The beginning of any new year is one of the most popular times to do an organic juice cleanse. For many, it’s motivation or part of a resolution to begin the year in a healthy way. But cleansing serves a real purpose as an intermittent part a healthy lifestyle and there are powerful health benefits when done properly.
Why do we need to detox our body by doing a juice cleanse?
For years, we have been told to eat a low-fat diet and stay away from saturated fats and eat foods high in polyunsaturated fats and carbohydrates. New studies show that this diet supports chronic inflammation, which is the precursor to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and obesity. When we consistently eat foods that promote inflammation, like white flour, white sugar, white rice, French fries, high-fructose corn syrup, omega-6 oils (soybean, corn, and sunflower oils); foods with preservatives, and sugar-rich beverages like sodas and highly sweetened coffee drinks, we are promoting unhealthy inflammation in our bodies.
It is important to cleanse because many health problems today are caused by the buildup of toxic waste in the body. We take in toxins from our environment by inhaling them, ingesting them, or coming into physical contact with them. Drugs, food additives, and allergens can build harmful toxins in the body. Our bodies also produce toxins internally through biochemical and cellular functions, which generate substances that need to be eliminated. When these toxins aren’t eliminated, they can cause irritation or inflammation of the cells and tissues, blocking normal functions on a cellular, organ, and whole-body level, all of which can lead to disease. (Some people’s systems tend to have poor detoxifying powers and need nutritional support. Ingredients that can help open these detoxification pathways are vitamins B12 and B6, Vitamin C, turmeric, and milk thistle.) But environmental toxins aren’t the only culprits. Our negative thoughts, emotions, and stress also generate toxicity. One of the central tenets of traditional Chinese medicine is that the mind, body, and spirit are all connected. If one area of your being is weak or in pain, it can manifest as an imbalance in another system. Eradication of emotional toxicity is just as essential as ridding the body of environmental toxins.
Detoxification is a transformational medicine that creates change on many levels. Cleansing the body while intentionally, mindfully examining our emotional toxicity helps us release lingering problems from our past. We are forced to break out of bad habits and needless distractions in order to focus on what truly matters and reset our routines and intentions. When our bodies eliminate toxic buildup – both environmental and emotional – we feel lighter and less burdened, so we can more fully experience the moment, set goals, and become open to a better future.
Learn about our Metta Program, the cleanse for mind, body, and spirit.
How do we cleanse our body by drinking juice?
One of the best ways you can cleanse and alkalize your body is through a juice cleanse. Fresh juice does two things: it gives your body an infusion of performance-optimizing nutrients at the same time as it gives bodily systems a break from toxins and large quantities of heavy foods. Each of our juice cleanses feature a 6 different juices per day, each juice thoughtfully chosen for its healing and detoxifying properties.
Cleansing looks different each season. While a cooling juice cleanse may be just the thing for summer, in cooler months, the liver needs support, extra nourishment and internal warmth. Soups and broths can take the place of juices.
You can choose an all-juice cleanse, or you may opt to detoxify using a combination of fresh juices and anti-inflammatory foods. Our ready-to-eat Meal Plans deliver 3-days of fresh, clean, organic foods and juices that are free of gluten, refined sugar, caffeine, processed meats, and dairy. Learn about our Metta-Morphosis Program, the cleanse for mind, body, and spirit.
Get the most out of your juice cleanses
Maximize the detoxifying benefits of your juice cleanse by drinking 8 glasses of water and eating a clean diet for the 3 days leading up to your cleanse. Afterward, slowly reintroduce solid foods into your diet, starting with fruits and vegetables on day one, nuts and gluten-free grains on day two, and organic meats and fish, and gluten grains on day three.
For more detailed instructions for juice cleanses, read our How to Cleanse guidelines.
