Dr. Cory Reddish, a licensed naturopathic physician, states on her website that "the chemicals found in our food, water, homes and air can accumulate and create dysfunction in our immune, nervous and hormonal systems." A controlled cleanse, based around raw vegetables or liquids, gives the body a chance to detoxify. Dr. Ben Kim, on Drbenkim.com, explains that since vegetables, fruits and fresh squeezed juices are easy for people to digest they leave the energy usually consumed by breaking down food available for body systems and organs to self regulate and detoxify.
Naturopathic medicine promotes a holistic approach to health with minimal use of surgeries and drugs. Please make sure to consult your physician before attempting naturopathic remedies at home.
Pick Your Cleanse
The two main types of cleanses are those that do or do not include solid foods. Try solid food cleanses first. Create a cleanse plan that incorporates small servings of solid fruits and vegetables 3 to 5 times a day. Plan a 3-day cleanse for your first time, and extend the length and severity of diet from there. Bump it up a level with a fresh-squeezed juice cleanse, where juice is sipped in place of a meal 3 to 4 times a day. Focus on organic, nutrient-packed, high water content fruits and vegetables.
Hydrate
During a cleanse you need to flush the toxins that accumulate in your system out of your body. Stay hydrated by drinking at least 3 liters of filtered water each day. Flavor water with lemon and cayenne pepper for an added diuretic effect. Sip herbal teas or fresh squeezed juices but avoid any liquid that contains caffeine, processed sugar or artificial ingredients.
Eat Slowly
If you choose to eat whole fruits and vegetables during your cleanse, chew them well and eat them slowly. Refrain from putting stress on your digestive system by doing as much of the digestive work with your teeth and saliva as possible. Eat only organic fruits and vegetables.
Ease In
Start any cleanse or detoxification with an elimination diet to avoid sickness. Dr. Kim suggests slowly eliminating animal foods, coffee, alcohol, salt, sugar and artificial sweeteners from your diet during the course of 5 to 14 days. Otherwise, your cleanse diet may cause withdrawal symptoms too painful to tolerate. If you are going to commit to a liquid cleanse, spend 2 days eating only fruits and vegetables to prepare your system further. Ease out of a cleanse by slowly adding foods in the same order you removed them.
Distract Yourself
Manage detoxification hunger and crankiness before they appear by stocking up on books and projects from your "to do" pile. Distract yourself from hunger while accomplishing long-suffering craft projects or reading a great novel. Some people enjoy meditation or light yoga during a period of cleansing. Avoid heavy exercise.
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