Spring cleaning? In prep for bathing suits and beach fun, many are trying to think of the fastest and most effective way to shed winter weight, winter skin, and achieve that summer glow. The question is are all cleanses created equal? And if not, which ones pass muster.First, keep in mind that we can’t outsmart our bodies – the body has specific systems for cleansing which include the short term (excretions(bowels, urine and skin), as well as expectorant (sneeze, cough, etc) to get rid of bugs immediately. For a deeper cleanse, the body has systems as well: a two phase system to liberate toxins and then to eliminate them. So if a nutrition cleanse doesn’t tap into the body’s systems it will be working at cross purposes and can at minimum be ineffective and at worst, be dangerous. Speaking of dangers, anyone on medications (even something as seemingly unrelated as anti-depressants) or other with risk factors for heart disease, and others, gets a red light, do not proceed, until speaking with your doctor and ideally a dietitian before starting a cleanse.
So what’s a cleanse? A cleanse my definition is a clean-up…and that’s where I start with patients interested in cleansing. Skip food products, chemicals, sugar and alcohol and caffeine – and replace them with organic vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and you’ve got yourself a cleanse…one that will work with the body and get you the desired results. If you are (mostly) already doing this or looking for a “jump start” you can also do a liquid cleanse of pureed organic vegetables, a little fruit, and vegetarian sources of protein which will relax the body (because liquids don’t require engaging the digestive process as much the body can get to some of its deeper cleaning at this time). Some nutrients can be added in the form of teas and powders to aid the body in both phases of detoxification for a more effective cleanse (note: elimination is critical during a cleanse to make sure that you are passing out of the body the toxins being liberated from the cells…and elimination can come from all forms so body odor, bad breath, breakouts are all to be anticipated and actually are signs of an effective cleanse as long as they clear up). A cleanse is different than a fast. And the body knows the difference. During a fast the body slows the system and its workload / efforts to compensate for a perceived lack of nutrients. To this end, if your cleanse doesn’t supply sufficient nutrients (the range of nutrients – carb, pro, healthy fats) its likely that the body may alter its metabolic functions in a way that prevents sustainable results and may compromise short term energy and immune function.
Exit Gracefully…Doing a cleanse before your reunion, your wedding, a trip with friends? Keep in mind that how you exit a cleanse has as much to do with the “success” of your cleanse as does how well you stick to the program. I put clients on a very specific re-entry from their cleanse in order to ease the body back to certain foods (or to certain functions such as chewing) as well as with the hopes that the cleanse inspired some modifications – on both a physical and mental level.When followed properly, a quality cleanse can work effectively to help us shift seasons, to get out of a mental / physical fog, and even to help the body detox after certain treatments.
