Drinking packed juice while fasting is generally not recommended, especially when considering common fasting goals and types.
Fasting involves intentionally abstaining from food or certain substances for a specified period. As the reference mentions, there are different types of fasting, such as water fasting (only water) and juice fasting, which involves drinking fresh juices.
However, the provided reference specifically discusses fresh juices. It warns that "drinking citrus juices while fasting is terrible idea as it can damage your stomach." Instead, it suggests drinking "freshly squeezed apple juice." This highlights that even within a juice fasting protocol, the type of fresh juice consumed is important.
Packed juices differ significantly from freshly squeezed juices. They are processed and often contain added sugars, preservatives, and artificial flavorings.
Why Packed Juice is Typically Avoided During Fasting
Unlike the specific fresh juice types mentioned in the reference, packed juices are generally not suitable for fasting for several reasons:
- High Sugar Content: Packed juices are usually high in added sugars. Consuming high amounts of sugar rapidly increases blood sugar and insulin levels. This action directly opposes the metabolic goals of many fasting types, such as achieving ketosis or promoting autophagy, and effectively breaks the fasting state.
- Breaks the Fasting State: For any fast aiming at caloric restriction or metabolic shifts, the calorie and sugar content in packed juice will interrupt the physiological state of fasting.
- Processing and Additives: The processing involved and the presence of preservatives or artificial ingredients in packed juice are not in line with the natural approach often associated with practices like juice fasting, which typically emphasizes nutrient intake from fresh, whole sources.
While a juice fast involves consuming calories from liquids, the reference context and general fasting principles indicate this usually pertains to specific fresh juices, not processed, sugar-laden packed varieties. The freshly squeezed apple juice recommended in the reference serves as an example of the kind of specific, less problematic fresh juice that might be considered within a fasting context that allows juice.
| Juice Type | Generally Suitable During Fasting (if juice is permitted) | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Freshly Squeezed | Potentially, depending on fast type and juice (e.g., fresh apple mentioned) | Reference warns against fresh citrus juice; check specific fast rules. |
| Packed/Processed | Generally Not Recommended | High in added sugar, calories, additives; typically breaks most fasting protocols. |
In conclusion, while the reference points out that some types of fresh juice might be considered in certain fasting protocols (like fresh apple juice, while cautioning against fresh citrus juice), packed juice is fundamentally different due to its processing and high sugar content. Therefore, based on common fasting practices and the nature of packed juices, drinking packed juice while fasting is generally discouraged.
