Why would a bloke want to engage in a juice detox? That is the question I asked myself when six attractively packaged juices arrived on my desk at work. I'd committed to taking on Urban Remedy's winter detox — but was sceptical and a little nervous at the same time.
Like most Aussie males, I enjoy my fair share of processed food, love a fat steak and struggle to find a meal that's not perfectly complemented with a few cold beers. Basically, my diet could be better and I felt like doing something healthy.
A day of juice and soup seemed like a quick fix and something I could go through with. If you''re stronger willed than me, a three or five-day cleanse is also offered.
The Urban Remedy website makes all the flash promises you'd expect. Replacing solid foods with nutritious juices would "revitalise" and "re-energise" me, along with flushing my body of toxins. It all sounded ideal.
But did it work? Yes and no.
My first concern was going hungry and my second was feeling tired. Neither of these happened. Between the supplied juices, smoothies and soups, I had a strong nutrient hit every few hours — so I was actually taking in more than my usual food routine. It was simply better quality and suitably spaced out.
I was also wary that a "toxin cleanse" would be code for "diarrhoea", and during the day I'd be heading to the toilet for numerous ghastly visits. This was also a false premise. Nothing abnormal happened to my body the entire day.
And, perhaps that's where I felt a bit let down. I was expecting something to happen. I wanted to feel incredible and know that excellent things were happening to my insides. I wanted to feel revitalised and like a new me, just as I'd imagined before I tried this.
Once I'd gotten over this initial disillusionment I realised the detox had actually worked.
No, I wasn't five kilograms lighter (weight loss is reserved for people that cleanse for multiple days, while the one-day option rests your digestive system) and strutting the streets shirtless after the detox. What I was doing was making considered decisions about what I put in my stomach and actually caring about the nutritional value of the things I eat on a regular basis.
I guess a day of consuming ingredients like acai, chia, cayenne, agave, cacao and other things I can't correctly pronounce made me think, "Wow, a health cleanse can be pretty damn tasty!" and possibly something I'd do on a regular basis.
The two juices and smoothies would go down a treat on a sunny day, and the soups made for a warming and surprisingly filling meal. It doesn't come cheaply, however, but the benefits are worth it if you're willing to take it seriously.
A day may not be enough for a serious detox and if you think your six-pack is going to magically pop out, you'll be disappointed. Like most things, you won't accomplish much with a one-and-done attitude, but if the 24-hour cleanse is a catalyst to trigger some healthy changes in your life, it's definitely effective.
The details
Name: Level 1, 1-Day Winter Cleanse by Urban Remedy
The product: Two juices, two smoothies, two soups
Length: One day
Price: $75
The pros
Quality and taste
Professional service
Presentation. The bottles arrive in a reusable cooler bag — perfect for a few beers when you're off detox!
Educational
The cons
Cost
Doesn't work like magic
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