There is a lot of discussion around detoxing and numerous ways to detox your body. Colon Cleanses, Candida Cleanses and Juice Fasts. Some of them are sound, some of them scary and some, well just too hard for to follow. During my yoga teacher training a few years ago we did a one week detox as a part of our training. The rules were pretty easy to follow and with Raya come and gone, it made sense to me to dust of my old yoga materials. The cleanse is pretty easy to follow and what I love about it, you don’t have to starve yourself.
Before your cleanse, check your diary and pick a week where you have a break from functions or events that could derail your detox. If this can’t be avoided, pick restaurants that have meal options for you. Call ahead and ask questions. Most places are happy to answer your questions.
No Go Foods:
- Sugar - this includes processed sugar, artificial sweeteners as well as natural sweeteners such as honey and agave. Also avoid dried fruit and fruit juices.
- Stimulants such as coffee and tea, although herbal tea is ok.
- Alcohol and cigaretts
- Any type of dairy (milk, cheese, yoghurt)
- Grains: wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and rice
- Meat (chicken, beef, lamb, pork)
Foods To Eat:
- All the veggies you can fit onto a plate! Try your best to stay organic to avoid the pesticide residue.
- Fresh fruits.
- Legumes
- Coconut oil and olive oil
- Raw nuts and raw seed
- Free range eggs and fish limited to twice per week for each
- Aim to drink at least 3 liters of water a day
Detox Do's:
- Have a glass of warm water with a table spoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in the morning. This oldie but goody will help give you a morning boost.
- Chew! Aim to chew your food slowly and at least 10 times before swallowing. Chewing helps break down your food, aiding your digestive system.
- Exercise at least 20 minutes a day to get those toxins sweated out
- Try to eat as much raw veggies or gently cook them on low heat to keep as many nutrients as possible.
- As this was a yogic detox we also had to practice a minimum of 15 minutes meditation. If we didn’t have time, we could think of 5 things we were grateful for twice a day.
- Exfoliate! Your skin is the largest organ of your body so treat yourself to a nice scrub every other day. You can do this with a loofah or brush.
You might experience some discomfort as your body begins to eliminate toxins that have built up. You may also experience cravings. But hang in there, symptoms should subside in a couple of days.
Warning: If you are elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding, or have any other medical conditions please consult your health practitioner before starting.
