Spring is the perfect time for a detox. The changing seasons and the signs of new life sprouting all around us inspire better eating, getting organized (“spring cleaning”) and serve as a reminder that summer is just around the corner. Whether your reason to detoxify is to support your immune system, improve your digestion, prevent disease, or to shed a little winter weight, cleansing the body is a worthy and time-honored practice.
One of the body’s many remarkable features is that when you target one organ or elimination system for cleansing (for example, the liver, colon, kidneys, lymph, or blood), the others contribute to the detoxification process.
Full body cleanses that force toxins to be eliminated from several organs at once are stressful to the body and can leave you feeling more than ‘blah’. They can cause severe reactions, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or skin eruptions. A full body detox might be manageable for the experienced “detoxer” – a person who has had a clean lifestyle and diet (free of alcohol, cigarette smoke, artificial ingredients and chemicals) for a significant length of time and has undergone various detoxification protocols over the years. For the newbie, however, start with one organ or one elimination system to detoxify, for example, the liver or colon.
If you prefer the ‘go big or go home’ approach, consult a nutritionist, Naturopath, homeopath or herbalist for help to determine what is the most appropriate cleanse for you. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to detoxification.
The tonics listed here are gentle cleanses that aren’t likely to cause any severe reactions, but don’t underestimate their potency. They are effectively working to eliminate stored toxins – chemicals, drug residues, microbes, even toxic emotions – from your cells. Be sure to sip on plenty of pure water throughout the day to facilitate the cleansing process.
Basic Daily Detox
Water with lemon. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into an eight-ounce glass of room temperature or warm water. Drink a glass each morning upon rising. For best results, wait about 20 minutes before eating or drinking anything else (including your morning coffee or tea). Repeat daily for a minimum of three weeks, but take a break after about six weeks.
Another Basic Daily Detox
Water with liquid chlorophyll. Purchase a bottle of liquid chlorophyll (flavored or unflavored). Add one to two tablespoons to an eight-ounce glass of water at least once a day. Repeat daily for a minimum of three weeks, but take a break after about six weeks.
Love Your Liver
Liver-Cleansing Vegetable Cocktail: In a juicer, juice two or three carrots, one large beet, one apple, and some spirulina powder. Add one glass of pure water, mix well, and enjoy.
Tummy Tonics
Raw Cabbage Juice: Juice half of a raw cabbage (any type of cabbage). It’s surprisingly sweet and tastes much better than you expect it to.
Ginger & Apple Juice: Juice two apples and some ginger. Add a cup of water to dilute and enjoy.
Gut Wrencher
Colon Cleansing Smoothie: Lose inches from your belly and clean out your colon at the same time with this delicious smoothie. In a blender, add one cup of water, half a cup of organic plain yogurt, half a cup of fresh or frozen raspberries or strawberries (or both), half a banana, one tablespoon of ground flaxseed, and 300 mg magnesium powder. For extra fiber, you can add one teaspoon of chia seeds, hemp seeds, psyllium, or Fiberiffic, and/or spirulina.
Urinary System Cleanse (Kidneys/Bladder)
Potassium Broth: Fill a large pot with a cup of potato peelings, a cup of carrot peelings, one whole beet (chopped), a cup of onions (chopped), an entire head of garlic (peeled and roughly chopped or crushed), one or two celery stalks (chopped) and a handful of dark leafy greens. Add enough pure water to cover the vegetables and simmer on a low temperature for one to two hours. Strain and pour the broth into a pitcher, or simply dip a mug into the pot and sip on broth throughout the day. Signs that it’s working: an increased amount of urine that smells like ammonia.
The Classic
The Master Cleanse: This is the mother of all detoxes. Prepare for this one by cleaning up your diet first. It involves fasting from all food and drinks other than the Master Cleanse Tonic for one to ten days. If you have blood sugar problems (diabetes or hypoglycemia) or are concerned that this cleanse might not be right for you, consult a nutritionist or your natural health practitioner. In a large pitcher or bottle, mix two liters of pure water, the juice of one lemon (freshly squeezed), one teaspoon of maple syrup, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. For one to ten days, sip on nothing but this concoction throughout the day. If it’s your first time, try it for one day. The next time around, aim for three days. Ten days on this cleanse is tough, so make sure you’re ready before attempting it.
Common signs that toxins are being eliminated during a detox can include headaches, muscle aches, foul smelling breath, stool and urine, acne and skin breakouts, and emotional fluxes (such as irritability or bouts of crying). If these occur, don’t stop the detox. It’s working, and the unpleasantness will soon be replaced with energy and vibrancy.
