Full Body Cleanse

With the amount of toxins and pollutants in modern society entering our bodies, a full body cleanse or detoxification program is a great way to naturally rid your body of these toxins and return a natural balance and harmony to your body, soul and mind.

Clean

• The environments in which we live are full of toxins, whether from the foods we eat, the liquids we drink, the bad habits we can't curb or the pollution clouding our fresh air. A full-body cleanse helps the body's natural ability to expel these toxins and start fresh. Detoxification is beneficial after a long night out on the town or a holiday weekend of overindulgence, and it is not only for the unhealthy. Everyone can benefit from a cleanse now and then.

Over the Counter

• Many products lining the shelves of pharmacies promise a great cleanse, but the best way to detoxify your body is to do it naturally rather than using harsh supplements.

The Master Cleanse

• The Master Cleanse is an extremely harsh full-body detoxification program created in 1976 by Stanley Burroughs, known for his alternative therapy methods. It consists of drinking nothing else but a mixture of fresh lemonade, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water throughout the day for at least 10 days. Such a drastic change in your diet is known to cause irritability, vomiting, cravings and fatigue. This cleanse is not for the faint of heart, but some people---celebrities included---swear by it.

Quantum Wellness Cleanse

• Created by health and wellness expert Kathy Freston and popularized by Oprah Winfrey, the Quantum Wellness Cleanse is a 21-day detoxification program that eliminates 5 staple ingredients from the average person's diet. Freston's cleanse takes a focus on healthy, wholesome foods while eliminating caffeine, sugar, alcohol, gluten and animal products. The cleanse should be performed up to 21 days, depending on your body's tolerance, and repeated a few times throughout the year.

Warnings

• Ultimately, both cleanses are a bit harsh on the body. If planning to do a cleanse, allow a week or two beforehand to slowly ween yourself off the caffeine, alcohol and sugar products. That way your body doesn't go into a complete state of shock when the program begins. A detoxification program is essentially a diet, and the best way to cleanse your body and maintain a healthy state is to begin a lifestyle change. Focus on healthy, wholesome foods for the long run, enjoying indulgences only in moderation. In the long run it will be much more beneficial for you.

Foods

• Dr. Ben Kim compiled a list of some of the best natural foods to help create your detoxification regime:

  Lettuce
  Avocados
  Tomatoes
  Cucumbers
  Celery
  Carrots
  Red beets
  Bell peppers
  Broccoli
  Cauliflower
  Cabbage
  Asparagus
  Onions
  Corn
  Sweet potatoes
  Butternut squash
  Watermelon
  Honeydew
  Cantaloupe
  Pears
  Apples
  Bananas
  Mangoes
  Papaya
  Peaches
  Plums
  Nectarines
  Grapes
  Coconut
  Oranges and grapefruit
  Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries