How are juice cleanses and the psyche connected?

A juice cleanse changes not only what you eat, but also your daily routine, rituals and how you feel in your body. That’s why you often feel its effects mentally, too. A mood pattern that comes in waves is typical: difficult at first, then calmer for many people. When it comes to juice cleanses and mental health, the context matters more than the juice.

The key is knowing your limits. A cleanse is not a treatment for depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions. If you’re struggling with your mental health, talk to your doctor before fasting. Our article does a juice cleanse really do anything explains what a cleanse can achieve overall.

In the first one or two days, your body switches how it gets its energy. It uses up the sugar stores in your liver and muscles, which leaves many people tired and irritable. The German Employees’ Health Insurance Fund lists feeling cold, headaches, fatigue and exhaustion as possible side effects of juice fasting (Angestellten-Krankenkasse, 2025). Suddenly giving up coffee on top of that often makes irritability even worse.

The mind itself is just as important. Food comforts us, rewards us, and structures the day. When that’s gone, gaps appear, and that’s exactly when thoughts about food creep in. There’s also the social side. At lunch with colleagues or dinner with friends, you’re suddenly sitting there with a bottle. When it comes to juice cleanses and mental health, many people underestimate these rituals, not the hunger.

The evidence is thinner than many marketing texts suggest. There is little reliable data specifically on juice cleanses and mental health. Studies on fasting in general are more informative, and even there, it’s important to look closely.

In a large observational study of 1,422 people who fasted, physical and emotional well-being increased significantly over four to 21 days. Around 93 percent reported that they did not feel hungry (Wilhelmi de Toledo et al., 2019). However, participants fasted in a clinic under medical supervision, and there was no comparison group. The Medical Association for Therapeutic Fasting and Nutrition (ÄGHE) also reports that most people who fast notice an improvement in mood after initial discomfort (ÄGHE, 2025).

A review of eleven studies involving 1,436 participants found similar results. In randomized studies, anxiety and depression scores were slightly lower among those who fasted than in the comparison groups (meta-analysis, 2021). The researchers themselves emphasize that the studies were small and did not include people with mental health conditions. For juice cleanses and mental health, this means there are indications of improved well-being, but no proven effect.

For some people, a juice cleanse and their mental health simply don’t go together at the moment. That’s not a weakness, but a matter of timing. The Angestellten-Krankenkasse expressly advises people with an eating disorder against juice fasting, and also advises against it for people with chronic illnesses (Angestellten-Krankenkasse, 2025). Anyone who has had an eating disorder is also better off avoiding it, since restriction and control can trigger old patterns.

The same applies if you have depression, an anxiety disorder, or are going through an acute crisis. If you take medication for your mental health, talk to your doctor before any period of fasting. A particularly stressful period with little sleep is also a bad time; a calm, regular diet is usually a better support. If you’re unsure whether a juice cleanse is right for you and your mental health at the moment, it’s better to ask one more time. Postponing it costs you nothing.

If you notice during the cleanse that all you can think about is food, you feel guilty, or your mood takes a noticeable turn for the worse, stop. Then seek support from your primary care practice or a psychotherapist. You can find the full checklist in our article on who a juice cleanse is suitable for.

Most mood dips can be cushioned with a good routine. The most important step comes beforehand. Schedule the first two days of your cleanse on quiet days, cut back on coffee during the ease-in days and let friends or colleagues know that you’ll be eating differently on those days. Our article on preparing for a juice cleanse shows you how to plan it.

During the cleanse, small substitute rituals can help give your day structure again. Drink your juice mindfully at the table instead of on the go, go outside at midday and write down two sentences in the evening about how you feel. This can teach you a lot about how juice cleanses and mental health interact for you. This observation is often more valuable than any number on the scale.

After the cleanse, it’s important not to make a drastic change. A gentle transition back to solid foods also helps keep your mind more stable, as described in our article how to transition back properly after a juice cleanse. If you want to give it a try, you’ll find all the options in our juice cleanses collection.

Juice cleanses and mental health affect each other. The first few days are challenging for many because they miss the energy, coffee and familiar rituals. After that, many people who fast report feeling calmer and clearer. Research supports this as an indication, not as a proven effect.

A cleanse cannot replace treatment. In cases of eating disorders, depression or an acute crisis, it is the wrong approach. For everyone else, a good routine protects your mental well-being more than any juice. Anyone thinking about juice cleanses and mental health together should plan quiet days, consciously replace rituals and carry honest observations into everyday life.