Juice cleanses detoxify and nourish the body. They can help you think more clearly, have more energy, and in the long run can give your appearance a youthful, healthy glow.

Many juice cleanse programs recommend drinking 6 juices each day. If youre planning on doing this for 3, 5 or 7 days or even one for that matter youre going to want some variety both to keep you motivated and to provide various
health benefits.

You can enroll in programs that supply the drinks, or you can make your own. If youre not sure where to begin, heres a guide for what to drink and why.

Go Green: Greens are a major part of any juice cleanse. They are full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that all serve to detoxify the liver, kidneys and blood and support the body through the experience. Theyre water soluble which means theyll help flush the toxins and theyre alkaline to balance your pH levels all of which are incredibly important during a cleanse. Celery is also loaded with potassium, folic acid, magnesium and essential minerals.

Since a lot of greens may be too bitter for most people, its usually a good idea to add something sweet like apple and lemon which can cut the bitterness and help the body absorb green nutrients better.

Try this combination:

Celery
Kale leaves
Green apple
Parsley leaves
Lemon
Ginger (optional be warned, ginger is spicy)

Fight Inflammation: Pineapple and turmeric are two great ways to fight the inflammation in your body that can lead to disease.

Heres a combination to try:
Carrot
Pineapple
Orange
Lemon
Turmeric
Apple (optional)
Calm Your Mind and Help Your Heart: Beet juice is a wonderful way to nourish and support your liver and kidneys, which in turn helps to calm your mind. It also lowers blood pressure. Ginger has a calming effect on inflammation throughout the body and at the same time helps improve blood flow. Apple may be sweet, but it is known to help stabilize blood sugar. Combine these and throw in some greens for good measure, and youll have a fabulous calming drink.

Beet
Apple
Carrot
Ginger
Romaine lettuce

Glowing Skin: Skin needs hydration and it needs oxygen. The juice from cucumbers makes a great addition to your juice cleanse. Carrots are high in vitamin A which helps maintain skin elasticity. They also have beta-carotene and antioxidants to prevent skin damage. And celery is high in chlorophyll, folic acid and magnesium. Apples can also help calm angry skin with beta-carotene and vitamin A.

Try this juice to make your skin glow.
Carrots
Celery
Apple
Cucumber
Digestion Help: This drink well call it healthy lemonade boasts mostly lemon and cayenne. The combination kicks your digestive system into high gear. It may not be the tastiest of all the juices, but it may be the most powerful.

Lemon juiced
Purified water
Cayenne

Energy Booster: When youre doing a juice cleanse, you may find a need for a boost in energy. This slightly sweeter combination is high in protein and minerals thanks to the addition of almonds and cinnamon is good for inflammation. What youre really doing is making almond milk with the help of a juicer. This is going to require some preparation. Soak your almonds overnight and in the morning add them to your juicer with a little bit of water and the result is almond milk.

Almond milk
Vanilla beans
Cinnamon
Dates
Agave (optional for sweetness)

The beauty of juicing is there are no rules and you dont have to stick to any one specific recipe. Play around with the ingredients. Try adding root vegetables like sweet potato which are high in beta-carotene and good for the skin, or herbs like mint or cilantro to adjust flavors. You can even add fruits like strawberries or watermelon for their antioxidant benefits and sweetness. By finding the combinations that appeal to you, youll be more likely to stick with it and reap the benefits.