BACKGROUND

If you follow me on social media, you will know about my debilitating migraine condition. In the past 3-4 months, they have worsened and I've now been put on preventative medication by my neurologist.

I have now been on the medication for a month. Have things drastically improved? No. On saying that, I haven't given it a long enough time to give it a fair assessment. The caveat is that the success rate is 65% and that I had to give it 3 months. So, I remain hopeful.

Meanwhile, I have really taken a step back to examine my current lifestyle and what has changed in the past 3-4 months.

Apart from the demands of every day mummy/wifey duties and my growing ministry to manage, I cannot isolate any changes in life that could have worsened the migraine condition. Either that, or it could be the summation of small things such as dining out more and dropping my gym workouts and just that extra bit of stress with life.

I wondered if going back to some clean eating may decrease the frequency of the migraine attacks.

Without much of a clue on where to start, I decided to experiment with the cliché - the 3-day Juice Detox.

What I had hoped for was some weight loss and to minimise the belly bloating. I was also hoping to see some improvement in migraine frequency and relief from migraine symptoms.

In the end, I took it on for 4 days. Yes, 4 days without solids.

IN SUMMARY, HERE ARE THE 'Why's

My body felt like the detox, not my mind.
I wanted to try something different to see if my migraines would get relief.
My belly had been so bloated and I'd put on a couple of kilos from poor eating and sleeping habits in the past few months. I needed something to kick me out of those patterns.
I needed to replenish and nourish my body. How can I pour an empty glass? My body is the temple which houses the Holy Spirit. I want this to be a healthy temple (not just from the outside)!

AND THE RESULTS?

Not much of any weight loss - 0.5kg of water weight, to be precise
Belly bloating was relieved (only after 3 days though. The first day, I was even more bloated than before but it's normal)
Nope, did not lose fat. (Who am I kidding? But then again, that wasn't really the point of the exercise.)
Second day was the hardest. "Halfway is always hard." Think marathon, workout, entrepreneurship.. But I used it as a time for prayer when my mind became weak.
Skin is clear and supple.
Slept well.
Woke up refreshed.
Concentration improved.
A little fatigued during the afternoons but that's just expected of, as I was consuming less calories than the body was used to.
Sharper vision. Now this one is a surprise. No wonder the Chinese use this as a measure of health in Traditional Chinese Medicine (detox results in clearer vision).
Last but not least, perhaps I knew I was going to be lethargic and I didn't schedule much these 4 days, but it could also be the impact of feeling nourishment. My nerves are calm and I have had a very calm 4 days (contrary to what I had imagined.. "Hangry"...)

Overall, it was a good experience. It wasn't that hard to get through. I actually quite enjoyed it. I feel better and rejuvenated.

Although, on saying this, the day after it ended, I got a medium-level migraine attack. So, I don't think this juice detox did much for my migraines.

WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?

(Assuming I would do it again..)

The only thing I might do differently next time is buy it from the likes of Urban Remedy. It's hard work making them all yourself and by the time you buy all the ingredients, it works out to be around the same cost.

WOULD I DO IT AGAIN?

Hmmmm... Tricky one. I wasn't overwhelmed by the results of the detox. Perhaps when my vision gets a little blurred (which it can, from my migraines), I may consider a 2-day one. I'm actually a strong believer of balance and moderation in life. So, I'm not sure that depriving my body of solids for 3-4 days is healthy, per se.

In the right time and for the right reasons, I might consider doing it again.

But the short answer is, no - probably not again unless God calls for it. Maybe something for Lent?

Juice Detox Clears Vision. Really?