How to Cleanse & Why People Are Doing it All Wrong

What is a Cleanse and the Body's Natural Detoxification System?

We have a gastrointestinal health crisis on our hands (or should I say in our digestive systems). Refined, low-fibre, processed foods, a lack of exercise, and a lot of stress have led our bodies into a sluggish and slow state of digestion, even though fiber helps maintain regular bowel movements crucial for eliminating waste. A cleanse is meant to support the body's natural detoxification system by giving your digestive system a break and helping your body absorb the correct nutrients. But little do people know, the body has built-in detoxification, and the digestive system works alongside the liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin to help us function optimally. As our food breaks down through the digestive tract, the liver filters blood and converts toxins into waste products, which are then removed through urine and bowel movements as part of the detoxification process. However, the body's natural detoxification relies on habits that support these systems so the body can function optimally and see results more quickly.

How to Cleanse with a Detox Diet

Rather than relying on a detox diet or restrictive cleanses, focus on sustainable habits that support the body's natural detoxification processes. Prolonged liquid cleanses may lead to nutritional deficiencies, and many cleanses are not FDA-approved. Research suggests detox diets often lack strong evidence, while daily habits offer great benefits for overall health. If you're looking for ways to get started and detox your body in a better, healthier and cleaner way, you've come to the right place. Here are 5 ways to start your “cleanse.”

1. Start Your Day With Lemon Water

Lemon in filtered water is an excellent source of Vitamin C and is known as one of the best ways to start your day. Not only is it refreshing, but drinking water first thing in the morning supports the kidneys, helps flush out toxins, and supports toxin elimination while supporting weight loss and helping your digestive tract.

 2. Don’t Skip Breakfast

Another common misconception with a cleanse is that people think skipping meals will help detoxify the body. But you're wrong. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it gets your metabolism moving after a long night's sleep. What you can do is cut out carb-heavy food items like bread or cereal that cause bloating, and reduce simple carbs and processed foods at breakfast. Focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, such as eggs or a smoothie, to start your day with fiber for digestion and waste elimination, plus vitamins; cruciferous vegetables support detoxification pathways and enhance detoxification enzyme activity, while antioxidants in antioxidant-rich foods help protect cells against damage.

3. Stay on Track

It's important to remember that doing a cleanse for a day or two isn't going to make major changes in your life. It's important to stay on track and stick to a plan that you can keep up with for a long period of time. Getting your body moving by exercising a few times a week and reducing processed foods while limiting alcohol is another way to help get rid of toxins in your body and stay on track with a cleanse, because daily movement enhances circulation, supports bowel regularity, helps speed the removal of waste products, and increases blood flow so the liver and kidneys can function optimally. During exercise, sweating through the skin can also assist as a minor detox pathway.

An effective cleanse can help:

• Remove built up toxins

• Strengthen the colon

• Repair damage from inflammation

• Makes digestive system more effective by supporting hydration for kidney filtration and toxin elimination; poor hydration can negatively affect health

• Increases energy

• Rebuild healthy bacteria

• Restful sleeps

• Improves concentration

• Kick-starts weight loss

More Information: 

• 6 Foods That Target Inflammation

• The 5 Best Diets for Pain Relief

Sources:

1. 1. Cleveland Clinic, Are You Planning a Cleanse or Detox? Read This First

   2. Health Line, 7 Ways Your Body Benefits from Lemon Water

   3. Today, 5 ways to cleanse your body in 1 day