Preparing For Your Cleanse

Today’s Preparation is Tomorrow’s Results

So you’ve found yourself in need of a cleanse. Whether you are generally a healthy eater but have recently fallen off the wagon, or you are a junk food fiend and looking for a kick start, doing a juice cleanse is beneficial to all. It can do wonders for your mind, body, and spirit but the preparation for a cleanse is equally as important. By preparing your body prior to a juice cleanse, you are more likely to minimize withdrawal symptoms, stay consistent, and receive optimal results.

Having a clear vision of what you hope to accomplish during your cleanse is vital to the process. Keep in mind, it is YOUR cleanse. One way to map out your goals is to keep a journal and state what you hope to accomplish in the following days. Write about how you feel now, how you hope to feel, and any other emotions you may be experiencing. Writing down your thoughts before, during, and after a cleanse is a great way to track progress as well as maintain motivation. Whether you are pre-ordering a juice cleanse or doing it by yourself, make sure it meets your bodily needs and can be maintained. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends or family as well. This will make it easier to avoid temptation during social gatherings and hold you accountable.

The Time is Now 

We’ve all said it before- “I’ll start on Monday.” So here we are on a Sunday night with an empty pint of Ben and Jerry’s, rubbing our bellies as we finish Game of Thrones. The “I’ll start tomorrow” binge is exactly what you do NOT want to do when beginning a juice cleanse. This will only make the journey that much more difficult. It is recommended to begin preparation for a juice cleanse for a minimum of 1-2 days (if you are a generally healthy eater) or a maximum of 7 days (if you can’t lay off potato chips and Starbursts). This will allow the body to ease into its detoxified state, as well as minimize “detox symptoms.” These symptoms can range anywhere from headaches and lethargy, to nausea and stomach pain.  As I said before, this is YOUR cleanse, YOUR journey and you want to do everything possible to make it enjoyable and finish strong!

Now that you are beginning to prepare your body for a cleanse, some staples of the “Standard American Diet” must go. This includes processed foods, artificial sugars, alcohol, soda, refined flours, and salty/fried foods If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it. In addition to these items, it is important to go easy on animal products like meat and dairy because they are much harder on the digestive system. Caffeine should also be eliminated or consumed in moderate amounts prior to and during a juice cleanse. If you are a Caffeine Queen like myself, try drinking caffeinated green tea at first then ease into decaf and herbal teas.

What CAN you eat? Plenty!

Add raw fruits and vegetables to your diet in order to better equip your body for digestion. If raw isn’t your style, try a blended smoothie with fruits, vegetables, and a water or non-dairy based milk (Exp: almond, coconut or cashew). Big salads filled with organic veggies and homemade dressings, whole grains like quinoa, and vibrant fruits are all on the yes list. With this new addition of fiber to your diet, the consumption of water becomes that much more important. Starting the morning with a cup of warm lemon water can stimulate the liver and begin the cleansing process. Drinking approximately 2 liters of water throughout the day is an excellent way to not only maintain hydration but to keep your digestive tract running smoothly.

So what are you waiting for? Get juicing!

Sources:

Brocket, Amanda. “10 Tips for Before, During & After a Juice Cleanse.” Mindbodygreen. N.p., 12 Oct. 2012. Web. 04 Aug. 2016.

“How To Do a Juice Cleanse.” Project Juice. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Aug. 2016.