The benefits of juicing

In 2010, Joe Cross chronicled his health transformation in the documentary Fat Sick and Nearly Dead.

The former finance worker lived a “hard-charging, hard-working” life where the way he dealt with stress was damaging his body. “For me, that meant over-indulging every day in processed foods, weights, lots of animal products, alcohol and tobacco,” he says. “My life was lived to the max 24/7, it wasn’t a surprise in hindsight that at 32 I developed an auto-immune disease, chronic urticarial angioedema. Basically, it was like a terrible case of painful hives that were triggered by any pressure at all.”

More than 45kg overweight and taking “debilitating” medication every day, Cross decided to take action. He decided to follow a strict diet of juicing fruit and vegetables, and has managed to turn his health around in the process. To promote the release of his second documentary, Fat Sick and Nearly Dead 2, he tells Yahoo7 Health how a juicer changed his life.

What was the catalyst that drove you to makeover your health?

On my 40th birthday, I looked in the mirror, and I almost didn’t recognise the fellow looking back at me. More than 45kg overweight, dosed up daily on meds, without a shred of the energy and vitality that has characterised my youth.

And I finally had a massive breakthrough: perhaps I was the problem? What if the life I had been living – turning my back on Mother Nature, consuming food that had been incredibly processed, and burning the candle at both ends – has made me ill?

Then and there, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I did a 180-degree shift and decided to spend a period of time consuming nothing but fresh vegetable and fruit juice, which I called a Reboot.

I followed that up with a period of eating nothing but veg, fruits, nuts beans and seeds. After a matter of months I had not only lost the weight, but was able to stop taking my medication without any recurrence of the urticaria.

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What benefits did you get from juicing?

I flooded my system with so many incredible micronutrients, vitamins and enzymes from all of that amazing produce. After the first two days (which were rough), I started to feel much better. Improved mental clarity, better sleep, more energy. All of my vitality came flooding back. It was amazing.

How people can incorporate juicing into their lifestyle in a more moderate way?

First, speak to your doctor. Find out if they think this is a reasonable path for you. Second, you don’t have to do an extreme Reboot like I did. You can start by simply adding one large juice a day, with 80% veg and 20% fruit in place of a soda or iced coffee drink. See how it makes you feel. If you’re like me, you will get hooked on that feeling of having high-performance fuel in the tank!

What ingredients do you always have in your fridge?

Kale, ginger, green apples, coconut water and the like. But there’s also a pint of ice cream in there since I believe that we shouldn’t deprive ourselves of the things we love but rather enjoy them in moderation.

What are your top tips for plant-based eating?

Find plant food you love. Take the time to learn to prepare it. Shop for produce first when you are in the supermarket. When in doubt, make a big juice to get the benefits of tonnes of fruit and veg in one glass.

What's the secret to maintaining your weightloss?

There’s no secret – it’s about keeping an eye on it, having a community of people who support you, and picking yourself up again if you stumble. I made [my second film] Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead 2 because I found that maintaining your health in an unhealthy world is a challenge. So I went to the experts to find out what other things contribute to our wellbeing.

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Is it still a constant struggle to maintain?

Struggle is a big word. I think I would say that it is a challenge to make healthy choices when we are bombarded by messages enticing us to make less healthy ones. But there are ways to handle it.

How does harnessing the support of your community help you achieve your health goals?

Knowing that you can talk to someone about what’s going on emotionally is a real comfort – far more comforting that pouring your heart out to a bag of crisps! And helping others when they stumble really reinforces your own commitment. Like most challenges in life, it’s easier with a mate along to help!

Joe’s new film Fat, Sick and nearly dead 2 is now available on all major digital platforms including iTunes and the DVD from www.rebootwithjoe.com.