About 1 Day Body Cleanse

Proponents of holistic health and alternative therapies are increasingly recognizing that the colon is the building block of health. As we eat, toxins found in red meats, starches and highly acidic foods can build up in the mucus that lines our colons, as well as the fat cells of our bodies. Because of this, many holistic advocates recommend some form of cleanse to support overall health. While some cleanses, such as the Master Cleanse, are designed to take up to 14 days, others are designed to be simple, one-day cleanses.

Detoxification

According to SnyderHealth.com, cleansing helps the body heal itself naturally by removing debris that has built up and providing the building blocks for repair. During the cleansing, toxins are released from the body's tissues. These toxins leave the body as waste and leach out through the skin or sweat glands. During the detoxification process, a person undergoing a cleanse may feel tired, sore or achy due to the presence of toxins. She may also experience sties, pimples or boils, bad breath and headaches, as nicotine, caffeine and other drugs are purged from her body.

Benefits

According to TheMasterCleanse.com, a person who undergoes a cleanse loses weight, jump-starts his metabolism, gains energy, balances his pH, eliminates cravings and promotes longetivity. Because of the metabolism-boosting benefits and the elimination of cravings that can result from a cleanse, some holistic dietitians recommend a one-day cleanse to help dieters springboard into their diets.

Types

For patients looking to undertake a one-day cleanse, there are several types to choose from. The most stringent type is a water fast. This is the most effective type of one-day cleanse because it forces the body's metabolism to release toxins quickly. However, only a healthy individual should undergo this type of cleanse due to the amount of toxins released. A juice fast is the most popular type of one-day fast. This type helps to support electrolytes and nourishes the body with live enzymes. A variation of a juice fast is a lemonade fast. This type is more comfortable to undertake because it provides basic nutrition in addition to the benefits of detoxification. A person may also choose to detoxify and cleanse using raw fruits and vegetables. A cleanse of this nature provides more live enzymes and fiber as it restores normal function to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Water

No matter what type of cleanse you try, alkalizing water, or water that is alkaline on the pH scale, should be an important component. Our bodies are 70-percent water. According to SnyderHealth.com, sometimes cravings for water are mistaken for hunger pains. By drinking plenty of alkalizing water during a cleanse, a person flushes acidic toxins more efficiently from her body while at the same time restoring balance to her body's pH.

Supplements

Although even a one-day cleanse is effective on its own, a cleanse is more effective if supplements are taken. Natural-laxative teas and fiber, such as psyllium husk, can help clean out toxins from the GI tract. Additionally, vitamins replace essential nutrients that our bodies lack.