Taking part in the Full Body Cleanse is no easy feat, but it is far from impossible. While taking all of the capsules is a new challenge for most people, the biggest obstacle to overcome is the raw foods diet. Solely consuming raw fruits, vegetables, and raw nuts and seeds is drastically different than eating foods that the average American eats. The whole purpose of cleansing and the accompanying diet, though, is to give the body a break from the toxic foods that have become commonplace in Standard American Diet, and provide the body with as many fresh, nutrient-dense foods as possible.
Succeeding on the cleanse is about more than overcoming the diet. Adhering to the diet plays a large role in how successful your cleanse will be, but the success of your cleanse also weighs heavy on your outlook. A negative attitude or doubting the cleanse regimen itself tends to result in cheating with unhealthy foods or abandonment of the cleanse altogether. You made the choice to become healthier. Don’t throw that away because it was a little difficult. Anything worth achieving never comes easy, and a healthier body is no different.
To help you on the cleanse journey, we have detailed tips that can help you soar through the cleanse. Many of the tips are diet-related because that is the area in which most people struggle. Follow the tips below to have the most successful cleanse ever; or at least we hope you will.
#1: Always Have Snacks At The Ready
Before you begin your cleanse, it is integral to find raw snacks that appeal to your taste buds. We’ll give you a pro tip and say that raw almond butter on celery sticks or apple slices will fill you up and hit the salty and sweet notes you want from a snack. Some health food stores carry raw snacks, but you will benefit most from preparing your own snacks. Click here for some great snack ideas.
#2: Never Let Your Fridge Become Empty
When you deplete your supply of raw foods, the desire to cheat increases exponentially because it is much easier to grab a sandwich from a fast food eatery than it is to seek out a raw restaurant or go grocery shopping. If you see that your fridge nearing the empty line, it’s time to make a grocery run.
#3: It’s Normal To Experience Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of cleansing, especially in the first few days. The body is working hard to remove waste and you have most likely decreased your caloric intake by at least 1,000 or more calories. Eat superfoods like almonds, avocados, spinach, kale, blueberries, ginger, pomegranates, and apples to help increase energy levels.
#4: Don’t Eat The Same Salad Every Day
If you eat the same meal, no matter what it is, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner every day, you are going to get bored with eating that meal. Since salads are a big part of cleansing, make sure to vary the ingredients and the dressings. Use romaine lettuce as a base one day and mixed greens the next. Add strawberries and blueberries to a spinach salad and cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and carrots to a butter lettuce salad. Don’t let repetition derail your cleanse, especially when we have so many recipes for you! Click here for our cleanse-approved recipe section.
#5: Prep For Success On The Weekend
Some people have Saturday and Sunday off, while others are free on Tuesday and Wednesday. Use your “weekend” to grocery shop for the upcoming week and consider prepping salads, smoothie bags, dressings, snacks, or chia pudding so that you have easily accessible meals at the ready. Don’t say that it’s complicated because there is no cooking involved!
#6: Diversify Your Beverages
We can’t sugarcoat the fact that you will drink more water than you usually do while cleansing. You don’t have to solely consume water, though. You can drink caffeine-free herbal teas (iced or hot), detox waters (put fresh fruit in alkaline water), or homemade lemonade by mixing fresh lemon juice, stevia, and alkaline water together.
#7: Eat Entree-Size Salads
If you think that a side salad will fill you up for lunch, you are dead wrong. Because of the low calorie content of salad, you need to prepare a big bowl of salad with a variety of ingredients. Avocados, raw walnuts, sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, carrots, pomegranates, kale, and cashews all work to fill you up, so include them in your giant salad.
#8: You Can Have Protein Powder…If It’s Plant-Based And You’re Working Out
First off, you can have raw, plant-based protein powders while cleansing. Sun Warrior and Garden of Life have excellent raw protein powders. DON’T GET WHEY PROTEIN! That being said, only get protein powder if you plan to exercise while cleansing. When you consume protein powder more than once a day and don’t exercise, it can make it more difficult to lose weight. Protein powder can often lead to fat storage when consumed in excess.
#9: Maintain A Positive Attitude
It’s no secret that having a poor attitude and doubting yourself during your cleanse will make it increasingly more difficult to complete. A positive outlook can not only make the cleanse more enjoyable, but it can also help to keep stress levels down and hormones balanced. Keep a journal to write down your thoughts and feelings, meditate with positive affirmations, or read positive material to keep negative thoughts at bay.
#10: Drink The Damn Charcoal
Unless you are taking medication, you should be drinking the charcoal every day of the cleanse before bed. It looks ominous because it turns the water black, but it is flavorless. It doesn’t dissolve in the water, so keep stirring while you drink. Some people find that drinking it through a straw is much easier than gulping it down.
#11: Go Non-Toxic
Consider swapping your cosmetic and cleaning products for non-toxic varieties. While it is possible to make your own all-natural products, many companies have started selling healthy products that are free of harmful chemicals. Remember that the chemicals in your body aren’t solely from unhealthy foods. Toxins can be absorbed via the skin or inhalation, so try to go non-toxic when possible.
#12: Spices Are Your Friends
Do not be timid about seasoning your food because you need those vibrant spices to create powerful flavors. Spices also aid the detoxification process because they possess powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties. This means that in addition to making your food taste great, they help to reduce inflammation, improve gut health, and support healthy circulation. You’ll also find that seasoning your food with bold spices decreases the need for salt, which is often a huge contributor to high blood pressure.
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.
