Last February I did my first juice cleanse ever. It may surprise people who know me that I had never done one before.

There are a few reasons I’d never done a juice cleanse. First, I didn’t know if I’d have the self-control to only drink (mostly) juices for a few days. And, of course, I love eating!

Second, with so many juice cleanse options, I hadn’t really looked into where to start. Some of my friends have done their own juicing and make their own juices for cleanses, and I haven’t made the time to look into preparing everything myself.

I had the opportunity to try the Spa Experience Juice Cleanse from Z.E.N. Foods, and the time was right. I was finally ready to try my first juice cleanse. Did I make it through all three days without cheating? Read on to get a peek into my juice cleanse experience!

The Spa Experience Juice Cleanse from Z.E.N. Foods

In the last few months, I found myself getting into some unhealthy eating habits. I noticed I had been eating more unhealthy foods including lots of processed food lately, and a juice cleanse seemed like a good way to take a step back and reset my food choices.

I was also finally up for the juice cleansing challenge and wanted to find out for myself why so many of my friends have raved about juice cleanses over the years.

The Spa Experience was perfect for me because Z.E.N. Foods took care of all the juice cleanse planning, and even delivered the fresh juice straight to my door. I tried the 3-Day Rejuvenate Cleanse, a 3-day juice cleanse which comes with a variety of fresh cold pressed juice options made from both fruits and greens.

Here’s What was included:

6 Fresh Pressed Juices Each Day
Ginger Detox Tea
Daily Raw Soup
Daily Raw Salad (Yes, there is some healthy solid food included to help you feel more satisfied!)
Himalayan Detox Bath Salts

Juice Cleanse Day 1

The night before each day of the cleanse Z.E.N. Foods delivers a cooler filled with all the fresh juices made with raw fruit such as watermelon, tangerine, cantaloupe, pineapple, strawberry, and lemon and greens like kale and spinach, along with other goodies for your cleanse like herbal tea.

Within the first hour of waking up, you are supposed to start the cleanse with the first juice. Then you space each item by about an hour and a half. You can also drink water as well to stay extra hydrated.

Mariana Rossano, Z.E.N. Foods CEO/Founder, shares: “Our juices are cold pressed fresh daily. We do not HPP (High Pressure Process, a process used to preserve juices) because they are delivered that same day they are made. We actually hired a holistic nutritionist to do the R & D and spent months tasting until we found combinations we love. Most of the ingredients are anti-inflammatory.”

My 3-day juice cleanse started with Zen Master (Alkaline Water, Lemon, Ginger, Pure Maple Syrup, Cinnamon). Then it was on to one of my favorites of the whole cleanse, Great Balls of Fire. (Chia Seed, Tangerine, Cantaloupe, Pineapple, Strawberry, Ginger, Turmeric, Cayenne).

Each juice in the 3-day juice cleanse is labeled with its ingredients and a number to guide you in the order of the cleanse.

There was also a soup and a salad for the day which I had for lunch and dinner. Everything was really fresh and delicious. Having the raw soup and salad made the juice cleanse a little easier, and I made it through day one with no problem!

Cucumber Spinach Salad with Ginger Lime Dressing

Each time I tried a new juice, it was fun to look forward to a new and unique flavor, which motivated me to keep going.

Juice Cleanse Day Two

Once again the juices were made fresh and delivered the night before the second day of the cleanse. My favorites of the day were the creamy cacao Milky Way (Almond Milk, Cacao Powder, Maple Syrup, Date, Himalayan Salt) and the refreshing Enlite-Mint (Watermelon, Mint).

Day two was definitely the hardest day. Towards the second half of the day, I started feeling hungry, emotional, and wanted to eat regular food. I forced myself to push through. I stayed on track and made it through the day. But would I be able to make it through day 3?

Juice Cleanse Day Three

Surprisingly, day three was the easiest day of the cleanse. I was totally satisfied with the juices and didn’t crave any other food. I was also really busy this day with meetings and errands which probably helped keep my mind off eating. The day went by really fast, and I enjoyed all the juices.

My favorites of the day were the Maca Naka (Almond Milk, Coconut Water, Hemp Seed, Cacao Powder, Maca Root, Date) and the first juice of that day, Spicy Lemonade (Pineapple, Lemon, Celery, Cucumber, Alkaline Water, Cayenne Pepper, Turmeric).

The Spa Experience includes Himalayan Detox Bath Salts.

I made it through day 3 and completed the juice cleanse with a relaxing Himalayan Salt bath (bath salts included with the cleanse)!

Final Observations

I think what made the juice cleanse especially enjoyable was that each of the juice recipes was unique and thoughtfully crafted.

It was fun trying a new flavor every few hours. I could tell that all of the fruit juices and green juice options were made from fresh ingredients.

While I loved most of the flavors, there were a few that just weren’t for me. In those cases, I just skipped on to the next juice. Now that I know which juices are my favorites, I’d probably try to switch a few of my least favorites for the ones I loved, if I were to do the cleanse again.

Some days I wasn’t able to get through all the juices, so I actually extended the juice cleanse for an extra half-a-day to finish the juices.

Included in the juice cleanse are three creamy drinks made with almond milk. I blended these with ice to make a smoothies. (I’m not sure if this is considered cheating, but they made for delicious ice-blended drinks.)

Green Dream is perfect for an ice-blended matcha drink.

It’s been a few weeks since the juice cleanse, and I’ve already been craving some of the juices again.

When it comes to benefits, here’s what I experienced after the 3-day cleanse:

I thought more mindfully about what I was eating and drinking. Each flavor was unique and created with intention. I enjoyed thinking about the flavors in each drink.

I got ideas for incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables into my diet. Fruits and leafy greens can provide health benefits. For instance, they can be a good source of essential vitamins (like vitamin C and vitamin A) and nutrients, antioxidants, and energy.
By the end of the cleanse my skin was really clear and glowing.
I felt great after the juice cleanse, and was happy that I tried something new.

How to Prepare for a Juice Cleanse

Mariana Rossano, Z.E.N. Foods CEO/Founder shares these tips for preparing for a juice cleanse:

Reduce intake of harmful substances into your body
- Substances like sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes will only add toxins into your body that the cleanse is trying to remove. Give your body a break by dropping these at least 2-3 days before starting your cleanse.
Stay Hydrated
- Your body will be working overtime as it adjusts to your cleanse. Staying hydrated by drinking 4-6 glasses of water a day before starting your cleanse will help your body acclimate and keep you from feeling burnt out.
Eat Healthy!
- Just because you are starting a cleanse doesn’t mean you can go wild with bad foods. Give your body a head start by avoiding fried foods and red meat before starting your cleanse. Eating more fruits and veggies will help jumpstart the benefits of your cleanse and make the transition into your cleanse smoother and more enjoyable.
Sleep
- As we said before, your body is going to be working overtime adjusting to your cleanse, getting a good night’s sleep in the days leading up to your cleanse will help you and your body immensely!
Exercise
- Simply adjust your workout routine to match your energy levels in the days leading up to your cleanse. Listening to your body is key.

I also want to mention that I didn’t do the juice cleanse to lose weight, but I know some people do them as part of a diet. I did lose around three pounds. In addition to a juice cleanse, Z.E.N. has healthy meal delivery options, including their most popular meal program, the Weight Loss Program.

“With the Z.E.N. Weight Loss Program, it's structured to each client’s needs. For example, you wouldn't give a 6'3 athlete the same program you would give a new mom,” says Rossano. “Our clients have a lot of success with our weight loss program and have their own personal consultant to go to with any of their needs.”

Z.E.N. Foods delivers throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura County, San Diego County, and certain parts of Santa Barbara and Riverside County. For more information, visit zenfoods.com.

(If you are considering a juice cleanse or weight loss program, it’s a good idea consult with you medical professional before making any changes to your diet.)

This website does not provide medical advice and is for informational purposes only. The content here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on Spa & Beauty Today.

Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. Her work has appeared in publications including Beauty Launchpad, Nailpro, DAYSPA, CNET, Entertainment Tonight, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16

I Tried My First Juice Cleanse and Here's What I Learned