I’m not talking about those ‘crash-diet, liquid-only’ juice binges that people go on in hopes to melt off a ridiculous amount of pounds in days; I’m talking about naturally assisting your body to rid itself from harmful debris/toxins that are often left behind in the intestines & colon due to diets lacking the proper fiber and nutrients. If done properly, a natural cleanse may also benefit one’s desire to shed some weight- as studies have shown that a lot of our (Americans) health issues (i.e.: obesity, bad skin, high blood pressure & retarded hair growth) can be attributed to a sluggish digestive system as a result of a poor diet.
Executing a full body cleanse is quite simple. The idea is to minimize the workload of your digestive system while providing your body with enough energy to carry out your daily activities. A full body cleanse can be done over different amounts of time, however, we would suggest only tackling this feat for approximately 3 days (weekends probably being your best bet, especially if you work full- time). Some may think, 3 days..that’s nothing. Well, there is some preparation that should be done prior to just jumping in to a cleanse head first.
Here, we will discuss what we believe to be the best way to jump start a new, healthier and possibly even sexier you! (And just in time for Valentine’s Day!)
*BEFORE STARTING ANY DIET OR HEALTH REGIME, ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN FIRST*
First, it’s a good idea to invest in a quality juicer. (I have the Jack LaLanne Juicer & it's great!)
The benefits of a juicer are simple-they help us to get our proper serving of fruits & veggies ,but without having to sit & eat them one by one and possibly be tempted to add unnecessary calories (and perhaps chemicals depending on what products you purchase) from condiments such as whipped cream and ranch dressing. The average adult is supposed to consume 2 ½ cups of veggies/day & 2 cups of fruit/day. This isn’t the most difficult thing to do (but I know I even struggle with it) so, having a juicer around can make being healthy a lot easier. If a juicer is not an option, then a blender will work out; plus it gives you the option to make delicious smoothies!
Second, (The Preparation): Before starting your cleanse, it’s a good idea to take about 2-3 days to curtail your intake of the following foods as they put a significant strain on your digestive system:
Ø Alcohol
Ø Coffee (or any caffeinated beverages)
Ø Salt
Ø Sugar (and other sweeteners—especially if artificial)
Ø All Animal foods (mainly beef, pork & other flesh meats)
The goal here is to eat light & healthy during the days leading up to and during your cleanse. Foods like, salads, whole grains, legumes & nuts are best, as they are high in fiber and should move very easily through your digestive tract. Staying well hydrated is also key, so drink all of the filtered water you want; Adding lemons, peppermint leaves or a tea bag to the water will help keep things interesting—feel free to drink it hot or cold.
Lastly (Cleanse): Over the next 3 days (or however long you choose) you will want to keep your refrigerator stocked with lots of fresh fruits & veggies, here is a small list to help get you started:
- Avocados
- Cucumbers
- Pears
- Broccoli
- Celery
- Apples
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Sweet Potatoe
Via a few online searches or even with just the limits of your imagination, you will be able to create exotic combinations of fruit & veggie juices/smoothies that will help keep you satisfied throughout the day. You will want to strive to have one of these drinks about every 3 hours or so and during the in between time feel free to eat light—using salads, mashed sweet potatoes and yogurt to fight off hunger. After your cleansing trial is over, you may slowly start to introduce other foods into your diet (i.e.: meats & sweetened beverages) if you so choose.
Applying these tactics once/month can do great things for your health, beauty & overall well-being.