Mention a detox and you’ll be met with one of two responses; all-out enthusiasm or cries of ‘unnecessary’ and ‘too hard’. To sort fact from fiction with this polarising health habit, we asked Naturopath, Nutritionist and Dietlicious Health Expert Renee Leonard-Stainton to bust the five biggest cleansing myths.
Here’s what she had to say…
1. Cleansing means consuming everything in liquid form
It’s important to remember that cleanses come in many forms and it’s necessary to find the one that suits you and your health objectives. While some cleanse programmes do suggest only consuming specified liquids, it’s a myth that it is the only way to cleanse your body. Fresh juices can complement the body’s detoxifying processes, but a cleanse needs to suit the individual’s lifestyle, health concerns and goals, and for many, solid foods are necessary for a successful and sustainable cleanse. A cleanse with a balanced diet should leave you feeling lighter and more energised.
2. Cleansing will leave me cranky, tired and absent minded
For many, the objective of a cleanse is to leave you feeling quite the opposite and if done correctly, you should absolutely be left feeling happier, energised and more focused! It is true, that for some, you can feel slightly worse before you feel better but this is actually a good sign. It usually means that the body is doing what it is supposed to do and shifting those unwanted toxins. To avoid feeling the effects of the cleanse in process, it is vital to drink 8+ purified waters a day to ensure those toxins are flushed out of the body before causing any unwelcome side effects.
3. I won’t be able to exercise during a cleanse
You can safely cleanse while staying active. During a cleanse it is time to nourish your body so gentle exercise is recommended and it’s important to schedule a little more rest than usual. Essentially, it is important to listen to your body and workout accordingly. Working up a gentle sweat does help enhance the detoxification process but again, it is important to rehydrate to ensure you avoid headaches and unnecessary fatigue.
4. I’ll put weight on right after a cleanse
Maintenance is the key here! If you finish the cleanse and resume eating a balanced diet focused on moderation and healthy habits adopted during a cleanse, you should find that you are able to maintain a healthy weight. A healthy cleanse can help to kick-start the metabolism, so if you continue to eat and exercise well, you’ll find that any unwanted kilos are likely to be shed faster than before you did the cleanse.
5. Cleansing means feeling hungry for days and only leads to binging
Cleansing doesn’t mean you have to starve yourself! It means making the right food choices and if you do this, you’ll find you shouldn’t have the urge to binge. A good cleanse will give your body a break from unnecessary preservatives, sugars, additives and highly processed foods. It means fuelling your body with good food and most people find that in the process, this very quickly results in a reduction in cravings for unhealthy foods typically consumed during a binge!
