Juice cleanse dos and don'ts?
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Time to read 7 min
Introduction
What are you allowed to eat and drink during a juice cleanse, and what is it better to avoid? This is exactly what most people ask themselves on the first morning. The answer is simpler than many think, and it starts before the first juice.
We go through, step by step, what helps and what does not, from the days beforehand through food, coffee, and exercise during the juice cleanse to breaking the fast. This way, you know each day what is good for you and what only holds you back.
Why you can trust us
- We have been making juice cleanses for years and hear every day what questions arise during a juice cleanse.
- We compare our tips with professional associations and current studies; all sources are listed at the end.
- We also tell you when it is better to stop during a juice cleanse.
Table of contents
Introduction What is allowed during a juice cleanse? The short answer This helps you Leave these out What can you eat and drink during a juice cleanse? What helps after the cleanse and what does not How to stick with it Conclusion Remember, every cleanse is personal FAQ: what is allowed during a juice cleanse Sources More blogs
What is allowed during a juice cleanse? The short answer
During the juice cleanse, you may have your juices, water, unsweetened herbal tea, and, if needed, clear vegetable broth. You should avoid solid food, coffee, alcohol, and sweets. Exercise is fine, but keep it gentle.
The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends at least 2.5 liters of fluids per day during fasting (DGE, 2018). This also applies during a juice cleanse, although the juices count only partially toward this amount. One important point beforehand: a juice cleanse is not suitable for everyone. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, for children, in cases of diabetes, or with kidney or liver disease, it should first be discussed with a doctor. You can find more information in our article on who a juice cleanse is suitable for.
Everything for the cleanse days
The BESSERE SAFTKUR PLUS for three days contains everything you need during the juice cleanse: cold-pressed juices at set times, a shot, and kombucha.
Plus a guide and follow-up program for the days afterward.
What to do and avoid before starting
Why the days beforehand matter
Even before the first juice cleanse day, it is worth eating lighter. Smaller portions get your body used to the lower energy intake of the following days, while soups and smoothies make the transition gentle. The German Medical Association for Therapeutic Fasting and Nutrition (ÄGHE) recommends at least one relief day before every fasting phase (ÄGHE, 2025). Starting this way makes the first days of the juice cleanse noticeably calmer. Our article on preparing for a juice cleanse shows you exactly how to plan the days beforehand.
"What you leave out makes room for what’s good for you." - David Kugler
This helps you
Juices at set times
Plenty of water and herbal tea
Clear vegetable broth when hungry
Walks and gentle yoga
Leave these out
Solid meals and snacks
Coffee and alcohol
Sugar and soft drinks
Competitive sports and long workouts
What can you eat and drink during a juice cleanse?
What is allowed
During a juice cleanse, you don’t eat solid food. Instead, you drink your cold-pressed juices, with the DALUMA juice cleanse offering one approximately every three to four hours. The juices are organic, contain no added sugar and are not diluted with apple or orange juice; each consists of up to eleven ingredients. According to the nutritional information, the BESSERE SAFTKUR PLUS provides 731 to 885 kilocalories per day. Water and unsweetened herbal tea are also allowed during the juice cleanse. If you become very hungry, clear vegetable broth can help.
- Cold-pressed juices at set times
- Water throughout the day
- Unsweetened herbal tea, hot or cold
- Clear vegetable broth when very hungry or after the sauna
Coffee, exercise and sauna during a juice cleanse
Can you drink coffee during a juice cleanse?
It’s best to avoid coffee during a juice cleanse. The DGE recommends avoiding caffeine by the day before fasting at the latest (DGE, 2018). Anyone who stops abruptly risks headaches. In a study of 100 adults, headaches occurred on 30 percent of caffeine-free days, compared with 10 percent of days with coffee (study on caffeine withdrawal, 2026). That’s why you should reduce your coffee intake step by step beforehand. You can find out what helps with headaches, feeling cold and hunger in our article on symptoms during a juice cleanse.
How much exercise is good during a juice cleanse?
During the juice cleanse, your body receives less energy than usual, so you should postpone competitive sports and long workouts. A 2025 study shows that after one week of water fasting, strength remained unchanged, while endurance fell by around 13 percent (Sports Study, 2025). Walks, gentle yoga and stretching, on the other hand, are a good fit, as the health insurance fund for employees also recommends. Many people find sauna sessions pleasant; you can compensate for the loss of salt with vegetable broth. If you do not feel well, our article stopping or interrupting a juice cleanse explains when taking a break is enough.
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What helps after the cleanse and what does not
Breaking the fast
Traditionally, fasting ends with an apple, eaten slowly and chewed thoroughly. Afterward, you gradually get your intestines used to solid foods again; soups and smoothies are well suited. After fasting, the ÄGHE recommends allowing three days of rebuilding (ÄGHE, 2025). The DALUMA juice cleanse includes kombucha in the cleanse plan and a rebuilding program for the days afterward. Our article how to rebuild properly after a juice cleanse explains what the rebuilding days look like.
No feast
The first large meal directly after the cleanse is the most common mistake. This way, you lose the sense of calm you gained during the juice cleanse on the very first evening.
How to stick with it
Avoid large, heavy meals during the first few days
Pay attention to hunger and fullness, as you did during the juice cleanse
Keep smoking, alcohol, fatty foods and sugar as exceptions
Take one habit from the cleanse with you, such as set times for drinking
“The cleanse does not end with the last juice, but with the first calm bite.” - David J Kugler
Conclusion
During the juice cleanse, one simple rule applies. Juices, water, herbal tea and, if needed, vegetable broth are allowed; solid food, coffee, alcohol and sweets are not. Exercise is beneficial as long as it remains gentle. The days before and after are just as important, because they determine how easy the juice cleanse feels. If you eat lighter beforehand and reduce your coffee intake, you will experience the first days more calmly. If you ease back into eating afterward, you will retain more of that good feeling. And if you do not feel well during the juice cleanse, taking a break is not a defeat but a good decision. For beginners, the BESSERE SAFTKUR PLUS for three days is a good fit; with more experience, choose the versions for five or seven days.
The author: David J Kugler
Founder and managing director of DALUMA. Writes about nutrition, juice cleanses, and holistic self-care.
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FAQ: what is allowed during a juice cleanse
What can I eat during a juice cleanse?
During a juice cleanse, you don't eat solid food. Allowed are the juices, water, unsweetened herbal tea, and, if you're very hungry, clear vegetable broth.
Can I drink coffee during a juice cleanse?
Preferably not. Gradually reduce your coffee intake in the days beforehand, which can help prevent headaches from caffeine withdrawal.
Is exercise allowed during a juice cleanse?
Light exercise is fine, such as walking, yoga, or stretching. Save competitive sports and long workouts for after the cleanse.
Can I use the sauna during a juice cleanse?
Many people find sauna sessions pleasant. Take it easy and replenish lost salt with a clear vegetable broth.
What should I do if I'm very hungry?
Drink water or tea and have a clear vegetable broth. If you feel seriously unwell, eat something light and listen to your body.
How do I end a juice cleanse properly?
Start with an apple, followed by soups and small portions. Allow two to three days to ease back into eating before returning to your normal diet.
What should I keep in mind before a juice cleanse?
Eat lighter in the days beforehand, drink plenty of water, and gradually reduce coffee, sugar, and alcohol. Don't schedule important appointments during the first days of the cleanse.
Sources
- German Nutrition Society (DGE), Therapeutic fasting, DGEinfo 2 2018
- German Society for Therapeutic Fasting and Nutrition (ÄGHE), Frequently asked questions about therapeutic fasting, as of 2025
- German Employees' Health Insurance Fund (DAK), Juice fasting: how it works, updated July 23, 2025
- Scientific Reports, Randa et al., Acute effects of caffeine withdrawal on headache among regular caffeinated coffee drinkers, 2026
- Nature Communications, Kolnes et al., Effects of seven days' fasting on physical performance and metabolic adaptation during exercise in humans, 2025
- DALUMA, nutritional information BESSERE SAFTKUR PLUS, product page, as of October 2026
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