The latest craze in dieting is the detox. There are several ways that you can achieve the detox cleanse. There are healthy ways to go about it, and unhealthy ways. Don’t take the shortcuts, and treat your body well for the most effective results.

DO

1. Think of it as pushing the reset button: Detoxes aren’t meant to be for extended periods of time. The longest a detox should go for is about 2-7 days. The detox is intended to break a cycle that you’ve found yourself in and reset you onto a healthier path. Its intention is to take a chunk of the garbage that you’ve consumed and aid your body in eliminating it. It’s not supposed to be a lifestyle habit that you adopt or use frequently.
2. Have unprocessed products: While you are resetting your body, you’re going to need to replace everything you’re eliminating with good things. Don’t consume anything that comes in a can, a box, or is “fast food”. You want to have things that are organic, all-natural, and straight from Mother Nature. You’re going to be flushing a lot of junk in your detox, but you’re body doesn’t recognize the difference between the yuck and the good. Throughout your cleanse, you’ll also be stripping your body of other good things, like minerals and vitamins, that it needs. You need to replenish these things by having extra vegetables, fruits, and good fats.
3. Listen to your body: If you are experiencing pain, then stop your detox. That’s not the purpose of the cleanse. If you aren’t responding well, then you should listen to your body, and stop the detox. You can either choose a milder version, or skip the detox altogether. It’s not necessary for a healthy gut.
4. Drink plenty of water: As you are detoxing, your body needs lots and lots of water to flush the system. Rehydrate, and help your body clean itself out by drinking a gallon of water a day.

DON’T

1. Dramatically cut calories: The purpose of the detox shouldn’t be a crash diet. You don’t want to restrict your calorie intake under 1400 calories regardless of gender or activity level. You need energy to maintain living. You’ll do more harm under cutting your calories rather than keeping them consistent. Most adults need around 2000-2500 calories a day.
2. Use laxative or stimulants: You want to get rid of the sludge in your gut, but your body is already created to do that. It doesn’t need extra help unless there’s a medical condition. Laxatives will strip your body of good nutrients, leaving you weak. Stimulants will falsely rev up your metabolism, making you prone to crash and drop your metabolism when you stop taking them. Do your part in the detox by eating well and drinking loads of water, and your body will do the rest.
3. Overuse the detox: Again, detoxes aren’t meant to be a lifestyle. It’s only supposed to be for about 2-7 days in length. Only do a detox 3-4 times a year at the most.

Give your body what it needs, and the detox will happen naturally. You’ll have a sharper mind, sleep better, digest food and absorb more nutrients, reduce belly bloat, and have more energy throughout the day. Be kind to yourself, and your body will be kind back.