Popularised by Dr Michael Mosley, the 5:2 diet can be a powerful tool for people who are looking to gain a number of benefits in one fell swoop. These are the kinds people line up around the block for - like up to a 40% reduction in breast cancer risk via better glucose tolerance, a reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes, dementia and heart disease, and weight loss (alongside ongoing weight management). Known and beloved by many nutritionists, this is a diet that’s used by athletes and everyday individuals alike to access a wide range of these potential health benefits, and can often become a long-term approach to food intake.
What is the 5:2 diet?
Simply put, the 5:2 diet is about eating steadily for five days a week and reducing calories significantly for two days of the week. While the practice of fasting has been around for years, the introduction of intermittent fasting in 2013 brought with it a focus on how our bodies can be positively impacted through focused windows of reduced calorie intakes. While people are advised to consume a standard amount of calories for five days a week, two non-consecutive days see calories reduced to 25% of their standard total - approximately 500 calories for women and 600 for men.
Many followers of the 5:2 diet have found that this is an easy and sustainable way to lose weight without seeing it ‘bounce back’, with many choosing to continue indefinitely on one fasting day a week rather than two once they reach their desired weight. When combined with an overnight fast of 12-16 hours, the benefits of this approach compound, particularly when it comes to heart health.
Practising the 5:2 diet healthily
There’s a big difference between approaching a 5:2 diet or detox regime with a mug of black coffee and a handful of diet biscuits and still consuming 5 fresh fruit/vegetable servings a day. Since this approach is solely based on calorie restrictions, rather than taking account of the food that’s actually being consumed, its followers could risk filling up their reduced daily intake with foods that aren’t providing healthy, beneficial long-term outcomes.
One easy way to make sure a reduced intake day is still loaded up with fresh fruits and vegetables? To drink them!
Juiced Life’s approach to the 5:2 diet sees followers reaching for fruit and vegetable juices on their reduced-calorie days while still remaining under the 500/600 calorie limit. This alternative is not only healthier and lighter to digest but also a filling and satisfying solution for those who are looking to keep their calorie intake within the 5:2 parameters. Full of vitamins and minerals, these juices are easy, convenient and also remove all of the planning for these days: all of the work is done for you.
Looking to shake up your approach to getting the nutrients you need while protecting your long-term health? Juiced Life’s 5:2 cleanse takes all of the decision-making out of the process, giving you what you need to make the most of this powerful lifestyle approach.
