Detox Products Cleansing Diets Detox Diets Dairy-Free Diets Juice Fasts Raw Food Diets Vegetarian Diets Wheat-Free Diets

Detox and Cleansing Diets

If you're considering a detox or cleansing diet there are many things to take into account. The human body has a natural detoxification system and in fact detoxifies itself every night while we are sleep.

SO if this is the case, why do so many people wish to partake in a cleansing diet? For most people it's a of lifestyle choices that mean the body is taking in more toxins than it is able to remove. Over the months and years these build up and this is when people tend to get symptoms such as being overweight, being tired all the time, having bad skin, having bad breath, lacking in energy, etc. This is when many decide it is time to clean up their diet and opt to do a complete body detox or maybe follow a less restrictive diet such as wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc.

So what choices do you have if you wish to cleanse your body?

The Detox Cookbook: Cleansing for Food Lovers

For many people they love the feeling they get from doing something like a 7-day juice fast. People have reported feeling more energetic, having clear skin, having a clear mind, losing weight and more. All their nagging little issues seem to drift away after a week's juice fast. But what if you don't have 7 days to devote to a juice fast? Many people just want to clean up their diet and don't wish to go on a water or juice fast. For these people it is a good idea to clean up the diet as much as possible. I have know people who have had great results by following a 30-day cleanse where they avoid certain bad foods and also add some good ones.

30-Day Cleanse

On a 30-day cleanse, the obvious things to avoid are caffeine (in tea, coffee, many soft drinks and some medications), alcohol, cigarettes, meat, dairy, processed foods (white bread, white rice, ready meals, etc.), wheat, gluten and soya. You would also make sure that you ate more fruit and vegetables, as these have a cleansing effect on the body. The more of the bad foods you cut out, the better you will feel, If you include one or two, you will still feel the benefits, although not as much.

Vegetarian or Vegan

Some people have also benefited by changing to a vegetarian or vegan diet. In my opinion, a vegan diet is the better of the two, as you are then also avoiding dairy products. A dairy-free diet is especially good for people who are intolerant of lactose, the enzyme that's used to digest milk. If you are considering a vegetarian or vegan diet, then you will find lots of useful info on the Vegetarian Society and Vegan Society websites. We also have a section on these diets.

Raw Food

In recent years, raw food diets have had a lot of press and they also have a celebrity following. A raw food diet is rich in natural plant enzymes and is giving your body high-quality nutrients.

Liver and Bowel Cleanses

Many people like to take a liver cleanse or bowel cleanse either before, after or during a detox or cleansing diet. A live cleanse will flush the toxins from your liver and help it repair itself. A liver cleanse on its own can make many people feel really good. If it is your liver that is the main problem, this is a good place to start.

Bowel cleanses are also increasing popular and have many fans. The idea is to flush the compacted waste from your bowel and colon and this helps your body to remove toxins and also help the body absorb nutrients more easily.

Water Fasting

And let's nor forget the water fast. This is for the real purists and can be the most cleansing of all. It can also be highly dangerous and should NEVER be undertaken without medical supervision.

So which diet is right for you? Take a look at our chart below and then read the info on each individual section. If this is the first time you have done a detox or cleanse I would suggest on of the simplest methods. This will be an easy way to get you started. You can then move on to the other methods if and when you need to. We have something for everyone on this site.

Detox Diets

Master Cleanse/Lemonade Diet	This is one of the most popular detox diets and is based on taking a combination of maple syrup and lemonade.
Fat Flush Diet	A popular diet devised by Ann Gittleman.
Raw Food Diet	This is popular for weight loss and has had success in reversing diabetes. All food is eaten raw, so no cooked food is allowed. Some variations may allow a small percentage of cooked food.
The Clean Diet	Devised by Dr Alejandro Junger, this is ideal for those with a busy lifestyle. Revolves around eating 'clean food', so no junk or processed foods are allowed.

Juice Fasts

1-Day Juice Fast	Everyone should be able to complete this one. It's just one complete day of drinking nothing but juice and water.
3-Day Juice Fast	Similar to the 1-Day Juice Fast, but taking things a step further for deeper cleansing.
7-Day Juice Fast	This juice fast takes the detox and cleansing process even further and you should feel great after this one.
30-Day Juice Fast	This one shouldn't be attempted by beginners. This is best built up to very slowly. Should be done only be done under medical supervision. This is the most complete juice fast and should achieve amazing results if done properly.