6 Best Whole Body Detox Programs Around

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You’ve probably heard about numerous types of detox programs — you might have even paid for one particular program or another, only to hear from a friend that “X” was a better program. The main idea behind a whole body detox is to cleanse your entire system, recharge it, re-energize it, and integrate your wellbeing. Although many people assume that vegans and vegetarians eat “healthier” than omnivores, the truth is that every single person on this planet is exposed to toxins every single day. Everyone needs a good detox now and then.

How can you tell which is a good program and which isn’t? Is there really that much difference? All detox programs will advise eating more of certain foods, less of others, sometimes only one food or liquids only, with the idea of purifying and/or cleansing. But with so many detox programs around, which one should you choose?

We are going to talk about six of the best whole body detox programs that you can use to cleanse yourself gently and thoroughly. One of these programs is sure to work for you and your lifestyle.

Please remember that if you are recovering from an illness, if you are under a doctor’s care, or if you are pregnant or have any other type of health problem, please consult with your doctor before performing any type of detox program.

1. Ayurvedic Detox

An Ayurvedic detox is generally a three to five day practice that is a comprehensive health regime seeking to restore health and balance to body, mind, and spirit. Some programs can be very intense, and if they sound too difficult for you, choose something else. One of the nice things about Ayurvedic detox is that in this system each individual is considered to have three doshas (a type of constitution), and depending on yours and the nature of any imbalances (for example, constant skin problems or a lack of energy) a detox program can be tailored to fit your needs. It is best to consult with an experienced Ayurvedic practitioner to find the best program for your needs. A traditional Ayurvedic detox is called panchakarma and goes way beyond eating or not eating certain foods — these programs also aim to cleanse and rebalance the mind and spirit, so you get warm oil massages and gentle yoga exercises as well.

2. The Colon Cleanse

Ah, yes, the colon. It’s the not-often-talked-about part of the body that has the icky job of removing digested food from our stomach, removing the nutrients, and pushing out the stuff we don’t want or need. A messy job to say the least. For most of us, our colons do the job without problem or complaint, but if you feel like your colon just isn’t doing the job, perhaps it needs helping hand. Well, not literally, but we mean a little extra help, say, in the form of an enema. The great thing about colon cleanse is that they are pretty quick and easy, and take only a few minutes to complete. So you could do one every evening when you get home for a week without changing your diet or doing anything else. This can be a private cleanse that no one else need know about. What is basically involves is using water and/or other supplements (such as coffee) to wash out the colon so that things can move along like they should. If you are having digestive problems or any kind of poop problems (you can’t, or you can’t stop for example), then this might be right up your alley.

3. The Master Cleanse

This has been around for decades, but it was actually Beyoncé who brought it out into the open. She used this cleanse to drop weight for her role in Dreamgirls. Although this isn’t one of the best ways to lose weight, it does work. This cleanse involves drinking a solution of lemon juice mixed in water with some cayenne pepper and maple syrup, along with some herbal cleansing teas, such as burdock root tea, over a 10-day period. You eat or drink nothing else for 10 days. For some people, this can be dangerous, and you should consult with your doctor before trying it. Even Beyoncé said it was an “awfully hard” experience. Keep in mind that if you do try this, and you find yourself cranky and sick after four or five days, you can cut it short. There is no law that says you have to stick with it or go to jail! For those who stick with it, however, you will find that there are thousands of testimonials stating how it changed their lives.

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4. The Juice Cleanse

Similar to the Master Cleanse, this detox program only allows the consumption of vegetable and fruit juices. Some might allow you to eat the raw produce as well, but most programs only allow for juice. This method has long been used to get tons of vitamins and minerals into the body, subtracting all the other crap we generally eat. There are numerous sorts of juice cleanses out there, and while this type of detox can be a great way to get in your vitamins and minerals, many people opt for the sweeter fruit juices, which give them way too much sugar and no fiber. Look for a juice cleanse that has a balance of fruits and vegetables, and allows you to eat some of the produce for fiber intake. That type of cleanse is one of the best all-around detox programs.

5. The Liver Cleanse

Just like our colon, the liver has the vital role of weeding out unwanted toxins and passing them over to the small intestine or the colon for removal. This three-pound organ is responsible for keeping your blood clean and for going over every single thing you eat or drink with a fine toothed comb. Eating certain foods and/or taking certain supplements can help your liver perform better by helping it to remove the buildup of toxins in the body. We hate to say it, but most of the commercially made liver detox supplements do not do a darn thing, and some of them can actually be downright dangerous. A good liver cleanse involves eating plenty of vegetables known to support the liver, such as beets, garlic, and avocados, along with herbs and herbal teas that support a healthy liver, such as milk thistle and St. Mary’s Thistle. Avoid commercial supplements in a bottle.

6. The 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse

You have probably been inundated with beautiful pictures of green smoothies all over your Facebook and Instagram pages, as this cleanse has suddenly become the newest trend. Most people will tell you that they drop 15 pounds (or more) by drinking nothing but vegetable smoothies (sometimes with a bit of fruit for sweetness, but there is little emphasis on fruit in this plan) for 10 days. This plan is fully explained in a book by J.J. Smith, but you get the basic idea. Although this plan is a good way to cleanse the body and to get in tons of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals; like the juice cleanse, it lacks fiber and protein. Ten days seems to be extreme in this case, and in fact, many people find that they just can’t complete it. Try it for three days, and if you do well, then try it later on for five days.

Detoxification programs can be super restorative if you choose the right one, and pay attention to common sense. Although most detox programs will leave you feeling a bit weak or give you a headache (usually due to a lack of caffeine!), if you begin to have serious side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, or extreme weakness, go off the cleanse immediately and seek medical attention if you feel it is necessary.

References:

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – garlic for lead contamination

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