Are you interested in doing a cleanse? Maybe you have realised you are definitely overdue for a clean out, but you feel completely overwhelmed by all the different types of cleanses out there.

The lemon water cleanse, the brown rice cleanse, salt water and liver flush, colon cleanse, smoothie or juice fasting, intermittent fasting and calorie restriction. My mind is boggling just typing them all and that only covers about 1%.

If the thought of choosing a cleanse makes you feel confused and stressed to the point where you want to reach for those chocolate chip cookies to relax and end up disregarding the idea altogether, then let me help.

Here are three tips to consider to help you choose the perfect style of cleanse for you:

Define your goals

First you need to define your goal; why do you want to do a cleanse? Are you new to cleansing and want to completely start fresh and learn the basics of how to be healthy, or are you satisfied with your lifestyle and simply want to clean the house and reset your immune system?

If you want to get down to the basics and learn healthy habits which you can maintain then obviously jumping into a liquid fast may not be for you. Leaning towards an elimination program that recommends avoiding irritating foods while introducing fresh, whole foods might be a great style of cleanse for you to try.

Don’t choose one because its trendy

There is always going to be a type of detox that’s ‘hot right now’. Does that necessarily mean it’s the healthiest or most suited to you? No. I remember there was a point where everyone was doing the ice cream cleanse, or the peanut butter cleanse… Do your own research and don’t do one simply because it’s popular.

Ensure the cleanse incorporates these elements

Easy on digestion

It is important to remember first and foremost that the body is the only thing that is doing the cleansing. The cleanse itself isn’t cleansing you, per se, it’s simply providing your body with the right environment to be able to do its job.

Digestion is a key process which uses up the body’s energy, so consuming foods which are difficult to break down will steal precious energy and won’t allow you to gain the maximum benefits.

Therefore I recommend doing a cleanse based on plant foods, as they are full of enzymes and fibre making them easier to digest, as opposed to animal products. Fruits and vegetables also have high water content which helps the body flush out unwanted waste. It’s all about assisting the body in the best way you can perform its natural process.

Alkalinity

Most peoples’ bodies are in an acidic state which causes unwanted symptoms and disease and is what leads people to do a cleanse. A cleanse should always focus on changing the body’s environment from acid to alkaline. Alkaline foods are predominately fruits and vegetables.

Choose one that fits your lifestyle

Decide if you’re going to fit in with the cleanse, or make the cleanse fit in with you. By this I mean are you going to take time off and relax or continue with your normal routine?

If taking time off is too much of a commitment for you then you’re going to need to choose a cleanse that fits in with your lifestyle. I’d recommend going for a more gentle, whole food cleanse or if you want to do a liquid detox trying one where you consume liquid during the day and whole food at night.

If you are able to take time off then diving into a deeper type of cleanse won’t be so overwhelming as your body will be able to focus its energy on coping with the detox symptoms. You will be more capable of trying a juice fast.

So don’t feel overwhelmed next time you want to embark on a cleanse. Use this as a guide to help you choose an appropriate cleanse.

This blog, its content and any linked material are presented for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prescribing. Nothing contained in or accessible from this post should be considered to be medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prescribing, or a promise of benefits, claim of cure, legal warranty, or guarantee of results to be achieved. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog or in any linked material. Olivia Budgen is not a medical doctor. Consult with a licensed healthcare professional before altering or discontinuing any current medications, treatment or care, or starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, or if you have or suspect you might have a health condition that requires medical attention.