What you get out of a cleanse diet may not be what you think.
A few years ago and old friend, let's call her Jen, told me she did a cleanse diet because she wanted to lose weight. Although the results were amazing, she didn't lose any weight from the program. A few short months after doing a cleanse and sticking with her new healthy eating habits, Jen was finally able to conceive after trying to get pregnant for a year. The point is that, you never know what your body is capable of once you nourish yourself with a healthy diet.
The results of doing a cleanse diet can vary from person to person for a few different reasons. First, everyone is different and our bodies respond to things in different ways. Some people respond very quickly to cleanse programs and others may need a longer time frame or need to eliminate more foods due to more extreme sensitivity. Another thing to take into consideration is how strict you are with the program.
Weight Loss?
Many people embark on a cleanse diet program because they want to lose weight quickly. The truth is that cleanse diets are not a lose weight fast scheme but a systematic way to jump start your goal towards losing weight. Yes, some cleanse programs like The Master Cleanse or all liquid juice cleanses can produce fast results but more often then not, the weight loss is not sustainable.
Healthy whole food cleanses provide a framework for starting a healthy diet and lifestyle. It is a gentle way to get your body and mind moving in the right direction with a structured plan. To achieve any goal in life, a structured plan is a must.
There are some more realistic results that you can expect to receive after completing a cleanse of at least 7-14 days.
More Energy
A really common result after completing a whole foods cleanse is a jump in energy levels. During the detox period in the program your energy may drop off while your body is eliminating toxins and clearing out the liver but don't let this discourage you from continuing. Once you get over that hump you will feel fantastic.
One reason this is a benefit of a cleanse is that cleansing helps to optimize digestion which allows your body to use less energy to digest food and assimilates more nutrition front he food you are eating. This brings more nutrients to the cells in your body that need it most, giving you that much needed boost in energy.
Brighter Skin
Better digestion allows for the proper elimination of toxins on a regular basis. When the digestive system isn't working optimally it can cause problems with the skin including acne, clogged pores, rashes, and overall dull, rough skin. A cleanse diet helps to strengthen digestion and the natural detoxification process resulting in brighter more beautiful skin.
A Clear Head
Brain fog is a common complaint among Moms and busy professionals. This can be a symptom of improper digestion and even leaky gut syndrome. Many people are thrilled when they finish a cleanse diet because this brain fog goes away. It's also important to mention that lack of sleep is often a big reason why people have brain fog so being conscious of getting enough sleep can help to eliminate this problem as well.
Flat Belly
A bloated belly is a clear sign of digestive problems. Whether it's gas, improper digestion, constipation, acid reflux or irritable bowl syndrome that's causing the bloating, all can be helped through diet. This is my favorite result of a cleanse and it's usually the first sign to me that I need to start a cleanse again.
A Foundation for A Healthy Lifestyle
Maybe the most valuable result you can get from following a cleanse diet is the foundation for a new healthy lifestyle. It's a structured way to get in the habit of eating healthy. Once you see how great you can feel from eating well and experience your own personal results you'll have the structure to follow for a new way of eating.
Very true
I think I mentioned this on another of your articles but I did drop weight on my first detox diet but the following one did nothing.
It’s a pity so many of these cleanse/Detox schemes target those of us with a few extra pounds