It’s New Year, New You time, so it’s not surprising that juice cleanses are trending on Tik Tok once again. Let’s nix this myth the bud: Juice cleanses are not healthy. Here’s what happens to your body when you replace real food for juice for a week to drastically cut calories:

Your Muscles Shrink

This happens because your body needs amino acids and it will break down its own muscle tissue to get those aminos when there’s no dietary protein available. A week long cleanse can cause significant muscle loss.

You Get Hangry
Expect big-time mood swings. Without the carbohydrates, fat, and protein your body needs to make neurotransmitters that keep your mind calm and thinking straight, you will get considerably irritable.

Your Metabolism Will Slow Down
When you drastically cut calories, your body will go into starvation mode, throttling back your metabolism. You’ll sense brain fog, feel fatigued and weak, and may become jittery from the lack of fuel.

Your Sugars will Drop
When you embark on a juice-only diet, your glucose (blood sugar) will suffer. First, juice is loaded with sugars, which may cause your glucose to spike very high, leading to hyperglycemia symptoms like excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue and blurred vision. Next, you’ll likely experience a rapid dip in sugars. This is known as hypoglycemia, which can cause dizziness, rapid heartbeat, confusion, dizziness, and fatigue. In severe cases, loss of consciousness, seizures, or even death are possible.

You’ll Yo-Yo
Yes, you will lose weight, mostly from water and muscle loss. And the weight will come right back after you finish your cleanse, but not the muscle you sacrificed.

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