Cleansing diets
No matter what diet or lifestyle you choose, it should be important to question the foundation and purpose of it.
- Will this cleanse contribute to a better digestion, elimination or immune system support?
- Will this give you more energy and make you feel better in the long run?
- Or is this cleanse something to shed weight fast, made up of one food only?
- And lastly, is it drastic or balanced?
Cleansing to me should be part of a holistic approach and incorporated into one's lifestyle. It shouldn't be seen as a quick fix or something you do once in a while.
I personally believe juicing and eating raw fruits and veggies can bring positive results as they are filled with vitamins and minerals. The key is to eat and drink these healthy foods on a regular basis. Making them the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. If your regular diet isn't up to par and you rely on a quick juice cleanse here and there to make you feel better, that's where the disconnect can occur.
However, if you feel like you need to change your lifestyle and want to start juicing for a few days to help you transition to a healthier diet, then this solution may work for you.
The secret to keeping our bodies and minds healthy and unwanted chemicals and toxins out is to:
- maintain a balanced diet
- support your body with natural and regular cleanses
- focus on good gut and immune health
- reduce inflammation
- drink lots of clean water
- move your body as much as possible
- get sufficient rest (7-8 hours daily)
Why do people feel good after a cleanse?
It's because detox diets promote natural foods – no processed and packaged foods high in saturated fats, sugars and salt.
These changes are generally good for the body and thus help us to feel better. In addition, by eliminating the intake of high calorie foods, weight loss is inevitable. But, again this weight loss is temporary. It is mostly water and stored glycogen weight that will be regained once one starts eating normally. Only through exercise and clean eating habits can weight loss be maintained.
Listening to your own needs and taking into consideration your current health situation before choosing to do any cleanse is important. It's also ideal to verify with your health practitioner if a specific cleanse or product is the right one for you.
Cleansing naturally with whole foods
You don't need a short-term cleanse to eat the right foods and drink healthy liquids. Prioritizing a whole food diet with little to no processed foods can improve your health and well-being as well as help cleanse the body naturally.
Base your diet on science
A 2015 study published in the journal Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine showed that cruciferous veggies can boost liver health because of their anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. They're also high in fiber, which encourages the excretion of toxins through bile and stool.
Our liver is responsible for getting rid of toxic waste and filtering out what it doesn't need before it releases our blood back into our bloodstream.
Spinach and dandelion greens, among other green veggies, are excellent sources of chlorophyll, which is considered the top detoxifying plant pigment.
Colon care
Fibrous foods are the most beneficial for your colon, so be sure to eat plenty! Good sources include unpeeled fruits and vegetables, especially apples, oranges and carrots, oatmeal, barley and legumes such as peas, beans and lentils. They contain a trifecta of soluble fiber: inulin, oligofructose and galacto-oligosaccharide.
Flush it out
Diuretic foods can help reduce light water retention and can be useful for people who want to lose weight because in many cases the extra pounds are simply the accumulation of excess liquids, which is what makes you look bloated. However, you should keep in mind that if your diet is rich in diuretic foods, you must drink a lot of liquids to avoid dehydration.
Certain foods can help you lose weight or avoid fluid retention such as watermelon, apple cider vinegar, artichoke and asparagus.
Natural fat burners
Green tea is at the top of the fat burning food list. Green tea not only helps in burning body fat, it has so many other advantages. Green tea benefits your hair, skin and also helps in weight loss.
Another food that I personally love and enjoy every day is cinnamon. Cinnamon is one of the most effective fat burning foods. You can easily achieve weight loss benefits by adopting more cinnamon to your daily diet. You can see positive results from 1 teaspoon of cinnamon a day.
Nothing beats homemade
Cooking your food instead of store-bought or take-out can help you control your sodium intake.
There are also tasty and good for you salts like Herbamare which contain 12 organic herbs and sea salt. I use them in a wide variety of my homemade recipes, such as soups, salads, curry dishes and more.
Hydrate
Drinking lots of clean water is very important in aiding the eliminatory organs in their job of cleansing and detoxing the body. You can also stay hydrated by drinking organic fruit and vegetable juices, herbal teas and tonics. You can also add lacto-fermented Molkosan Berry to your daily regime by adding it to a glass of water. Its content in (L+) lactic acid is renowned for its traditional uses as valuable food. It is a source of calcium and potassium.
Herbal helpers
There are also natural herbal remedies you can use to relieve digestive issues such as bloating, heartburn, gas and nausea. Plants such as artichoke, boldo, dandelion and milk thistle are combined in the Digestive Aid Complex by A.Vogel. It comes in little tablets you can take before bed for a better tomorrow if you've overindulged in food or drink. Or can be used daily for 6 weeks to curb chronic digestive issues.
Mindfulness and awareness
A positive result observed by a lot of people while cleansing is the awareness and perspective it brings. By cutting out unhealthy foods and habits you can see more clearly as to what was bringing your energy down, what makes you feel bad, bloated, tired and inflamed.
With a better awareness, we can make better choices for our health and well-being.
References:
https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/tips-for-healthy-eating/diets-food-trends/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/detox-diets
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/detox-diets-101
https://www.guardian-ida-pharmacies.ca/en/article/effects-of-detox-diets-on-your-health
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499388/