We all know how important our lifestyle is for our health, yet it can still be so hard to make changes.
No one wants to feel forced; we all want to choose for ourselves and feel free in our decisions, but sometimes that can also prevent us from changing our habits.
Sometimes we need help along the way to change habits, a way to press the "reset button" in the body.
Then a cleanse for the body over a short period can help. A time when we change our diet in a way that gives the body space to regenerate.
We can call it "detox."
What is detox?
The purpose of a detox is to give the body space to restore and heal itself.
It can often result in increased energy and joy of life, but the path there is not always easy. To give the body this space, we need to break certain habits and limit some foods we usually enjoy.
Regardless of your starting point right now, spring can be a good time to let the body rest and adjust for summer.
Whatever you are able to do, every little step in the right direction is a good step, and your body will thank you.
Why should I do a detox?
A cleanse can give you new energy and vitality.
People have always used various fasting and cleansing regimens to renew their energy and spiritual connection. It's nothing strange or new.
What makes this especially relevant today are the tens of thousands of unnatural substances we release into the environment and take in through food, water, and air.
Add stress and the fact that the nutritional value of food has steadily declined over the past 100 years, and we have a recipe for fatigue, digestive problems, headaches, eczema, and chronic diseases.
It is said that it takes the body 21-30 days to change its "taste." Once you have committed to a truly healthy path, it's hard to stop.
The body gets used to receiving healthy food and you get accustomed to feeling good. It's a positive cycle that can be created through simple lifestyle changes.
Regularly doing a cleanse and allowing the body to rest is a great way to support ourselves in living a healthy and long life.
It's simply a good longevity tool.
How do I do a detox?
The body's ability to cleanse and heal itself depends on two things from a nutritional perspective:
1. Nutrients that support the body’s cleansing functions.
2. Absence of substances and situations that disrupt these functions.
This can be achieved in different ways, but the basic principles are the same for all regimens.
What you want to focus on is simply eating and drinking things that are cleansing and supportive while avoiding heavy, processed foods.
We also need to manage stress and unwind.
A common detox method is to try to increase the total nutrients consumed with as little effort as possible from the digestive system.
This means eating very easily digestible and “clean” food for a period.
You can also let the digestive system rest completely by fasting with water, vegetable juice, or green powders.
How long should I do my detox?
There is no specific length for a cleansing regimen.
You can do a detox one day a week, half a day occasionally, or for one or more weeks depending on your needs.
The most powerful regimens involve some type of fasting or partial fasting, as the body cleanses best when it doesn’t have to break down food at the same time.
But it’s not a must; a dietary change can provide a very effective but “moderate” cleansing.
How to do a cleansing detox diet
Nowadays, most experts recommend being cautious with full fasting because the body may not have had enough nutrition to handle that type of cleansing.
Children or young adults under 18 should not do a tough detox or fast. You should also never detox during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
We recommend starting by eating a clean, simple plant-based diet for 1 to 4 weeks.
A detox doesn’t have to mean unpleasant-tasting liquids or a strenuous fasting regimen. For most people, a stricter dietary change works very well.
At the same time, it is important to drink clean water, stay active, and make time for rest and relaxation.
In addition, you can give the body extra support through supplements of cleansing herbs, fibers, and other nutrients.
There is a wide range of such supplements, and we recommend experimenting to find the ones that suit you.
You can read more about how to cleanse the body over a longer period and what is suitable for children.
This is what you eat during a cleansing diet
- Raw organic vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables.
- Steamed vegetables or vegetable soup.
- Fruit and all kinds of berries.
- Pure water, preferably 2 liters per day. Lemon or lime water is great.
- Green smoothies made from fruit and vegetables as well as fresh vegetable juices.
- Good sources of protein such as soaked nuts & seeds, beans, buckwheat, quinoa, etc.
- Greens like chlorella, spirulina, barley grass, wheatgrass, or AFA algae.
Here you’ll find two cleansing juices that support liver health.
Recipes for fresh green juices for all tastes.
To support the body’s cleansing, you should avoid:
- Refined foods in general (processed foods, etc.).
- Refined carbohydrates (bread, pasta, white rice, white sugar, candy, etc.).
- Trans fats (fried and deep-fried foods like chips).
- Alcohol, tobacco, and coffee.
- Most animal products like milk, eggs, meat, and fish.
- Food heated in the microwave.
5 simple tips for a more effective detox
Here are some tips beyond nutrition and herbs that we warmly recommend you make part of your detox process.
1. Movement/Exercise
According to many experts, physical activity is one of the best ways to detox.
Especially if you move outdoors in fresh air.
During a cleansing cure, it’s especially supportive to take walks, do yoga, run, dance, etc. Pay attention to your energy level and don’t overdo it – but move every day!
2. Lymph brushing
The lymph vessels just under the skin are one of the body’s most important cleansing organs.
By dry brushing the entire body with a skin brush every morning, we can support this system and also give the skin a chance to renew itself.
3. Breathing
One of the best things we can do for our long-term health is to learn basic breathing exercises and do them every morning or evening during cleansing periods.
Try, for example, some simple Yoga Pranayama exercises.
4. Sauna
Saunas are very beneficial for the body, especially during a cleansing phase as they support the body in sweating.
We also offer infrared saunas that have their own benefits; feel free to read more here.
5. Nasal rinse
For allergies or upper respiratory issues, we recommend rinsing the nose with natural sea salt diluted in water using a neti pot in the morning.
This method comes from the yoga tradition and is used to clear bacteria, waste products, and mucus from the nasal passages to free the airways.
Please let us know how it goes and don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions!
