If you thought you needed to buy an expensive pre-packaged colon-cleansing kit, think again. A cleanse is meant to return us to simplicity--and the greatest simplicity grows from the ground, on trees and in the earth's natural ingredients. You can find exactly what you need for an inexpensive and effective cleanse in your own garden or at a natural grocery store.
Preparation
Research different cleansing recipes and choose one that appeals to you. One of the most well-known is the Master Cleanse developed by Stanley Burroughs in 1940, and it has been so effective that it is still used today. But if you hate lemons, have an allergy to cayenne pepper or dislike the amount of sugar or calories in maple syrup, you might want to go a different route.
Many people choose to cleanse with green juices if they have a blender or mixer powerful enough to liquify vegetables. Others use freshly made fruit juice or smoothies (never buy pre-bottled or overly processed juice products). Still others cleanse on water alone--you can't get much cheaper than a three-day water cleanse. Whichever you choose, tailor the cleanse to your needs and goals to make it a smooth process. For instance, if your cleanse is for weight loss, try the lowest-calorie cleanse you can sustain for an extended period of time, which should be for a minimum of three days. If your goal is holistic health, try a lemonade diet for 10 or more days so that your body has time to make extended repairs.
Cleansing
Make sure you are eliminating waste two to three times daily. When you restrict your eating, your bowel movements are likely to become less frequent or stop altogether. There are a number of ways you can ensure movement through the digestive tract without consuming any pre-packaged pills or liquids. Psyllium husks and flaxseeds (which must be ground before use in a coffee grinder or bought in their sprouted form) may be added to your cleansing recipe or to water to encourage bowel movement. A saltwater flush can also be used every morning by adding two teaspoons of iodized sea salt to a glass of water. Drink it as quickly as possible (as it tastes horrible) and chase it with another glass of water. You can expect a bowel movement in 15 to 30 minutes and two or three more throughout the day.
Throughout the cleanse, consume enough of your chosen liquid to function normally. If you are doing a short cleanse, save it for the weekend or for a less busy weekday so that you can have adequate rest. If your body is not busy digesting it will want to wind down and begin repairing itself deeply from the inside out. The best way to aid this process is to lie in bed and read, or close your eyes and meditate until you fall asleep.
Remember
Detoxing and weight loss are a product of the same actions. The action you must take is a sustained commitment to a cleanse. To commit to a cleanse without cheating or breaking it early, you must choose one that works for your goals and needs. If you have a busy lifestyle and cannot take time off to cleanse, choose a cleanse like the lemonade diet so that the recipe can provide you adequate calories to get through the day.
Seek support throughout your cleanse, as it can be both physically and emotionally difficult to get through in a culture that is so used to overconsuming processed, addictive foods. Cleanse with a friend so that you can hold each other accountable. Ease both in and out of the cleanse--do not return to eating bad foods immediately, as this can cause irritable bowel and other negative reactions. Try a healthy vegetarian diet after the cleanse to ensure long-term success in weight loss and detox.
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