Review: Three day raw juice PHD Cleanse

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The PHD Cleanse juices

I stumbled upon PHD Cleanse five weeks out from my wedding day. With skin not as clear as it should be, the idea of flushing a bunch of nutrients through my body sounded like it might work some magic.

Pure Health Delivered is New Zealand's first HPP cold-pressed 100 percent raw vegetable and fruit juice cleanse system established by a personal trainer and a navy diver who, like many, see raw juicing as the solution to replenishing the body and soul.

Being cold-pressed means that, unlike blending or grinding, the fruit and vegetables don’t oxidize or degrade, keeping nutrients and enzymes intact. In the UK, drinking cold-pressed juices has even become a status symbol.

So, along came a box of 18 chilled 500ml bottles of cold-pressed juices and a 10 day window to complete the three day cleanse. Yes, you will need to make some room in your fridge as these juices need to stay chilled.

It’s three days of juicing, but really requires at least five days of conscious healthy eating. Following recommendations, I cut out most meat, dairy, caffeine and alcohol for two days ahead of the cleanse, and ate my fill of fruit and veges.

Feeling virtuous already - aside from succumbing to a morning coffee on day two – my first juice, the Pure Green, was full of flavour and satisfying. Cucumber, celery, kale, parsley, lemon, green apple, cos lettuce and spinach combine to form the most 'active' juice of the cleanse, jam packed with vitamins and minerals to alkalise the body and aid digestion. It feels like you’re drinking pure goodness.

Two hours later, it was time for the Yellow Hit. Described as one of the tastiest cleanse juices you will ever try, it is made up of green apple and pineapple juice with a hint of mint. Refreshing and sweet.

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By the time 12.30pm rolled around I was beginning to feel the need for something solid. It wasn’t a hunger, but more a light-headedness. Thankfully, another Pure Green seemed to go straight to my head and tie me over for another couple of hours.

And this is how I felt for the next two days, going through waves of lightheadedness and pangs of hunger. Herbal teas and water helped, providing a sense of fullness, but there’s only so much liquid my body can handle.

At 2.30pm, it was time for the Zesty Lemonade juice. This one was seriously spicy, containing the juice of fresh lemons, spicy cayenne pepper, sweet agave nectar and filtered water. The citric acid in the lemon juice is said to help to break down calcified substances in the body such as kidney stones.

There was another Pure Green around 4.30pm, followed by the delightfully thick and tasty Cashew Dream at 7pm. This final drink of the day is made up of cholesterol-free cashew nut milk with a touch of cinnamon and vanilla and was truly satisfying – delivering a substantial 2,535 kilojoules (605 calories), it was a welcome end to the day that well and kept me content until the morning.

After two and a half days of this, I have to admit, I bowed out. I couldn’t ignore my body’s needs any longer – it needed sustenance. It was a Saturday, I was at a market and the food on offer was too good to resist. If there’s one thing sure to make you appreciate the simple sensation that is eating, then a juice cleanse is it.

Nicole Deed, a qualified nutritionalist at FoodFight, says the 5,000 kilojoules (1,200 calories) provided daily by the PHD Cleanse is sufficient if you are a female wanting to lose weight.

She says the carbohydrates are great for brain function, “although I wouldn't recommend exercise as it isn't a well-balanced diet.”

However, aside from the Cashew Dream, these juices contain very little protein, she says.

“When your body doesn't get sufficient protein, it takes tissue from your muscles to get what it needs,” lowering the metabolism as a result. A diet with limited protein won’t fill you up “so you’ll just feel hungry again in no time,” she says.

For those considering a juice cleanse for weight loss, Deed says you should consider the fact that juicing actually rids nutritious fruits and veggies of one of their greatest fat fighting elements - fibre.

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“Fibre helps keep you feel full and is associated with a number of health benefits,” she says.

A couple of weeks post-cleanse, I am definitely more aware of what’s going into my body. There is no doubt that it’s helped me stick to a healthy diet. As for my skin, it’s on its way to being spot-free, in part due to my healthier food choices I'm sure.

Deed says she would recommend a juice cleanse like this “if that's what people need to kick start their new lifestyle.”

But, the cold, hard reality is the fact that our bodies are the best detoxers around.

“Our liver, kidneys and intestines filter the unwanted things we ingest and expel them through urine, bowel movements, breath and sweat,” says Deed.

Instead of juice cleansing, Deed says avoiding foods that are processed, high in sugar and saturated fat, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will support a healthy liver and avoid need to 'cleanse'.

“Remember, when juicing, you remove the fibre... which actually aides in weight loss. So eating whole natural foods will be more beneficial.”

“When you cut out entire food groups from your diet you need to start thinking ‘is this really good for me?’”

• PHD Cleanse basic three day cleanse costs $189 for 18 x 500ml cleansing juices delivered chilled to your door.