff.) This juice is crafted from a blend of carrots, pineapples, oranges and turmeric.
This was easily the sweetest and probably my favorite of the juices. I immediately felt a lot of the citrus coming through from the orange and pineapple but it wasn’t overpowering. The sweetness of the carrots balanced the tartness of the other fruits and the turmeric (which can sometimes have a bitterness to it if used in excess) gracefully weaved through each sip to tie everything together. It was thicker than the Sweet Green, which had a filling effect on my stomach.
About an hour or so after I’d finished the Orange, I did develop a slight case of the munchies. It was drawing closer to lunchtime and I felt my usual mid-day hunger signals kicking in. Since it wasn’t time for the next juice yet, I followed one of the tips on the cleanse box and had a handful of raw almonds to help curb my appetite (which was quite helpful) and kept sipping on that glass of water.
Next up was the Green juice. I didn’t pay much attention when I picked up it up and just assumed it was the same as the other green colored juice from that morning. It was not. The Green does have cucumber, kale and spinach like the Sweet Green, but its other ingredients of celery, lemon and ginger pack an entirely different kind of flavor.
The first thing to come through was a powerful kick from the ginger. I could taste the cucumber, although not as pronounced as in the Sweet Green, with light notes from the celery. The kale and spinach carried a little more bitterness in this juice, with a sharp zing from the lemon. This juice packs a punch of flavor with zero sweetness.
Overall, it was probably my least favorite of the juices. But that could just be because I’m personally not a big fan of ginger juice and tend to like sweeter juices. It could also have been that I was initially expecting to taste another Sweet Green juice and instead got a very different flavor, which kind of shocked my taste buds on that first sip. Overall it wasn’t too bad, but not my cup of tea. If you do this cleanse for yourself, just learn from my lack of observation and know that the Sweet Green and Green are not the same juice.
I was halfway through my cleanse for the day and on the move. My husband and I ran some of our weekend errands around town and he took me shopping as an early birthday celebration. We weren’t officially celebrating my birthday until the following weekend when my family could get together, which is why I’d gone ahead and decided to do the cleanse that week. In hindsight, I’d recommend probably not doing your cleanse on your birthday (you should really treat yourself to a cupcake or something that day) but overall, I was feeling good.
I’d made quite a few trips to the bathroom so far, as you might imagine between all that juice and water. But it wasn’t anything too crazy. It had been a few hours since my last case of the munchies and by mid-afternoon, I was starting to feel a bit peckish. Since the cleanse is about caring for the body (not trying to deprive it), I didn’t feel bad about indulging in another handful of almonds.
Next up was the Yellow juice, a mixture of lemons, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and filtered water. This drink was really more of a spicy lemonade than what I would consider a juice. It was crisp, zesty and the cayenne packed a peppery little kick at the end of each sip. I’d never had cayenne in a drink before and had been a little worried about if I would like it or not. It was actually light, refreshing and even helped open up my sinuses. If you are a lemon-lover, this is right here the drink for you.
Headed into the evening and I only had two juices left! I was excited about cracking open the Red because I’d previously sampled it (and the Orange) during the Clean Juice Lexington Square VIP Social Media Launch Party. The Red was made from a mixture of apples, carrots, lemons and beets.
Beets are a superfood exceedingly rich in color (so rich that some people use the juice in place of red food dye), giving the Red juice its vibrant hue. They’re also chocked full of vitamins, antioxidants, nitrates and a very strong, distinctly earthy flavor. When it comes to straight beet juice, most people either love it or hate it. The taste and smell of beets are so earthy that it reminds some people of freshly tilled soil. But Clean Juice found a way to make the beet juice in this drink delightfully craveable.
While the beet had a strong presence in the Red, it wasn’t unpleasant. Raw beets themselves are often sweet, which paired quite nicely with the flavor of the apple and carrot. The acidity from the lemon was faint but did an excellent job balance out the other ingredients so the drink didn’t feel overpoweringly sugary. Overall, the Red was my second favorite juice.
As dinner time came and went, I started feeling pretty hungry an hour or so after the Red (enough that I wasn’t sure almonds could resolve it). So I decided to follow another one of the tips on the box, which allowed cleanse participants to have a light salad in the event of a particularly serious case of the munchies. I had a leafy spinach salad with a small grilled chicken breast and felt much better.
The end of the day had arrived and it was nearly bedtime. That meant it was time for my very last bottle, the White. Like I mentioned earlier, the White was actually a cashew milk. (I’m a big fan of cashew milk and make my own quite regularly at home). I’ll tell you now, Clean Juice’s cashew milk is out of this world delicious. It’s made of cashews, filtered water, vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup and pink Himalayan sea salt. It was rich, creamy and tasted like someone figured out how to bottle a cinnamon roll.
Since it’s not technically a juice, I don’t like to rank it against my other favorite juices of the day (I prefer to think of the White more as a stand-alone beacon of tastiness). My tastebuds were heartbroken when I had guzzled the very last drop. The White is scheduled as an end of day filler to keep the stomach happy before bed, so about an hour later, I called it a night and went to sleep.
The Next Day
I woke up feeling refreshed and well rested. According to the scale, I was two pounds lighter and I felt quite lean. This had been my first ever true juice cleanse and I found it to be an interesting and enjoyable experience that brought an undeniable sense of accomplishment the following day.
I really liked that this cleanse was practical in allowing flexibility for the individual. The juice cleanse I attempted in high school failed because (aside from the issue that I had been drinking store-bought pasteurized juice) there was zero tolerance for any kind of slip up in willpower (which ended with a mid-afternoon snack binge). That left me feeling really bad about myself instead of allowing an opportunity to care for and invest back into my body. The Clean Juice cleanse allowed me to have patience with myself and listen to my body.
There’s also something very cathartic about utilizing those extra hours in a day that are normally centered around meal time to focus on self-discipline and personal reflection. I’m glad I decided to do it on a day off from work and the gym. I took some of that time to do things I hadn’t made time to do recently. I read a few chapters from a book. I worked on a knitting project I hadn’t touched in a while. I wrote out a timeline of goals and crafted an article lineup for my blog. I felt focused and purposeful.
And I’ll go ahead and let you know that if you’re wondering when then “cleansing” portion of the juice cleanse really seems to kick in, it appears to be the next day. I’m not going to scar anyone by oversharing the details here, but let me tell you. It gets “things” moving in the body.
All in all, I enjoyed my cleanse experience and think it would be a positive thing to incorporate on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. For someone who is new to juicing or doing their first-ever juice cleanse, I would recommend trying the “Juice Til Dinner” or the 1-day cleanse to get started. You might even try doing it with a friend or family member to have an accountability partner throughout the day (or 15 friends to get that 10% off group discount). And even if you don’t live near Clean Juice Lexington Square, remember to check out the Clean Juice main website and using their store locator to find the location nearest to you!
If you do try out a Clean Juice cleanse (or have in the past), I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
All writing copyright © 2018 Rachel Elise Weems Woods. All personal photos copyright Rachel Elise Weems Woods or contributed with permission by Clean Juice Lexington Square.
Luci Cook says
I personally haven’t tried a juice cleanse but I have heard a lot about it. It seems like it could be easy enough to do for at least one day. I like that this company uses simple ingredients.
Reese says
I would definitely recommend starting with a one day or partial day cleanse to begin. And to make sure that you are using fresh, organic juice!
Ana says
What a Fantastic Post – I really enjoyed learning about your cleansing experience and how cleansing is good for the body. I’ve been thinking about going on a much needed cleanse since I’ve been eating the wrong foods for a couple of months (feeling bloated, tired, etc.). I love the convenience of these beautifully packaged bottles that have all the right ingredients. I will look into this and pinning for future reference. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Reese says
I’m so glad it was helpful! And I would definitely recommend trying a Clean Juice cleanse!
lifeofaministermom says
I’ve been hearing a lot about this Clean Juice lately! Thanks for the info!
Reese says
You should check them out!
Christie Moeller says
I am a HUGE fan of juice cleanses! I haven’t tried this brand before so I need to check it out!
Reese says
Do it, girl!
Amanda Martin says
I did my first ever juice cleanse last year and I started with a 3 day cleanse. It was awful haha I think one day would be much better!
Reese says
Oh, man, three days right out the gate would be pretty rough! Haha, I think that the juicing until dinner or one day cleanse is much more realistic for a newbie!
mammascookinggf says
I’ve always been curious about cleanses and have been thinking of making my own juices, but this would definitely be much easier!
Reese says
It is so convenient!
Jenni says
I’m glad that you listened to your body and ate a few almonds! Cleanses can be wonderful, but that doesn’t mean that they are one-size fits all for everyone’s needs during the day. This one looks particularly tasty and full of really awesome nutrients. Looks like you found a great balance for your own needs.
Reese says
Most definitely! Every body is unique and you need to listen to its needs!
Pooja Krishna says
I like that this cleanse is so chockfull of good nutrients and cold pressed juices are always a great bet. Thanks for sharing the details – very useful!
Reese says
I’m glad it could be helpful!
Rebecca says
I have been waiting to hear how this went for you! Thanks for sharing. I’m super bummed there is not a Clean Juice in my area yet. The juices sound amazing! I will keep making my own until one comes near me!
Reese says
I hope one comes to your area soon! They are awesome!
Christine says
These look like a great product to try. I haven’t tried a juice cleanse but maybe I’ll give it a try. Thanks for your review!
Reese says
You should check and see if there are any in your area!
Crafty For Home says
Looks like a refreshing juice for detox and daily consume! The ingredients also all natural!
Reese says
It was!
lauriegannon1 says
I never thought I would say I want to try a juice cleanse but I think I do now. I think it would be very challenging to do so without an accountability partner. I need to see if this service is available in my hometown…
Reese says
Yes, I think that having an accountability partner doing it the same day would be super helpful!
thiscurvylife says
Man this is a great idea. I love the red juice. I should try this. I was just discussing this with a girlfriend
Reese says
Do it!
I'm Busy Being Awesome says
This is fascinating! I’ve heard so much about juice cleanses, but I’ve never looked into them. I love you point about taking that extra time usually used for meals to spend on personal reflection. What a great idea 🙂
Reese says
I would highly recommend it!
Mimi says
What a great review! I’ve never tried a juice cleanse before. I love the bright colors for each drink, and the cashew milk sounds out of this world delicious!
Reese says
It totally was!
Shaily says
Wow! These juices are a great and healthy way to cleanse the body. I would love to try the delicious ones though. The white and the orange one would be my favourites. 🙂
Reese says
They were great!
Theresa | Bridesmaids Confession says
I have lots of food allergies so I like to stick to making my own food to make sure I know what I’m getting. These would be good for on the go though.
Reese says
I too struggle with a growing list of food sensitivities and intolerances. The great news about these juices is that what you see on the ingredient list literally is what you get. I’ve been on a tour of their store and see how they make their products. It’s all raw, certified organic produce without chemicals, additives or preservatives! They literally put the fruits and veggies in their cold press machine and then bottle the juice!
Theresa | Bridesmaids Confession says
That’s awesome. I will have to check it out!
Lindsay says
My favorite part about Clean Juice is the AMAZING smell that hits you right as you walk into the store – mmmm! Nothing beats the smell of fresh-pressed juices!!
Reese Woods says
Yes! So fresh and delicious!
Alex says
Love Clean Juice and everything they stand for. It amazes me how many “healthy” and even liters “juice” shops use unhealthy ingredients. Not only is Clean Juice the exception to this rule, but they use ALL organic products when available, something that sets them even further apart. I also love all their in-store items and snacks. I’m on my first cleanse as I type this, midway through the day, and so far I’m loving it. Definitely seems like a physical and perhaps even more importantly for me, mental reset. I am strongly considering subscribing monthly!
Reese Woods says
It’s hard to resist a quality company with quality products!
Jen says
I’m doing a 2 day run of the Juice till Dinner right now with my husband. The Blue is in the 3rd juice spot, it’s light and refreshing (Lemon, pineapple, agave and blue spirulina), but it’s a bummer we don’t get the yellow with this one. I love spicy lemonades. My local Clean Juice is closing at the end of the month and I am devastated!!!
Thanks for the recap! It was helpful in choosing what to start with!
Reese Woods says
Ooo, The Blue must have been a tasty new addition! And nooooo! Hopefully there’s another Clean Juice location somewhere else?