Cleansing can be intimidating, because you might think that to detox you have to starve to death by drinking green juice for weeks. Lucky for you, because this is not the case! You can effectively detoxify your body by eating healthy and nutritious foods.
During this cleanse, you will carefully reposition your digestive system by eliminating toxins, removing inflammatory and processed foods that create a buildup of toxins in the body, and emphasizing clean, easy-to-digest, whole foods.
In January we are living a summer period, so it is important to have nutritious meals that hydrate the body. This cleaning is only three days, so it is possible to do it during the work week, as long as you prepare and organize the weekend beforehand.
While it is a gentle cleanse, any cleanse can bring physical and emotional difficulties due to the nature of the detox process. So choose a quieter week. That way, you can focus your energy on rejuvenating your mind and body.
Basic body cleansing guide
For three days, you'll have a smoothie or porridge for breakfast, kitchari, an Indian dish for lunch, and a vegetable soup for dinner. In general, eat as much as you want to feel satisfied until your next meal. If possible, avoid snacks between meals. If you are experiencing any uneasiness, moody dizziness, nausea, or just discomfort during this cleanse, it could be due to low blood sugar.
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Kitchari with sautéed cabbage Ingredients
Preparation
The kitchari should have a very creamy consistency. Source: Bela Gil |
Blood sugar shots are stressful on the body, which is something we want to avoid as much as possible during the cleanse, so feel free to add protein to your meals, like a small amount of chicken or turkey, preferably, organic. If you need a snack between meals, eat half an avocado with lemon juice.
Make lunch your biggest meal of the day. A hot bowl of kitchari is on the menu all three days of the clean. Kitchari is a traditional Ayurvedic detox food that contains a mixture of rice, beans and spices. It is rich in protein, very easy to digest and heal the digestive tract.
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Even if you're at work during lunch, make an effort to sit at a table, relax, and enjoy your meal, without distraction. This will help you finish the plate feeling satisfied instead of wondering if you have some chocolate stashed away somewhere.
Aim to drink filtered water every day, equal to half your body weight, to ensure adequate hydration and help flush toxins from your system. If you can, taste the water. Also, if possible, drink hot water as it softens the intestinal tract, hydrates the cells much more effectively than cold water.
Following the basic rules of cleansing the body, here is a list of foods to avoid during the three days:
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We also suggest a daily routine, which can be changed according to your needs:
- Wake up early to give yourself time and space for a relaxed morning.
- Scrape your tongue using a tongue scraper as it helps to eliminate bacteria from your mouth.
- Brush your teeth.
- Drink 300ml of hot water with the juice of half a lemon to gently cleanse the digestive tract and kick-start your metabolism.
- Eat porridge or a smoothie for breakfast, ideally between 7 am and 9 am.
- Eat kitchari for lunch, ideally between 12pm and 14pm.
- Eat soup for dinner, ideally between 18pm and 19pm.
- After dinner, try to do some stress-relieving practices like taking a hot bath, meditating, reading a book, drinking a cup of chamomile tea, putting your legs up against the wall, etc. Try to avoid stimulating activities like working on your computer or watching TV.
- Start getting ready for bed around 21pm.
- Turn off everything around 22pm. It's during sleep that your body rests, repairs, and detoxifies, so try to get plenty of rest throughout the cleanse.
Optional practices to release stress
These practices will help calm your nervous system, calm your mind, unlock your lymphatic system, and increase the benefit of your detox.
Dry skin brushing: Before showering, use a brush with natural bristles on dry skin to stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Bath Relaxation: Add 2 cups of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) + 10 drops of lavender essential oil to a warm bath and stay there for around 20 minutes.
Exercise: Practice light exercise while cleaning. This is not the time to physically strain yourself with extreme activities like high-intensity cardio. Instead, do gentle daily movements like walking, swimming, yoga, etc.
Meditation: The benefits of meditation are endless. If you have an established meditation practice, keep it up! If you're new to this, check out this infographic to get your practices started!
after cleaning
One of the most common ways to undermine a good cleanse is to stuff yourself with hard-to-digest, over-stimulating, or processed foods after the method is complete. So avoid the pizza and beer of the night as much as you can! Think about how you will reintegrate into your normal routine, it's important to maintain the detox benefits. We recommend a slow transition to a more diverse diet, gradually adding whole foods, gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free, as long as you are comfortable.
Written by Gabrielle Career of Team Me Without Borders.
