Best Juices for Weight Loss

Tomato juice, cucumber juice and carrot juice can be practical choices for weight loss when they replace higher-calorie drinks. None causes weight loss on its own, and the calories in a particular product depend on its ingredients and serving size.

Juice is optional, not a requirement for losing weight. For a wider look at beverages, see the best drinks for weight loss.

Which 5 juices are best for weight loss?

These choices are based on practical features, such as the opportunity to choose vegetables or avoid added sugar—not on trials proving that one juice is the best for weight loss. Compare labels: a vegetable-and-fruit blend can have a different calorie content from a juice made mainly from vegetables.

1. Tomato juice

Tomato juice can be a useful savory alternative when you want to replace a higher-calorie drink. Its flavor may also make it easier to choose a vegetable juice without added sweeteners.

Look for tomato juice with no added sugar, and compare the sodium on labels. Some products contain substantial added salt, while lower-sodium versions are available. Pour a measured serving rather than assuming the entire container is one serving.

For a simple variation, serve it chilled with a squeeze of lemon or a sprinkle of pepper. It can accompany a meal, but it is not a substitute for one: a glass of juice alone does not provide the variety of foods needed for a balanced meal.

Evidence: There is no good evidence that tomato juice itself causes weight loss. Its potential role is as a replacement for a drink with more calories, provided the rest of your eating pattern stays consistent.

2. Cucumber juice

Cucumber juice is a mild, water-rich choice. An unsweetened version may be appealing if you prefer a light drink, but its calorie content depends on what else is added. Cucumber juice blended with sweetened juice or syrup is a different choice from cucumber juice without those additions.

Check the ingredient list on bottled products, particularly those marketed as green drinks. At home, you can blend washed cucumber with water and keep the pulp if you like its texture. A blend with pulp is not quite the same as strained juice, and the amount of fiber retained will vary.

Use cucumber juice in place of a higher-calorie beverage rather than adding it on top of your usual intake. If you find it leaves you hungry, have it alongside a meal instead of relying on it to keep you full.

Evidence: No good evidence shows that cucumber juice directly produces weight loss. Its usefulness is mainly practical: it can provide flavor while helping you replace a more calorie-dense drink.

3. Carrot juice

Carrot juice offers a naturally sweet vegetable flavor without necessarily needing added sugar. It can fit a weight-loss plan, but sweetness and calories vary between products, especially when carrot juice is mixed with fruit juice.

Choose a product with carrots high on the ingredient list and check the serving size and calories. A label that says “no added sugar” does not mean the drink is calorie-free: carrots and other produce contain naturally occurring sugars.

Drink a measured portion with food if you enjoy it. Whole carrots are another option when you want something to chew; juicing can remove much of the fiber that comes with the whole vegetable. Keeping some pulp in a homemade blend can retain more of the vegetable, although it will have a thicker texture than strained juice.

Evidence: There is no good evidence that carrot juice has a specific weight-loss effect. It may help only as part of an overall eating pattern that supports weight loss.

4. Green vegetable juice

Green vegetable juice can combine ingredients such as cucumber, celery and leafy greens. Its potential advantage is flexibility: a mostly vegetable-based, unsweetened blend can replace a higher-calorie drink without depending on sweetness for flavor.

The color alone does not tell you how much sugar or how many calories the drink contains. Some green juices also contain generous amounts of fruit juice or sweeteners. Read the ingredient list and nutrition label instead of assuming that every green product is similar.

For a savory option, choose a blend made mainly from vegetables. If you prepare a blend at home, wash the produce and use clean equipment. Retaining pulp gives a different texture from straining it, so choose the version you will actually enjoy.

Evidence: Green vegetable juice has not been established as a weight-loss treatment. There is also no good evidence that it has a special detoxifying effect. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification; the lungs and gut help eliminate waste.

5. Orange juice

A small serving of 100% orange juice can fit a weight-loss plan if you enjoy it and account for its calories. It contains naturally occurring sugar even when no sugar is added. Because it is easy to drink quickly, pouring a serving into a glass can be more useful than drinking directly from a large container.

Choose 100% orange juice rather than a sweetened orange-flavored drink, and compare serving sizes when checking labels. An orange is another choice when you prefer a whole fruit; juice generally has less fiber than the fruit it comes from.

Evidence: A randomized trial of Moro orange juice extract reported weight-related differences compared with placebo. The trial tested a concentrated extract, not an ordinary glass of orange juice, so its results do not show that orange juice causes weight loss.

More broadly, a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of 100% fruit juice and body weight included observational studies and randomized trials. It does not establish fruit juice as a weight-loss drink.

How much juice should you drink for weight loss?

As a practical starting point, pour 4 US fluid ounces (about 120 mL) and check the calories for that amount on the label; this is not an official limit or a prescribed weight-loss portion. Use the calorie calculator to estimate how a serving could fit into your overall intake.

Compare that serving with what you would otherwise drink. Replacing a higher-calorie beverage with a lower-calorie juice can reduce your intake, but adding juice without replacing anything adds calories. Results also depend on the rest of your food and drinks, activity, sleep and other individual factors.

Pay attention to the serving size on the label. If your pour differs from the listed serving, adjust the listed calories to match what you drink. For homemade juice, the calories depend on the produce and other ingredients used; they cannot be determined reliably from the color or glass size alone.

Juice is not a shortcut around regular meals. Pairing meals with water and eating whole vegetables or fruit instead of drinking them can be a practical option if juice does not keep you satisfied. Avoid juice cleanses or plans that replace meals with juice: they are unnecessary for weight loss and can make it harder to get a balanced diet.

Who should be careful with juice?

If you have diabetes or take medication that affects blood sugar, discuss juice portions with your healthcare professional. Juice can contain carbohydrates even when it has no added sugar, and your needs may depend on your treatment and eating pattern. Do not change or stop medication to accommodate a juice plan.

If you have kidney disease or have been advised to limit potassium or fluids, ask your care team which juices and portions are appropriate. People managing high blood pressure should check sodium, especially in tomato and vegetable juices.

During pregnancy, choose pasteurized juice and wash produce thoroughly if preparing it at home. Juice-based weight-loss plans are not appropriate for children; speak with a pediatrician or registered dietitian about any concerns about a child's growth or weight.

See a healthcare professional for unexplained weight loss or if you are struggling to eat adequately. Seek urgent medical attention for fainting, severe confusion or other severe symptoms, particularly if you have diabetes.