Eating processed foods, breathing unclean air, using tobacco products, eating non-organic produce and other common lifestyle practices cause foreign chemicals to enter your body. Some alternative medicine proponents claim that exposure to these chemicals causes loss of energy, weight gain, gastrointestinal problems and depression. Cleanse plans are short-term diets that allegedly clear your body of dangerous toxins and improve overall well-being.
Master Cleanse
The Master Cleanse claims to cleanse your body of dangerous toxins and help you lose weight. Stanley Burroughs developed the diet, which was published in his 1976 book, "The Master Cleanser." The Master Cleanse typically lasts 10 days, with an extra day or two to ease into and out of the cleanse. During the Master Cleanse, dieters only consume a beverage made from purified water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup. Master Cleanse practitioners also drink large quantities of saltwater in the morning to stimulate frequent bowel movements, which purportedly cleanse the colon of excess waste.
Juice Fast
A juice fast requires you to drink nothing but fresh, homemade juices for the duration of the cleanse. Some beginners perform a juice fast for one or two days, while more experienced cleanse practitioners fast for up to two weeks. During a juice cleanse, dieters drink juices made from cabbage, broccoli, spinach, beets, apples, oranges, lemons and other fruits and vegetables. According to the website Detox Body Plan, performing a juice fast gives your body beneficial vitamins and enzymes it needs to stay healthy.
Raw Food Cleanse
A raw food cleanse is less restrictive than a juice fast or the Master Cleanse because it allows you to eat solid foods. Raw food dieters claim that heating food kills valuable enzymes and micronutrients. Thus, a raw food cleanse requires you to eat foods that have never been heated above 118 degrees F. People following a raw food cleanse plan eat fruits and vegetables for up to 10 days. Avoid eating fatty raw foods such as jackfruit, coconut, avocado, nuts, oils or seeds.
Warning
Alternative medicine proponents claim that completing a cleanse boosts your energy, helps you lose weight and improves your health. However, some cleanse practices can be dangerous for your health. Cleanse plans may significantly restrict your caloric intake, causing dehydration, dizziness, nausea or fatigue. Dietitian Katherine Zeratsky of the Mayo Clinic reports that your liver and kidneys effectively remove dangerous toxins from your body, making cleansing unnecessary. Consult your physician before beginning a new cleanse plan to ensure it is safe.
References
- "CBS News"; Do "Detox" Diets Work? Are They Safe?; Keri Glassman; April 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Detox Diets: Do They Work?; Katherine Zeratsky
- The Master Cleanse; The Lemonade Diet; Mike Olasky; December 2008
- Detox Body Plan: Juice Fasting -- Health Through Organic Nutrition
- Fitness Tips for Life: Raw Food Cleanse: Guidance or a 10-Day Cleanse
- The Best of Raw Food: Frequently Asked Questions
Member Comments