{"id":99656,"date":"2019-11-10t09:10:45","date_gmt":"2019-11-10t14:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.digitopmedia.com\/?p=99656"},"modified":"2022-05-12t06:21:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12t10:21:10","slug":"whole-body-cleanse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.digitopmedia.com\/whole-body-cleanse\/","title":{"rendered":"cleanse your body – how to detox your mind and soul"},"content":{"rendered":"
the first time i tried a cleanse wasn\u2019t a good experience. it was a short one \u2013 3 days of mostly juicing and smoothies. i did it because i was curious about how i\u2019d feel, but didn\u2019t look into it too deeply. i didn\u2019t decide why i wanted to do it, or the best cleanse for me.<\/p>\n
needless to say, it wasn\u2019t a success. i gave up after a day of drinking awful tasting smoothies. i love veggies and fruit too, just not all mushed together. had i given it some more thought, decided why i wanted to do a short cleanse, and then looked into the best options for me, i likely would\u2019ve been more successful.<\/p>\n
if you\u2019re thinking of doing a cleanse, here\u2019s some data that might be useful so your cleanse can be a success for you!<\/p>\n
a cleanse (also known as a detoxification) is a way of clearing the body of toxins we ingest from foods and our environment. cleanses have been around a long time, even dating back to some biblical traditions which included fasting.<\/p>\n
fasting and detoxing have been performed in many religious rituals dating back centuries. in both eastern and western parts of the world (greece, egypt, and china to name a few) there are traditions and religious rituals that include some form of detoxification to rid the body of harmful substances.<\/p>\n
it doesn\u2019t matter what part of the world you look at, most cultures have used things like herbs, fruits, and vegetables (all which have characteristics that remove chemicals and toxins from the body) as part of cleansing processes.<\/p>\n
cleanses aren\u2019t about starving yourself but about purifying the body to rid it of harmful chemicals and toxins. the purpose is to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.<\/p>\n
when following a cleanse, you still need to track your intake of liquids, whether a water or juice fast. take an app like noom<\/strong><\/a><\/a>\u00a0with you on your cleanse journey.<\/span> <\/strong> many natural ingredients can be used to support a cleanse, and you will often see most, if not all, of these ingredients when you do a “detox-diet” cleanse, like a raw diet or an organic\/non-processed, plant-based diet.<\/span><\/p>\n caffeine in green tea works as a diuretic, while antioxidants fight cellular damage. (journal of human nutrition and dietetics<\/a><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n packed with fiber to help naturally eliminate waste. (usda agricultural research service<\/a><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n greens are also a good source of antioxidants. antioxidants fight free radical damage that can be associated with toxins. (nutrition journal<\/a><\/em>)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n proper hydration helps in detoxification. (nutrition review<\/a><\/em>)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n inadequate diet damages the healthy bacteria responsible for digestion in the intestinal tract. (maturitas<\/a><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n yogurt (fermented milk) is an excellent source of prebiotics and probiotics. (british journal of nutrition<\/a><\/em>)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n natural fiber from fruits like apples works to relieve constipation by helping waste bulk up and pass out of the intestine. (nutrients<\/a><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n it offers potent antioxidant properties to help heal cellular damage. (herbal medicine: biomolecular and clinical aspects<\/a><\/em>)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n this all depends on which cleanse you choose, how long you stay on it, and your body. cleanses are not meant to be long-term. if you stay on certain cleanses for too long, it can become unsafe because you will deprive your body of key nutrients.<\/p>\n there are certain individuals who should not do a cleanse:<\/p>\n if you are concerned whether a cleanse is safe for you, consult with your family doctor about the specific cleanse and length of the cleanse you\u2019re considering.<\/p>\n following a cleanse means making some pretty big changes to your diet. a weight-loss and lifestyle app like noom<\/strong><\/a><\/a>\u00a0making tracking your intake easy.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n cleanses have side effects, which mostly arise when you\u2019re doing a water fast or juice cleanse. here are some of the most common side effects:<\/p>\n these symptoms can occur for a number of reasons.<\/p>\n first, eliminating most food and detoxing from processed foods can cause reactions similar caffeine withdrawal or withdrawal from other addictive substances. eliminating these substances can cause a brief, flu-like achy symptoms that may last a few days.<\/p>\n the body is always removing toxins; it’s a built-in detox system<\/a>. digestive upset on a cleanse is more likely due to an increase of fruits and vegetables due to their fiber and phytonutrients.<\/p>\n headaches, aches and pains, fatigue and brain fog are usually due to withdrawal from sugar, caffeine, etc and low calorie intake.<\/p>\n remember staying on a cleanse too long is not healthy or necessary. you don\u2019t want your body to go into starvation mode, so it\u2019s important to do your research on the specific cleanse you choose, and follow the guidelines.<\/p>\n also, pay attention to your body. it knows what you need and will let you know when it\u2019s time to return to a normal (healthy) diet.\u00a0\u201cthere is a balance when it comes to self care. the body doesn’t lie. it tells you daily what it needs. each day we adjust to what the body requires. what felt good yesterday may not work today.\u201d states\u00a0mandy ingber<\/a>, new york times best-selling author, creator of the\u00a0 yogalosophy, celebrity fitness and wellness expert.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there is not a \u201cone size fits all\u201d answer to whether or not you should cleanse<\/a>. if you are a mostly healthy eater, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and don\u2019t put a lot of alcohol or processed food in your body, you probably don\u2019t need to do a cleanse.<\/p>\n if you\u2019ve always wanted to try a cleanse, start with a short one and go from there. i wouldn\u2019t recommend jumping into a 14-day juice fast if you\u2019ve never done a cleanse before.<\/p>\n start with three-days. start with a raw-diet or a three-day refresh diet. see how that makes you feel and then maybe try a seven-day juice fast next time. and, pay attention to your body because it knows what you need and is always communicating with you. you just have to listen!<\/p>\n although we mostly hear about physical cleanses, i believe both physical and mental\/emotional cleanses are important to keep us at optimal overall health. although this article focuses mostly on physical cleanses, i also include some brief information at the end on mental\/emotional cleanses. <\/b><\/p>\n first, let\u2019s review some of the most popular physical cleanses.<\/p>\n before starting a physical cleanse, setup a journal to track liquid (and food if allowed on the cleanse) intake so you know you\u2019re getting enough nutrition to stay healthy. noom<\/strong><\/a><\/a>\u00a0is the ideal journal – the app is fast, portable, and easy to use.<\/span><\/strong> a juice fast is done by extracting juice from fresh vegetables and fruit and drinking those juices. this is your food source for the length of your cleanse.<\/p>\n you can do a juice fast by purchasing your fruits and vegetables and using a juicer to extract the juice, or you can purchase fresh pre-packaged juices from a variety of companies which offer 3, 7, 14, or 21 day juicing plans.<\/p>\n be sure to check your ingredients and know what you\u2019re consuming. remember the purpose of cleanses is to rid your body of harmful chemicals and toxins, so you want to be sure your pre-packaged juices are all natural.<\/p>\n juicing is a gentler way to fast than a strict water fast, which is when you eliminate all but water from your diet.<\/p>\n whether juice or water fast, some feel ill effects. this usually happens by day three of the fast. this can be seen as a con to this cleanse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n juice and water fasting are considered more \u201chard core\u201d ways to naturally cleanse your body, especially if you\u2019ve never done one before.<\/p>\n some of the pros to these types of cleanses:<\/p>\n some additional cons to consider:<\/p>\n the lower calorie content can slow your metabolism if you\u2019re on the cleanse for too long.<\/p>\n your body may think it\u2019s in starvation mode, which will slow your metabolism as a way to conserve energy. maintaining your blood sugar can be difficult due to the limited caloric intake.<\/p>\n if you haven\u2019t done a cleanse before, you may want to start with a less harsh option before trying a juice or water fast.<\/p>\n non-stimulant cleanses are those that were just mentioned above. they are all-natural ways of cleansing your system versus using stimulants (like enemas) to force-cleanse your colon.<\/p>\n because non-stimulant cleanses are natural and do work, this is often the recommended way to do a cleanse as they don\u2019t create any unnecessary stress on your colon. if you choose to use a stimulant for cleansing, the american academy of family physicians advises not using them for more than a few days. this answer depends on what you desire to get out of your cleanse. why are you doing it? some people do cleanses because they have physical symptoms they want to eliminate (headaches, fatigue, low energy \u2013 all which may<\/i> be the result of toxins in your body.)<\/p>\n some people just want to kick-start themselves into healthy eating. when you have your \u201cwhy\u201d behind the cleanse, you can determine what length of time is best for you.<\/p>\n the longer you do it, the more your body will adjust. i know people who\u2019ve done 14-21 day cleanses and healed their bodies of certain ailments (like headaches, fatigue, low energy) plus launched themselves into a completely new way of eating (elimination of processed foods, alcohol, and anything else that puts unnecessary stress on the liver.)<\/p>\n this varies by person so it\u2019s always best to start with a short cleanse and see how you feel before launching into a longer-term one.<\/p>\n three day cleanses often kick start you into a healthier eating lifestyle. consider it a reset. if you\u2019re doing a juice or water fast the hunger pangs actually start to dissipate after day three at which time you may feel flu-like symptoms, headaches, lethargy and breakouts.<\/p>\n beyond 21 days you may experience energy swings. some days you\u2019ll be highly energetic and other days you\u2019ll feel lethargic. this is also normal. your body is continuing its cleanse.<\/p>\n when deciding how long you want to do your cleanse, be sure to take into consideration your activity level and whether you will have time and space to deal with your energy swings. you want to honor what your body tells you and not push yourself beyond your physical capabilities.<\/p>\n it\u2019s not something to do during a busy time at work, while traveling, or when you might have highly intense workouts planned. consider it a healing time.<\/p>\n after your fast, when you\u2019re adding back in those healthy, natural foods, track your nutrients with noom<\/strong><\/a><\/a>. the clinically-proven weight-loss app will help you see how nutritious your new, healthy diet really is.<\/span> <\/strong> a detox diet<\/a> is one of the gentlest type of cleanse and may be all you need to rid your body of toxins and chemicals. by eliminating processed foods from your diet for a certain period of time, you allow your digestive system to ease up on the hard work it has to do with processed and chemical-laden food.<\/p>\n it\u2019s much easier for our bodies to process natural and plant-based foods, so this type of cleanse is one that gives your digestive system a break. it\u2019s not as intense as a water or juice fast but can provide your digestive system with a much-needed refresh.<\/p>\n there are many fresh\/organic\/vegan\/vegetarian types of detox diets to choose from, which include food lists and recipes. most require you to purchase your food and eat specifically from a \u201cclean-eating\u201d food list for a period of time (usually 3, 7, or 21 days.)<\/p>\n my husband did a \u201craw diet\u201d for about a month a few years ago. this is another type of detox diet and is exactly what it says it is \u2013 you eat \u201craw\u201d food (or food that is not cooked above 118 degrees, above which temperature it begins to lose nutritional value due to high heat.)<\/p>\n although my husband consumed a lot of food, it was only raw fruit and veggies, seeds and nuts. he drank only water (usually lemon water), green tea, and fresh juices.<\/p>\n it was completely raw and plant-based and resulted in him having a ton more energy and feeling \u201clighter\u201d \u2013 although he leaned out, that wasn\u2019t what made him feel lighter.<\/p>\n the \u201clightness\u201d came from his body not having to work extra hard to process unnatural foods though his digestive tract. that was a definite pro.<\/p>\n some of the cons to a raw diet and also the types of refresh diets mentioned above is they can be time consuming. they take a lot of planning and meal prep.<\/p>\n for raw diets, there is often a lot of volume of food for each meal to ensure you\u2019re getting enough calories for your activity level.<\/p>\n these diets also require shopping at organic and\/or locally grown markets to ensure the food you\u2019re getting doesn\u2019t contain harmful toxins. this too can be time consuming and is often why many people choose juice fasting or water fasting instead; however, i encourage this type of diet as a starter if you\u2019ve never done a cleanse before.<\/p>\n “one way to gain deeper insight and greater access to the ingredient supply chain\u00a0is to source domestically. in fact, there are several benefits to sourcing\u00a0domestically that go beyond fossil fuel reduction and transparency. there are\u00a0health benefits to consuming what grows in our regions – from preventing\u00a0allergies to increased nutritional value with freshness. and when you source\u00a0locally, you’re supporting more jobs within your community, promoting small\u00a0business, and assisting small farmers; keeping things local also makes it a lot\u00a0easier to create win-wins for companies and consumers since you’re often able to\u00a0be more flexible and creative in your collaborations!” states\u00a0abianne miller falla, co-founder of catspring yaupon<\/a>.<\/p>\n regardless of how long your cleanse is, remember to go back to \u201cregular\u201d eating gradually and slowly. you\u2019ve cleaned out your system so the first day back, i wouldn\u2019t suggest a huge steak and a bottle of wine.<\/p>\n that will not feel good!<\/p>\n add a little of each food group back in over the course of a few days (or longer, if you\u2019ve been on a longer cleanse.) listen to your body \u2013 it will let you know what it wants and needs.<\/p>\n “we’ve been conditioned to listen to experts and advice outside of ourselves. the reality is, there is no one way to eat. what works best for us is dependent on our own preferences, metabolism, genetic makeup, environment, and tastes. each body has different needs and only we can decide what works best for us. we’ve been taught to put our trust in someone else: a book, a weight loss program, a diet expert, a nutritionist, etc. it’s time to let go of what others tell us is the “right” way to eat, and look instead at exploring what our own bodies need!” states jenn hand,\u00a0food coach, blogger, speaker, retreat leader at jenn hand, llc<\/a>.<\/p>\n vitamin and nutrient intake, along with other nutritional factors, are critical to watch as you ease back into a\u00a0 natural, whole-food diet. noom<\/strong><\/a><\/a>\u00a0offers an extensive food database managed by nutritionists, so you know the information is current and accurate.<\/span><\/strong> doing a physical cleanse may be one way to eliminate toxins from our bodies but what about those toxins that plague our minds and hearts?<\/p>\n how do we eliminate those from our lives? there are a few ways you can do this and clear your mind, heart, and energy field of the negativity that can so easily plague us today.<\/p>\n i first heard this term in danielle laporte\u2019s book, white hot truth<\/i>. we live in a noisy world where it\u2019s easy to take on other people\u2019s opinions and advice as our own. it\u2019s also easy to hear other peoples\u2019 opinions so loudly that they overpower what is true for us as individuals.<\/p>\n i\u2019ve fallen prey to this throughout my life and relied on others\u2019 input to a fault. i decided to go on an input fast to clear myself of others\u2019 opinions and advice. this meant all decisions and answers that were best for me could come from the only source that truly knows what\u2019s best for me \u2013 me! how did i do this?<\/p>\n yes, i still talked to my family and friends. i still read and listened to podcasts. but, i didn\u2019t ask anyone for their opinion or advice about my decisions and choices. i didn\u2019t have conversations about what i was doing or trying to decide to do. those conversations are between me and me only. it\u2019s not that i don\u2019t respect others\u2019 wisdom and guidance. i was just abstaining from it for a while.<\/p>\n our world is noisy. if it\u2019s not chatter from the tv, social media, siri, text messages, or phone calls, it\u2019s often noisy in our minds. i created daily time to simply be quiet and still. although i do meditate, this wasn\u2019t meditation time.<\/p>\n it was time to sit at my pond or be out in nature where the only sounds were those of mother earth. it wasn\u2019t even a lot of time… maybe 15-20 minutes per day. it\u2019s in this quiet space that you can ask yourself for guidance.<\/p>\n you can ask yourself the same questions you\u2019d ask coaches, friends, psychics, or mentors. if the answers don\u2019t arise right away, they will eventually. they might show up when you\u2019re asleep, when you\u2019re in the shower, or when you\u2019re taking time to be quiet the next day. they will come because you\u2019ve created space for them to. trust in that.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\ncleanse ingredients<\/h2>\n
green tea<\/b><\/h3>\n
leafy greens (kale, spinach, broccoli)<\/b><\/h3>\n
water (hot or cold)<\/b><\/h3>\n
prebiotics and probiotics<\/b><\/h3>\n
high-fiber fruits<\/b><\/h3>\n
ginger<\/b><\/h3>\n
are cleanses safe?<\/h2>\n
\n
cleanse side effects<\/h2>\n
\n
should you cleanse your body?<\/h2>\n
types of cleanses<\/h2>\n
\n<\/p>\njuice fasting cleanse<\/h2>\n
water fasting cleanse<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
stimulant and non-stimulant cleanse<\/h2>\n
\n<\/p>\n3 day cleanse \u2013 7 day cleanse \u2013 14 day cleanse – 30 day cleanse<\/h2>\n
14 day cleanse<\/h3>\n
30 day cleanse<\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\ndetox diet plan<\/h2>\n
clean eating cleanse<\/h3>\n
plant-based diets<\/h3>\n
stopping a detox diet<\/h2>\n
\n<\/p>\ntotal body cleanse<\/h2>\n
mental and emotional cleanse<\/h3>\n
first, i cut off asking for others\u2019 advice and opinions.<\/h3>\n
second, i created space and silence to hear myself.<\/h3>\n