Detoxing is is one of my favourite topics, and I often consider myself a bit of a detox junkie, as it can be so positively addictive. My preferred detoxification program is a simple 3 day juice cleanse. Juice cleansing like any detoxification program goes far beyond the health benefits and presents itself in a holistic manner as an emotional, physical and spiritual cleanse. For the purpose of this post I wanted to share with you some information on simple juice cleansing, my recent cleansing experiences and some juice cleansing tips.

Our bodies are always detoxing through our natural cleansing organs – the liver and kidneys – these help clean the blood and bodies of many unavoidable toxins that may arise from our environments and in certain food and drink. Detoxification programs like fasting and juice cleanses assist by allowing the body to rest, and thus use the energy that would be used in digesting solid foods towards healing and repairing of cells and organs. A short 3 day cleanse gives the body a good chance to acquire optimal rest, both mental and physical and its a great way to deal with acute illness or recovery from surgery. Longer fasts require strict medical supervision, but a short fast can be conducted at home.

Fruits and vegetable provide an excellent source of a wide range of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other nutrients, including phytochemicals – compounds that have been shown to combat cancer. Juicing is an excellent means of adding fruits and vegetables to any diet. Since juice contains the whole fruit or vegetable – except for the fiber, which is the indigestible part of the plant- it contains virtually all of the plants health promoting components. In addition because fresh juices are made from raw fruits and vegetables, all the components remain intact. There are three types of juices we are most familiar with which can be incorporated into a juice cleanse and also into our daily lives, as follows:

Green Juices – cleanse the body of pollutants and have a rejuvenating effect. Made from a variety of green vegetables, they are rich in chlorophyll, which helps purify the blood, build red blood cells, detoxify and heal the body and provide the body with fast energy.

Vegetable Juices – are restorers, they boost immune system, remove acid wastes and alkalize the blood. They are made by using a combination of vegetables, and for health benefits it is best to use a variety of different vegetables.

Fruit Juices – help cleanse the body and nourish it with important nutrients, including cancer fighting antioxidants. Any fruits can be juiced and they juice quite well because of their high water content. As a general rule it is best to stick to 1 fruit juice per day, preferably first thing in the morning as obviously being fruit they are high in fructose which can raise blood sugar levels rapidly and also many people may have trouble breaking down fructose in the gut.

I recently completed my six weekly 3-day juice cleanse, and it consisted of 6 fresh green and vegetable juices over the weekend + Monday. I drank 6 juices daily that rotated in ingredients but often consisted of carrot, spinach, cucumber, kale, celery, beetroot, ginger, lemon and green apple (only in 2 of the juices). Many people freak out thinking they will die of starvation during a cleanse but I can honestly say I personally never feel hungry during my cleanses. The main challenges I personally face are surrounding the emotional hunger. What do I mean by this? Eating our favourite foods to some extent creates comfort and familiarity in our lives. For me, I am always so excited to wake up to some yummy millet and seeded porridge with my big green spirulina, banana & cacao smoothie, it is almost a bit of a ritual for me. So by removing this simple pleasure proves difficult – it is taking away something I have grown to feel comfort and familiarity in. This I feel is the hardest part of any detox or fasting program; as the energy and emotions we would normally expel into our pleasures is forced to turn inwards within our bodies and this is where the healing begins. On my most recent cleanse I noticed an ongoing pain in my lower abdomen, and really meditated on this and intuitively knew it was something to do with my reproductive system. So I delved deeper into this and did some personal energy healing on myself and what do you know 4 days later my menstrual cycle came back into swing. I experienced feelings of loss and detachment to comfort which I worked through and applied this into my own daily life by noticing experiences, people and things I often found myself getting emotionally attached to in the unhealthy way; by now approaching these experiences in a healthy way.

3 Day Juice Cleanse Tips

• Avoid physical activity
• Keep a journal to record any emotions that will be sure to arise during the cleanse
• Try do work your cleanse over a weekend to allow for rest and limited distractions
• Whenever possible, buy and use organically grown produce
• If you cannot get organic – peel and wash thoroughly the produce using a vegetable brush to remove chemical residues and waxes
• Leave the skin on organic produce. Remove skin of oranges, apricots, grapefruits, kiwis, papayas, peaches and pineapples
• Leave seeds in fruits – except for apples (they contain small amounts of cyanide)
• Juice produce with stems and leaves intact
• Rotate vegetables and fruits so you get a variety of nutrients
• Use a good quality juicer and ensure it is always clean for each juice

*Disclaimer – This information is for educational purposes only. To perform your own detoxification program or juice cleanse please contact myself directly to work out a plan best for your current lifestyle.