The Truth About Juice Cleanses: Why They’re Not Doing Your Skin (or Gut) Any Favours

SANA Skin Cinic
11 minutes ago
3 min read

They look healthy.

They sound healthy.

But are juice cleanses actually helping your body detox - or quietly doing the opposite?

Let’s talk about the truth behind those “3-day detox” or “juice reset” trends that promise glowing skin and a clean slate.

Because from a naturopathic and skin health perspective, there’s more going on than meets the eye - and unfortunately, it’s not all green and glowing.

The Problem with Juice Cleanses

Most juice cleanses are marketed as a way to “reset” your body.

But what they really do is flood your system with sugar and leave out the fibre - two things your gut and liver are absolutely not thanking you for.

Here’s why:

When you juice fruit (and even most vegetables), you remove the fibre that helps regulate sugar absorption and support healthy digestion.
What’s left is a concentrated hit of fructose. That spike in sugar doesn’t just mess with your energy - it can trigger gut dysbiosis (an imbalance in your gut bacteria).
And your gut microbiome plays a huge role in inflammation, immunity, and yes - your skin health.

So while you may feel “lighter” for a day or two, your body may actually be more inflamed underneath.

Gut Dysbiosis = Skin Chaos

Your gut and skin are deeply connected through what’s known as the gut–skin axis.

When the gut microbiome is disrupted - from high sugar, low fibre, or nutrient restriction

- it can show up as:

Breakouts and congestion
Rosacea or redness
Dryness and dullness
Flare-ups of eczema or dermatitis
A generally “off” complexion that just doesn’t glow

In short: if your gut isn’t happy, your skin won’t be either.

The Liver Cleanse Myth

Now let’s talk about “juice liver cleanses.”

You’ve probably seen the claims: “Flush toxins, reset your liver, start fresh.”

The truth? Your liver already knows how to detox - it’s literally its job.

But here’s the catch:

If your gut isn’t in optimal working order, those toxins your liver breaks down have nowhere safe to go.

Instead of being eliminated properly, they can be re-absorbed into your bloodstream — creating what’s known as toxic recirculation. That’s the opposite of detoxing.

So while you think you’re cleansing, you might actually be re-circulating what your body is trying to get rid of.

A Naturopath’s Perspective

True detoxification doesn’t come from a bottle of cold-pressed juice, comes from supporting your body’s natural elimination pathways every day - gently, consistently, and holistically.

That means:

Eating plenty of fibre to keep the gut moving
Drinking enough water (not just juice!)
Supporting liver function with nutrients like B vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants
Balancing blood sugar levels with whole foods and protein
Prioritising sleep, movement, and stress regulation

When your gut and liver work together, your skin reflects that balance - clear, calm, and resilient.

The SANA Approach

At SANA, we don’t believe in extremes.

We look at your skin and wellbeing from the inside out - topically, internally, and energetically.

Our naturopath-guided programs focus on healing the gut, supporting liver detoxification naturally, and restoring balance to your skin microbiome.

Because when your system works in sync, your skin doesn’t need a “cleanse” - it thrives.

In Short

Juice cleanses might sound like a shortcut to glowing skin - but they often backfire, stressing your gut, spiking your blood sugar, and slowing down the detox pathways your body already has built-in.

If you really want to detox, start by supporting your gut and liver - not starving them.

Need any support, reach out - we are here to help

The SANA Team 🌿