I’ve always felt the best time for a body cleanse or detox is the second week in to the new year. The last three months have been filled with sugary candy, late nights, fatty foods, over-eating, alcohol, processed foods, environmental exposure, and seasonal sickness. After popping champagne and celebrating the first night away of the new year, it’s time to get back to your normal routine. 
Work five days a week, or more, old eating habits, fatigue, and low energy levels. Who would want to start something “new” by carrying over all of that negative baggage? I’d say it’s time for some body and mind self-cleaning or detoxing.
The terms “detox” and “cleanse” have been tossed around throughout the years as interchangeable words. However, they both serve different, rewarding, purposes. Both the detox and cleanse can provide: elimination of toxins, increased energy level, weight loss, clear skin, boost your immune system and much more! The intestines play a big role in these processes so, maintaining healthy bacteria in the gut, or probiotics, is crucial. You can do this through supplementing and diet. So, which is best for you? Well, here are the differences between a detox and a cleanse, in a nutshell.
Detoxing is stripping the body of harmful elements such as cigarette residue, chemicals, environmental elements, and heavy metals via waste. The point of this is to enhance the function of the liver, which is the detoxification organ in the body. There are several other detoxes that are specially formulated for other organs of the body. Detoxing methods can be through your diet injunction to sauna treatments to sweat out toxins and herbal supplements. Replacing fresh fruits and vegetables with meat and processed foods is best for a detox diet. Garlic, apples, grapefruit, ginger, onions, asparagus are great for the liver, for example.
Cleansing is more so targeted to aid in the digestive system by eliminating toxins, fungi and parasites, and fecal matter from the tract. This is all processed through diet of eliminating dairy, eggs, sugar, soy, caffeine, corn, alcohol, gluten, and processed foods. The best foods to stick with during a cleanse are organic, whole foods. 
Toxins are eliminated through sweat, urine, and stool so you will need plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, like lemon water. Adding spices and herbs such as basil, parsley, onions, garlic, will help you stick with the cleanse by making your food flavorful.
Whichever is best for you, detox or cleanse, be sure to also incorporate a few sauna treatments to help sweat out the toxins along with exercise to keep your metabolism up. In addition, be sure to get the proper rest and sleep your body needs.
When reintroducing foods after your detox or cleanse, do so one at a time. This will help you identify which foods may be responsible for your fatigue, cravings, or mood swings. For example, you may feel fine after a cup of coffee, but sluggish after dairy. Every person is different.
Leave a comment or email me about how I can help. Happy Healthy New Year!
-xox C
