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Should I do a cleanse before spring break? Will a cleanse really make my body function to the best of its ability?
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These are pressing questions and raging debates in the health field. The basic purpose of a cleanse is to allow the body to detoxify itself (the digestive system in particular) and to restore optimal function and health. Cleanses, due to their highly restrictive nature, often result in weight loss but are only healthy when they are temporary. Regularly undergoing cleanses, thus, is not a nutritional lifestyle to be followed, but cleanses are rather a temporary means of restoring the body to its top levels of function. Cleanses come in the form of juice cleanses, colon cleanses, or specific recipes like the “Master Cleanse” (the wretched maple syrup, lemon juice, cayenne pepper drink.) Let’s talk content.
The Sugar Detox
The Sugar Detox is the simplest, cheapest, and (in my opinion) one of the best ways to cleanse your body. This method allows you to still get the calories and nutrition that your body needs to function normally. Cutting sugar from your diet both boosts your energy levels and makes you more aware of all the sugar you mindlessly consume on the daily. Swap whole foods for your usually sugary selections (oatmeal instead of cereal for breakfast, Greek yogurt instead of ice cream – and skip the chocolate sauce, a soy latte instead of hot chocolate, a piece of fruit instead of a cookie, etc.,) and you’ll feel amazing in no time!
Juicing
This cleanse requires you to avoid solid foods in exchange for a completely liquid (juice-based) diet for several days. Meals consist of juice blends that combine fruits, vegetables, and often a variety of herbs. By consuming only liquid versions of raw fruits and vegetables, the body is able to absorb all the nutrients supplied by these plants and restore quick, effective digestion. While this cleanse truly will rid the body of toxins, restore digestive health, and likely make one shed a few pounds, this cleanse can be dangerous, as the body is not used to functioning on significantly fewer calories than normal. Fatigue, headaches, irritability, and low energy levels often result if this cleanse is not properly planned for, managed, and approved by a health professional, and pounds lost will quickly return when the juice cleanse ends.
The Colon Cleanse
Sounds scary, no? This cleanse involves consuming large amounts of fiber and water in order to aide digestion and allow the body to literally flush out all the toxins that are in its system. This type of cleanse comes in many forms, some extreme, some moderate, but any of which must be approved by a health professional. Remember, your colon does a lot for your body, so be kind to it.
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The Master Cleanse
You’ve heard of this crazy detox diet. Even Beyonce famously turned to this famous cleanse in the days leading up to her role in Dreamgirls. The Master Cleanse has been around for over fifty years and was first published in the 1950s by Stanley Burroughs, who was later convicted of the felonies of practicing medicine without a license and murder. Maybe this fact will change your mind about the prestige of this radical cleanse. While some report feeling great during their ten-day diet of nothing but “Lemonade” (water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup,) others report feeling extremely tired, hungry, and irritable. This cleanse may result in immediate weight loss, but you can be sure that the pounds will return upon the conclusion of the cleanse.
Is there a “best” Cleanse?
The “best” cleanse is the one that most suitably matches your lifestyle. On a relaxing vacation? Perhaps try a day or two of the juice cleanse. In the midst of a hectic week? Try the Sugar Detox. Forgive yourself if you stray from these restrictive diets. The idea is to promote and restore health, not to drive yourself crazy over an M&M.
My Advice:
Want to look super svelte and lean over spring break? I recommend a gentler form of the juice cleanse. I call this the “Simple Foods Cleanse.” Basically, all you must do is eliminate as best you can the artificial, preservative-filled, sugary, hard-to-digest foods from your diet. One, two, or three days before your beach debut, stick to completely natural, raw foods. All fresh fruits and vegetables are on this list. You don’t have to blend them into juices – just eat them in their raw, whole, pure form! Minimize consumption of dairy products and meat to the best of your ability. These two categories of food are the hardest to digest, and the purpose of a cleanse is to gently clear your system by consuming easy-to-digest foods. Put down the bag of your go-to sugary or salty snack in exchange for a small bowl of fruit and nuts and lots of water (or tea.) Have to try your mom’s new brownie recipe? Just have a bite instead of a whole brownie. In just a day or two, your system will thank you, and you will feel like a million dollars.