The truth about cleanses

Posted on

17 August 2014

| Last updated on 19 April 2017

The truth about cleanses...

Unfairly thought of as a new dieting fad, cleanses (or cleansing) are in fact a simple short-term programs designed to cleanse the body of damaging and unwanted toxins. These toxins are generally absorbed naturally by the body through the consumption of food and drinks. The idea behind a cleanse is to cut out these items and concentrate on consuming certain foods, with the express aim of replenishing the body with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. While there is a large number of cleanses out there to try, here we offer four that are best suited to the warm climates.

Fruit Cleanse

Fruit lovers can easily adapt to this cleanse. The program should take between three to seven days for maximum effect, and it is straightforward to adhere to. Only fruit should be eaten, plus up to two litres of water, each day for the duration of the cleanse. Two of the best fruits for a detox are oranges and grapefruit. Grapes are also packed full of potassium and vitamin C, which help to fight off diabetes, cancer and a whole host of medical conditions. They are arguably the most nutritious of fruits and should be eaten regularly during this type of cleanse.

Fruit and Vegetable Cleanse

Similar to the fruit cleanse, with the exception that both raw and cooked vegetables are also eaten. This cleanse is all about maximum nutrition in a short space of time, usually no more than three days. It is perfect for a weekend when we have a little more time to think about how best to eat the selection of foods. As for which vegetables to eat, anything goes. Experts advise consuming as wide a range of vegetables as possible to increase the intake of nutrients and minerals.

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Sugar Cleanse

The main goal behind this cleanse? Avoid sugar. It sounds straightforward but given the amount of sugar found in the modern diet, it can be unusually difficult to cut it out completely. Even something as innocuous as skim milk contains sugar. The trick is to prepare natural and healthy meals each day and to avoid foods that obviously contain sugar. There is no time limit to this cleanse, and while it is designed to help people increase their energy and reduce their dependence on sugar, one other benefit is weight loss.

Juice Cleanse

If you think you might find it hard to just eat fruit and vegetables, why not blend them with a juicer for this cleanse? Take a selection of foods and simply blend them up into a tasty juice. The main benefit of drinking juice is that the body absorbs the nutrients much faster, thus helping to detox quicker. One point to note, however. The juice cleanse is very low in calories so caution is needed before trying it. Those undertaking sports or activities should only consider doing this cleanse, if at all, during a rest period.

Results

After a cleanse, we should feel less cravings for the unhealthy foods we ate before the cleanse. The fruits or vegetables that we ate during the program should continue to be incorporated into our everyday diet too. With any luck, the cleanse will have lead to an overall healthier lifestyle, with more energy and a positive outlook on the foods we want to consume.