Ten years ago, a bottle of green juice was the hottest accessory in town. It was part of a new wave of wellness that had It-girls, Victoria’s Secret models, and everyone else guzzling cold-pressed juices daily. Like all trends, however, the furor for squeezed kale and cucumber eventually waned. These days, the healthy beverage of choice is more likely to be a protein-and-collagen smoothie or a matcha latte whipped with some sort of non-dairy milk.
That’s not to say that green juice isn’t still a quintessential part of many people’s regular wellness regimens—and, in fact, the culture at large. As recently as 2023, Louis Vuitton’s Pacific Chill perfume, which features fresh notes of carrot and lemon, was inspired by Los Angeles’ enduring juice culture. And, according to a 2024 consumer report, the market for at-home juicing appliances was valued at $2.8 billion last year, and is projected to reach $5.6 billion by 2034. “The rising consumer inclination toward healthier lifestyles, coupled with the growing awareness of the benefits of fresh, natural juices, is driving market expansion,” the reports theorizes.
But is the practice of pressing vegetables, fruits, and seeds into juice actually healthy? According to many wellness experts, it certainly can be. “Green juices may help people achieve a healthier and fuller life as part of a clean, toxin-free diet and lifestyle,” advocates Carla Quijano, a health coach certified by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). “It has many benefits, including strengthening our immune system and hydrating at the cellular level.”
What are the benefits of green juice?
Because green juice is made from fresh vegetables and fruit, it contains a host of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. “It takes a significant amount of vegetables to produce 8 to 10 ounces of juice, and with that you are able to take in a high concentration of nutrients,” explains functional nutritionist and therapist Bridgette Becker of We Care Spa, a California detox resort that’s long been a go-to for celebrities and fashion industry veterans.
Furthermore, drinking green juice can be beneficial for the gut. “It helps the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which is indispensable for good gastrointestinal health and overall good health,” Quijano says. “Drinking one, two, or three green juices every day is an excellent way to start on the road to improving our health and well-being,” she notes.
The right ingredients
When it comes to getting the most benefits from green juice, ingredients really do matter. “A green juice that is made entirely from greens, with a little lemon, lime, or ginger is great,” says Becker. However, she adds, “a green juice that is made with more sweet fruit will actually impact blood sugar in an undesirable way.”
Quijano agrees. She recommends using low-sugar fruits like green apple and kiwi in addition to hydrating green vegetables. “It is best if the base of the juice is a water-rich vegetable such as cucumber or celery. Then you can add vegetables and any leafy greens you have at home,” she says.
Like Becker, she’s also a fan of incorporating ginger and lemon: “Lemon should be squeezed in the container before adding the rest of the ingredients, as it will help prevent oxidation. It can be extracted with the peel and seeds, which add extra nutrition like bioflanoids, but the flavor will be very bitter. A piece of ginger is also a must, as this plant has many anti-inflammatory properties and gives the juice a zingy flavor.”
Just keep in mind that some green veggies, like spinach and kale, are high in oxalates, so they should be avoided by those who follow a low-oxalate diet. “In that case you would want to look for or prepare juices made from low-oxalate vegetables such as lettuce, arugula, bok choi, cabbage, cucumber, and mint,” notes Becker.
It’s also best to stick to organics. “Or, at least avoid using the vegetables and fruits most contaminated with pesticides,” Quijano suggests, adding that conventionally-grown spinach and berries are often the biggest culprits. If organics aren’t an option, Quijano recommends soaking your fruits and vegetables in purified water mixed with a few tablespoons of aluminum-free baking soda to remove any residual agrochemicals. “After 15 minutes, toss the water and rinse the veggies well,” she advises.
In terms of the actual juicing process, both experts prefer cold-pressing. “If you make the juice in a centrifugal extractor, it will be very difficult to get juice from green leaves and herbs, so we do not recommend using them—it causes too much waste,” Quijano says. “On the contrary, a masticating extractor, also known as a cold press, will easily extract more liquid and nutrients from green leaves and herbs.”
The best time to drink green juice
Green juice can be a healthy part of a balanced diet any time of the day, but there are certain times when drinking one can be extra helpful. “They can be great first thing in the morning or mid-morning for an energy boost,” says Becker, who also recommends them if you’re feeling run-down or under-the-weather. “Add ginger for its anti-inflammatory benefits and fresh herbs like mint to soothe the digestive system. A small amount of thyme or garlic brings in their antibacterial properties if you are fighting a cold.”
The freshness of the preparation and the way you drink it also important—and, in some cases, might actually matter more than the time of day. “Dink it immediately after its prepared to avoid oxidation. Drink it in a glass slowly, tasting each sip, because saliva contains valuable enzymes that help you digest,” Quijano recommends. And, avoid ice: “A very cold drink is harder to digest as it slows down the stomach and intestines,” she says.
Can drinking green juice really help you detox?
From microplastics to agrochemicals, we are constantly hearing about the adverse influence of environmental toxins. Quijano says they are hard to avoid: “The toxins are found in processed and hyper-processed foods; in foods sprayed with pesticides; in medications; in drinking water that contains chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, pesticide residues and other contaminants; in the plastic from which we drink water or many foods are packaged.”
Can juice cleanses help us detox from all of that? Unfortunately, probably not. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is “no strong scientific proof ” in support of juice cleanses for detoxification. “Juice cleanses don’t give you enough nutrition. They’re linked with other health risks, too. And any weight lost during a juice cleanse could be gained back once you start eating a typical diet again,” the clinic notes.
At the very least, taking a break from solid foods could encourage a dietary reset and encourage healthier coping mechanisms, especially for those who are prone to emotional eating or stress eating. And, juicing can help give the digestive system a break from digesting fiber, which might be helpful for people with certain medical issues—though, as fiber is essential for a healthy gut, getting adequate fiber shouldn’t be avoided by most people longterm.
With all that in mind, if you do want to try a juice cleanse, be sure to stick with the ingredient recommendations outlined above. “Focus more on green juices than juices with fruits,” says Becker. “Alongside that green juice, it is also wise to have herbal teas, broths, and sufficient water.”
Also, preparing properly is vital. Becker recommends doing what she calls a pre-fast: “To pre-fast, take two or three days to eat only vegetables and low-glycemic fruits—no animal proteins—and eliminate caffeine, processed foods, and alcohol.”
Afterwards, don’t break your cleanse by eating a whole pizza immediately, either. Instead, follow the pre-fast protocol again. “Follow this as you come out of the juice cleanse to maximize the benefits of the cleanse and minimize any discomfort in the transition, and you will feel renewed,” Becker says, adding that if you have an existing medical condition, its best to consult an experienced practitioner first for maximum safety.
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