Before we get into the meat (not that you should eat any!) of this article, we want to congratulate you for completing the Full Body Cleanse, or any of our cleanses for that matter. Your body should feel rejuvenated, lighter, and more energized, and the goal should be to maintain that feeling, as opposed to immediately getting your hands on burgers, fries and all sorts of artificial flavors and dyes.
After a cleanse, the key is to stick to foods that are light, and preferably plant-based. It is best to ease back in and start with foods that your body can easily break down, and avoid foods that are high in processed ingredients, trans fats, sodium, and sugar. Refined sugars, red meats, and alcohol should be avoided, especially in the immediate days after you finish cleansing, as these will likely cause the most harm and gastric distress to your body. While you are cleansing, it is completely natural to fantasize about all the foods you want to indulge in after the cleanse is complete. Heading for the pizza, ice cream, or other heavily processed foods after finishing a cleanse, however, will quickly undo all the good you just did for your body. Here are some dietary tips that may come in handy post-cleanse.
Begin The Morning With A Smoothie
Smoothies are pre-digested, meaning your body doesn’t have to work to break down the food because everything is blended. They work to keep your blood sugar and insulin levels stable, and are great for obtaining large amount of nutrients in on go.
Ease In
Rather than entering into old dietary habits full throttle, try to maintain the habit of making salads and smoothies every day, and drink plenty of water between and before meals. Drinking a glass of water 30 minutes before a solid meal helps you consume smaller portions. Try to avoid downing water with your meals because too much water with a meal will dilute enzymes, impairing your body’s ability to easily digest the food you just ate. Maintain healthy fiber intake by eating vegetables, fruits, and chia seeds, all of which help facilitate the removal of impurities from the gut.
Fuel Your Body With Fruits, Nuts, and Seeds
Instead of reaching for the breads, chips, cereals, or other processed snacks, turn to fresh fruits, nuts, or seeds to keep you satiated between meals. Fruits have natural sugars that will fuel your body, and when combined with proteins and fats from nuts and seeds, you’ll feel more alert with stable blood sugar levels.
Gradually Reintroduce Foods And Note Changes
Rather than resuming your past diet, slowly introduce foods and pay attention to any negative reactions in the body. Reactions can take the form of skin rashes, bloating, acne, fatigue, constipation, or joint pain. You can use the days after a cleanse to try to identify intolerances or sensitivities to certain foods. Note what happens over the 24-48 hour period after reintroducing each food. Finally, if you decide to reintroduce meat, poultry, or fish to your diet, purchase grass fed beef, organic free-range poultry, or wild-caught fish to avoid antibiotics or added hormones.
Eat Organic If You Can
Organic foods typically contain more plant-based nutrients, due to richer soils from better farming practices. Cleaner food means fewer toxins. Eating higher quality and nutrient-dense foods will also optimize the way you look and feel.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.