How Often Should You Do A Cleanse?

By Jessah Robinson, Adv Dip (Nut Med)

Cleansing or detoxing essentially refers to the filtering and removal of toxic compounds from the body. Although our bodies detoxify naturally each and every day, in today’s modern world we are constantly exposed to toxins which can cause our bodies to become overloaded and unable to sufficiently detoxify. The environmental toxins we are exposed to include plastic residues, solvents, cleaning products, beauty products, engine fumes and air pollution.

In addition, the typical Western diet is largely made up of processed foods and refined carbohydrates that can hugely congest our systems. I’m sure you try to eat well most of the time, but even basic healthy foods can be nutrient depleted and contain pesticide residues.

Under these circumstances, our body’s detoxification ability is hindered and unable to efficiently cleanse the tissues and organs, which can cause an imbalance in the body.

Common symptoms of toxic overload include:

• coated tongue
• dark circles around the eyes
• headaches
• chronic fatigue
• constipation
• flatulence
• belching

• skin rashes and/or hives
• allergies
• frequent infections
• red itchy eyes
• inability to lose weight
• fatty liver
• indigestion

Due to this regular toxin exposure, it is ideal to do a Cleanse a minimum of twice a year. Cleansing twice a year prevents critical mass toxin overload and can reduce the risk of cancer and obesity. Popular times to do a Cleanse are Spring and Autumn. Spring cleansing gets you body confident for Summer while Autumn cleansing prepares your body for the cooler temperatures when metabolism tends to slow down. An Autumn Cleanse also has the added benefit of reducing winter weight gain and sluggishness. For more specific weight loss tips, see the book I Can’t Lose Weight and I Don’t Know Why.

In saying that, there is no magic number for how often you should cleanse, and some people prefer to do a cleanse every 3 months to keep their liver and gut toxin load down. The logic behind doing a cleanse every quarter or 3 months is that our red blood cells only have a 3-month shelf life before they need to be replaced. Therefore, doing a Cleanse every 3 months keeps our most important blood cells healthier and capable of carrying more oxygen to our vital organs, which means increased energy levels, faster metabolism and easier weight control. Doing a Cleanse is also an excellent reset. It helps to reinspire and motivate you to eat well, exercise and take good care of your body.

Dr Cabot has released her 15-Day Cleanse complete with three daily therapeutic powders and a recommended meal plan to follow to heal the gut, boost liver detoxification and improve overall health.