The one thing that people worry about when considering a detox plan or cleanse is the time it takes to plan everything. If you don’t have food prepared, how will your cravings influence your food decisions? Will you be able to resist the temptation of food that you cannot enjoy during your detox plan? Although these are valid questions, you don’t want to view a cleanse or detox program in a negative light. It is always better to look at the bright side, because cleansing your body can make a difference to your overall health.
What Is A One-Day Cleanse?
This specific cleanse for the gut was developed by Kimberly Snyder, a nutritionist. Her goal was to help detox the body without making you feel hungry or starved. Because the cleanse only lasts one day, it is relatively easy to deal with and even easier to follow. Even if you have a busy schedule, you can follow this cleanse. Continue reading to learn how this cleanse works.
Drink Hot Lemon Water When You Wake Up
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) endorses the consumption of warm liquid because it helps balance your qi, or internal energy. Studies confirm that warm water kickstarts the digestive process, but so does lemon juice. The combination of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice can also give you a little energy boost. Plus, you get to start your day with some vitamin C, an essential nutrient for healthy skin and immune function. After you brush your teeth, just go ahead and drink this.
Drink A Green Smoothie For Breakfast
We’ve said this time and time again, but a green smoothie is a great way to sneak more veggies into your day. Smoothies are pre-digested, meaning your body doesn’t have to work hard to digest the foods and absorb their nutrients. Make sure to include different fruits and greens in your smoothie for a diverse nutritional intake. Should you need some inspiration, click here to view our many smoothie recipes. Don’t forget that adding some almond or peanut butter will add more healthy fat and protein to your smoothie.
A Snack And Mid-Morning Detox Tea
Instead of a mid-morning coffee, consider drinking a simple detox tea. Add cayenne pepper, a few ginger slices, and fresh lemon juice to boiling water. This tea works to break down mucus and toxins in the body, and also protects you from harmful bacteria. If you need a recipe for a lemon ginger turmeric detox tea, click here. For your snack, consider enjoying some fresh fruit or a handful of raw nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, or pistachios.
What’s For Lunch?
Ideally, you make a large salad for lunch with an assortment of colorful vegetables. Choose your green, or greens, and then add other ingredients like celery, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted beets, radish, or fresh herbs. Different vegetables contain different antioxidants and phytonutrients, which help to counteract oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Your work doesn’t end with a bowl of vegetables, though. You need a nutritious dressing that you make from scratch because store bought dressings contain excess sodium, saturated fats, sugars, and preservatives. Click here for a list of great salad and dressing recipes.
A Mid-Afternoon Snack
Depending on your hunger level, you may or may not need a mid-afternoon snack. If your stomach starts to growl, consider snacking on some carrot, celery, or bell pepper sticks with a dip. Hummus can be a great dip option, or you can put some almond butter in the celery sticks to help fill you up. Just don’t dip your vegetables in store bought ranch dressing.
A Warm Veggie Bowl For Dinner
The last meal is a reminder that your one-day cleanse is nearly complete! Dinner can be a tough challenge because you may want to resort to common dishes that are not necessarily the healthiest options. Consider keeping your dinner a lot lighter than your lunch, as eating too much food close to bedtime can interfere with the digestive process. Consider a vegetable soup or stew, or a bowl of quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and fresh vegetables. You can also make a sheet pan of roasted vegetables and enjoy that for dinner!
You’ll realize that your body feels better after a day of eating various whole food ingredients. These foods are much easier for the body to digest, so the way you feel may convince you to incorporate more of these types of meals into your daily diet.
