What started all the questions about detoxing and cleansing?
Since Spiro and I just completed the Beachbody Ultimate Reset, a lot of people were asking us what the diet was all about. In a nutshell, it’s a three week program that eliminates all toxins from your body and ends you eating a raw, organic diet. Each week, you take different supplements that support the transition. I know what you’re saying, forget it. It was difficult, but both of us feel amazing and actually want to continue eating this way. It was a great experience and we’re really happy we did it. The reset was basically a detoxification diet. In this post, I’ll explain the difference between a detox and a cleanse and I’ll follow up with posts that get into more detail on different types of detox and cleanses that are out there.
Detox and Cleanse
For ages, body purification has been an inseparable part of our rituals for good health and well-being. The various processes going on inside the body and the substances that enter it generate toxins which are a threat to your internal system. Harmful substances include cholesterol, irritants, excess fat, sugar, smoking, biological waste and synthetic chemicals. Some, or all of which enter your body from diverse sources like a polluted environment, processed food and unhealthy habits. If these harmful substances keep accumulating inside your system, they can put you at risk of acquiring a fatal disease.
There is a very thin line between a Detoxification (or “detox” as it is called) and a Cleanse. People usually use these terms interchangeably to mean they’re trying to get rid of waste or dirt from the body. However, detox and cleanse are very different processes. Although they both aim to help the body get rid of toxins, they work on different areas of the body and different toxins as well.
Detoxification
Detoxification refers to the body’s natural process of elimination or neutralization of toxic materials from cells, tissues, organs and the bloodstream. It acts to remove toxins from the blood stream, various organs of the body, skin and also the liver and kidneys. A liver or kidney detox is generally accompanied by cleansing procedures to ensure better results. Detox includes ingredients incorporated into a person’s daily diet. These dietary inclusions are meant specifically to eradicate toxins. Detox, being a relatively simple process, can be made part of your daily regimen. Detox targets chemicals, smoke, metals, pollutants, stones and even fat deposits that accumulate in the body and pose harm. Adopting a few detox ingredients in your daily diet has positive benefits including better health, health, beautiful skin, relief from aches and pains, and lesser anxiety or depression caused by hormonal imbalance. Detox can be incorporated in your day to day life simply by choosing to eat fruits, vegetables and high fibre foods. Avoid eating processed and/or packaged food; chips, cereals, prepared frozen diet meals, etc.
Cleansing
Cleansing targets the digestive tract (the organ from the mouth to the anus) and does a typical colon cleansing job. Cleansing uses a particular program or component for the procedure i.e. teas, fiber supplements, etc. It targets waste matter, fungi (like Candida), parasites and harmful bacteria inside your bowels. Both detox and cleanse have several similar advantages. Cleansing is a sure fire process for keeping your digestive tract and colon healthy and your body free from disease.
Our experience from the Ultimate Reset
I have to say that since Spiro and I did our Reset (detox), we don’t have the cravings we use to have. We were eating very satisfying food that was very fulfilling but we still kept “thinking” we needed to eat something else. Most of us are brought up to have meat, fish, etc. and have a side salad, veggies, potato, rice, etc. With the reset, we learned to really focus on all our veggies first and add on from there. Now that we actually can eat other food, we don’t want to. Funny, the first day we were done, Spiro got one of our favorite things; a Costco rotisserie chicken. Ya know what? It didn’t hit the spot like we thought it would. Crazy huh? In just three, short weeks, our taste buds have changed and whole food is what we crave. Now we just have to work on changing our mindset.;) That’s always the hard part. So what do you think? Do you think you’re ready to do a cleanse or detox?
One last note: It’s advisable to talk to your Doctor before starting any program. They can help you determine which is best for you as well as the frequency to engage in such a program.