Summer Cleanses for Weight Loss and Health

The concept of "cleansing" is a hot topic in today's health and cultural circles. Some associate it with fasting or clump it in with eating disorders. The better educated are more likely to consider this type of diet, when done correctly, a health-conscious choice. A cleanse is most generally defined as a diet which facilitates complete detoxification of one's body. While many of the body's organs naturally flush toxins on a daily basis, they cannot work to the extent that is required for many lifestyles. In other words, the amount of pollutants, chemicals and other unnatural substances that most people subject their bodies to on a daily basis build up in unhealthy fats. As naturopathic Doctor Linda Page puts it in her book, Detoxification, "The body doesn't know what to do with foreign substances, so it will store them outside of the regular elimination system, so we don't get poisoned. Those poisons start building up in our body fat." The main goal of cleansing is to rid the body of these fats through behavior that metabolizes them, whether it be through exericise, eating antioxidants or abstaining from poisonous types of food. This page will critically compare and contrast a few popular programs one can use to cleanse their body and lose weight in a health-conscious way. It will also provide tips and personal insights about detoxifying, losing weight and maintaining it!

While losing weight is one great beneficial effect of going on a cleanse, it should not be the main goal of the process. Those that are looking for a crash diet without any regard to potential health effects should look elsewhere. Detoxifying the body is about flushing out toxins and eating well to promote a feeling of health and well being. Once the body is consistently working properly and conscious eating and lifestyle is maintained, then weight loss is a natural and healthy reaction. Those seriously interested in going on a cleanse for the first time should listen to their body. Some of the more hardcore cleanses, such as fasting or the Master Cleanse should really only be undertaken once one has tried a less intense program. That said, anyone can go on any healthy detox by easing in and out of the program at a rate that is personally comfortable for them. A healthy metabolism will adjust to changes in caloric intake, so dropping intake slowly before the cleanse will allow for a more comfortable experience. In the same vein, when coming off a cleanse it is very important to gradually increase caloric intake or else metabolism will be overwhelmed and weight gain will be the body's response. Basically, cleanses are for those that are interested in continuing with a healthy diet after the benefits of the cleanse have been reached. If this is done correctly, then maintaining a healthy weight will be easy! Important to note: those with serious health issues, specifically thyroid disorders or severe obesity, should consult a doctor before undertaking an intense cleanse.

One perceivably simple cleanse that involves quite a bit of discipline and knowledge is the water cleanse. Fasting is a common ritual in many religions and has been undertaken by famous figures such as Gandhi, Jesus and Gwyneth Paltrow. This regimen involves the intake of only water in order to stimulate ketosis, or the switching from glucose to fat as the body's main energy source. Fasting is believed by many to be a healing process, as the body is relieved from the energy-intensive digestive process in order to heal and cleanse organs in the body.

A fasting program can be created based on an individuals needs and lifestyle while taking into account a few foundational rules. Most importantly, to stay healthy during this program, a body must be well hydrated, consuming at least 3 quarts (12 cups) of water a day. The length of the fast may depend on the health and experience of the faster, although a healthy individual should have enough nutritional reserves to fast for surprising amount of time. "Almost anyone not immediately close to death has enough stored nutrition to water fast for ten days to two weeks." Dr. Isabelle A. Moser stipulates in How to Be Your Own Doctor, "Most reasonably healthy people have sufficient reserves to water fast for a month". These rules are secondary, of course, to the signals of one's own body. "A good rule of thumb is to fast on water for one complete day for each year that the person has lived", explains Moser.That said, fasting is a physically tough program that involves willpower and restraint. At the beginning of the program, most individuals will feel starved, weak, sluggish, achy and smelly. These are all effects of ketosis, as toxins are activated and the body's fundamental operations are overhauled.As the program continues and toxins are released in the blood stream, flu-like symptoms related to healing may occur. Usually discomforts during the fast will reflect discomforts an individual has felt in an area before, such as pain in a certain organ that has previously carried disease or infection. This is called "retracing" and supports the fact that these critical areas require the most healing.

That said, those people that have severe amounts of toxins stored in their body, the severely obese being an example, should undergo a fasting program with a professional, for they may experience very intense to life-threatening versions of these symptoms. It is important to note again that Fasting, like any other cleansing program, should be undergone in the name of health and will most likely backfire or become deadly if it is done specifically for shallow weight loss. Those with eating disorders or neurotic ideas connected to food and weight issues should approach fasting cautiously. Healthy fasting, which involves burning excess fat reserves, does not correlate with starvation, which is when the body is forced to consume its own vital tissue. One of the most important and difficult steps in the fast is actually easing out of it. The body has been functioning in a completely different state, and must be eased back into digestion; returning to a normal eating habit too quickly can result in digestive issues.

While fasting is a physical and emotional struggle, many report a clarity and peace of mind near the end of the program. A very in-depth page with professional insights about fasting by Dr. Moser can be accessed here. Fasting has the power to completely heal and transform a body! Those that are tenacious enough to stick to the fast will definitely obtain weight loss in conjunction with gestalt body healing!

One of the most infamous cleanses of all time is the Master Cleanse, a detox diet invented by self-taught healer Stanley Burroughs in 1941. This program involves two components: the liquid diet of "lemonade", water and herbal teas, and some sort of colonic to cleanse the colon and intestines. The Master cleanse was quite popular in the diet heyday of the '90s, and has most recently become a buzz-word after Beyonce claimed that adhering to the regimen before filming Dream Girls allowed her to lose 20 pounds. The "lemonade" is a proportionate mixture of fresh lemon juice, grade B (unprocessed) maple syrup, powdered cayenne pepper and filtered water. Unlike fasting, the Master cleanse does not restructure the energy system of the body, and instead allows the intake of liquid glucose averaging around 650 calories a day. Instead of triggering ketosis to rid the body of toxins, a flushing of the colons is used to purge them from the body. This may be done through an enema or through more natural means by herbal laxative teas and capsules or by drinking a saltwater flush. The Master cleanse is designed to be a 10 day cleanse at its minimum, but there have been testimonials from individuals who have undertaken it for remarkable lengths of time. Easing in and out of the cleanse with fruit juices, fruits, vegetables and soups for three days before and after is required.

While this detox diet may seem less intensive than fasting, it is just as difficult and perhaps unhealthy. Because the body is not consuming a normal amount of calories, it will most definitely shed weight. Unfortunately, many believe that weight lost during this cleanse is mainly tissue and water weight. While flushing the colon is a beneficial way to shed accrued toxic waste from the intestines, it certainly does not encompass all toxins in the body.

In my opinion, while unnecessarily prolonging the Master Cleanse may lead to a stripping of nutrients from the body, the diet is not unhealthy when done for a short amount of time. If the individual's goal is to flush the colons while losing a few pounds for a certain event or healthy weight goal, then the Master Cleanse would be suitable. Furthermore, this cleanse is certainly healthier than an overindulgent diet rich in processed foods, sodium and unnatural sugars. In fact, many people have experienced the natural passing of gallstones during the program. That said, the same health concerns in regard to fasting are relevant in this cleanse as well. Certain symptoms of ketosis brought up during fasting may not be experienced throughout the Master cleanse, while a feeling of starvation and low energy may be common. Fortunately, the dieter has the freedom to consume more "lemonade" if their energy and concentration abilities are too low. In conclusion, If an individual is able to maintain this liquid diet in a healthy way while chugging saltwater and passing it every day, then they should be respected!

Moving in descending order from the most involved cleanses, we come to a more conventional detox program. The Clean Program is a contemporary detox regimen created by Dr. Alejandro Junger after a lifetime of nutritional and dietary research. At its core is a restricted diet that eliminates certain foods that inhibit the body's healing. The point is to rid the diet of foods that cause instances of chronic allergies, digestive problems and nutrient imbalances while replacing them with healthful foods that begin to prevent and heal these problems. Colon cleansing through natural laxatives is also important. Other behaviors, such as bathing, using a sauna, sunbathing, gentle yoga, light exercise, and hydration are also encouraged as important components for a full-body cleanse. Moving gradually from the cleanse after completing, like in any other cleanse, is required.

Foods to eliminate, according to Junger, include: eggs, dairy, processed foods of any kind (such as bread, rice, soy products, ketchup, and refined sugars), caffeine, alcohol, common allergens (such as peanuts, and wheat), red meat, pork, raw fish and shellfish (because of pollutants). Other foods to abstain from may be more surprising, such as specific fruits that are usually associated with dieting (strawberries, grapefruit, bananas, grapes, oranges), vegetables that are members of the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers), and some grains (spelt, corn, barley, rye, oats). On the other hand, foods to eat include whole fruits, diluted natural juices, a plethora of leaner nuts (almonds, sunflower, sesame, pumpkin, nut milks, etc), a spectrum of vegetables, cold-pressed oils, healthy fish and lean light meats. All food should be consciously chosen. Organic and naturally raised variations of these foods are desired, but very costly.

The Clean Program is a 21-day detox with a 3 to 5 day pre-detox based on the elimination diet. The pre-detox focuses on slowly eliminating the toxic foods, while the actual detox lays down a daily regimen consisting of two nutritional shakes, a more substantial lunch and light dinner. At its core there is no specific dietary plan, calorie counting or measuring, which only means that dieters must be diligently in tune with their own bodies. If more structure is desired, supplements and shake powders are sold in sets at the website.

The best part about this program is that it is suited for modern-day life. It is gentle and health-conscious. It focuses on renewing the body's resources of nutrients and minerals through nurturing foods. Weight loss will not be as drastic as during fasting or the Master Cleanse, but it will be more enjoyable and surmountable. Its drawbacks are, of course, the cost and the complete consciousness the dieter must possess over what they are ingesting. Going on this cleanse requires quite a bit of research and planning. Proud supporter, Gwyneth Paltrow, has published a seven-day menu based on the Clean Program on her blog, found here. I have actually done this shorter version of the cleanse while working and studying full-time, and I can testify on its gentle effectiveness. The best part about this cleanse is that it is suitable and accomplishable for people in almost any shape! It is a way in which health-conscious individuals can learn to embrace the oft overlooked yet most nutritious foods in the modern day arsenal!

One very important organ many detox diets fail to acknowledge is the skin! As the largest organ of the body, the skin is an efficient detoxifier, sweating to release toxins. A great and easy way to supplement a dietary cleanse is to facilitate healthy sweating by simply going to a sauna. Hot Yoga, or Bikram Yoga, is an exercise that takes this process a step further, by fusing intense, and sometimes aerobic, yoga moves with a climate of over 100 degrees. Not only will this technique enhance the skin's process of converting the body's lipid-based toxins into water-soluble sweat, it will also stretch the muscles and enhance flexibility. While the conditions of hot yoga may feel daunting at first, sometimes bringing about feelings of nausea and lightheadedness, the body will gradually adjust over several hour-long sessions until the excessive heat becomes more bearable. Hot yoga is the perfect exercise routine to pair with a cleanse, because the movements are gentle and individually-based, focusing on flexibility and balance, while the body is pushed gradually into a cardio state. Not only will the yogi or yogini cleanse and tone their body into shape, but they will become more in tune with the its functions and abilities for a goal of lifelong health and healing!

I hope that my review of a few potential cleanses has inspired you to begin healing your bodies while losing weight as a great side-effect! Each one of these regimens hit on important points about how any individual can mould their body into a better functioning entity. In this complicated modern-day life it is more important than ever to be conscious about the foods we eat and abstain from. If these cleanses seem too intense for your work-load and lifestyle, don't despair; you can work healthy habits into your repertoire one at a time! Try drinking coconut water instead of soda or energy drinks, use stevia instead of sugar to sweeten, cut simple carbs from your diet, or eat more fruits and vegetables! You will most certainly notice how much better you feel and function! While we have the food, the tools and the knowledge, why not challenge ourselves to look and feel fantastic?