Cleansing is a pretty popular thing this time of year, as it should be.  It’s the beginning of a new year, time to shed old stuff you don’t want to bring forward with you, and to make new habits, changes and improvements.  The thing is, we often have great intentions and visions for ourselves, resolve and promise to do these big things, and then somehow we become not so ambitious as the year goes on.

Does this sound familiar?

The idea of cleansing sometimes sounds daunting if you’ve never done it. But just so you know, it doesn’t necessarily have to be so drastic.  You can eat, feel satisfied and even full while on a cleanse.  There are many ways to cleanse, and lots of different methods and cleansing diets out there. But rather than “binge cleansing”  (make a big commitment to a cleanse and suffer through only to go back to your old habits), try gradually easing into it by making small, lasting changes.  Here are some reasons to cleanse and small ways to gradually get started.

Here’s why a little “cleaning out” is a good idea:

1. It’s like taking out the garbage for your body. Just like your home, the more often you do it, the less junk clutters the house. Your body is trying to cleanse on it’s own all the time. You can actually help it along by slowing down the intake of the “junk” and doing things that making it easier for the “garbage” to be “taken out” of your body.

2. It allows for healing and “tuning up” of your organs and systems. Our bodies are always eliminating waste.  Our intestines, liver, skin, lungs, and kidneys are always doing their jobs of filtering out the junk we don’t need.  Doing a cleanse is a little like cleaning out the filter.

3. To feel and look amazing. Better skin, less bloated, better sleep, more energy, general overall feeling of well being which helps you be your best self. Once the junk is out, you can really glow!

4. Decreased PMS, cravings, digestive problems.

5. Improved immune system, taste buds, digestion, alertness.

Another benefit that’s a little harder to define is: awareness in general, of what your body is really needing,  feeling, or what emotionally you might be trying to give yourself a quick fix for. Maybe you are just bored, or stressed, or lonely? These things will come up when you attempt to change your regular food habits!

There are some very basic things that can bring you into balance and actually start to mildly get you back on the right track. You can do these things when you feel like you need a mild boost or as a launching pad to healthier choices. These are things that easily get placed on the “back burner” because of normal life schedules. If you are ever planning on doing any sort of deeper cleanse it’s a good idea to have these things going on first, as a foundation.

So here are The 5 Ways To Cleanse Right NOW:

1. Eliminate packaged, processed foods. Yes, this takes some planning but if you must eat something like cereal or bread, for instance, at least make it whole grain. Not all packaged foods are terrible.  There are a few delicious and healthy bars out there, I love Greens Plus and Macrobar, Vega and even Larabar. These are best kept for traveling or eating on the go, not really for meals. Do your best to consume foods that are as close to how nature intended as it gets.

2. Hydrate. Water, water, water. Nothing does it like plain old water. (Sometimes with a little juice for flavor if necessary.) I remember a while back some study showed that coffee and soda hydrated the same way water did, but I kept thinking, “really??” I can feel a difference between hydration from pure water versus coffee or soda. It’s like night and day, try for yourself to be sure. If you’ve never actually had 6 16 oz glasses of water in one day I highly recommend you do it as an experiment. Yes, you will pee a lot, but the proof is in the pudding: your brain, intestines, blood sugar, liver, skin….all look and feel great when you are well hydrated with pure water. Plus, by drinking more water you are more likely to eat less.

3. Fiber. Eating lots of fiber helps to keep things regular and “moving smoothly”, which is helpful for cleansing, (obviously). The better things move, the better you will feel. It also reduces the risk of some cancers, heart disease and diabetes. Personally I’m not big into counting grams of anything, but for those of you who like to know specifics, it’s recommended to have anywhere fro 20-40 grams of fiber every day. It’s not that hard to get enough if you eat lots of veggies, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and beans. Just add these things into every meal. Click here for my favorite fiber smoothie recipe that I make for breakfast.

4. Skin Brushing. This is one of my favorite morning rituals to do regularly, mainly because it wakes me up gradually and makes my skin feel so much cleaner. It detoxes your body by stimulating the lymph system and gets rid of any dead, dry skin cells so your skin can breathe and feel soft and smooth.

5. Sleep. The number 1 rejuvenator!!! Most people don’t get enough for one reason or another, but it’s the one way to allow your cells and muscles to fully recover and heal, to keep your immune system strong and brain sharp.

The key to making long lasting success is to make small gradual changes at first and then build on that “foundation.” And it’s really important to not beat yourself up if you fall off track and eat something “bad” or get busy at work and blow off exercising for a while, or whatever your weak spot is. (We all have those weak spots!) Just get back on track as soon as possible. Always remember it’s the little things you do every single day that all add up, and you always have the chance with every choice you make, to get back on track again!

They say it takes about a month to create a habit. So, you can set yourself up to do well by picking a few new habits to  create the next few weeks, and then add another “layer” of habits, depending on what you feel ready for. Just remember to follow a pace that feels right for you.

I would love to hear how this goes for you.  Lots more information about cleansing coming, so stay tuned!

Good luck,
Danielle