Until recently, I lived a pretty mainstream life when it comes to household habits – I shopped at regular grocery stores, ate food that comes in wrappers, and considered “health food” and “fasting” to be somewhat intriguing, but definitely in the realm of health nut – something I did not identify with. But then I started to learn what all this “cleansing” hubbub was about. And you know … it all makes a whole lot of sense.

To say our digestive system is complex is an understatement. There are more nerve cells in our gut than there are in our peripheral nervous system – in fact, as embryos, our neural center forms and then divides into two: one becomes the central nervous system, the other, the enteric nervous system – the nervous system of our gut. These two systems develop simultaneously and independently, becoming linked only later in development, but forever on remaining two integral nerve centers operating our bodies. When we eat food, it’s broken down, pushed through and absorbed by all the little moving parts in our gut – then carried from there to our blood and throughout our body to create each and every cell. In many ways, the digestive system is the first line of health, and if it’s in any way dysfunctional – not able to break food down, push it through, absorb nutrients – or if it’s clogged, or missing what it needs to fight off invaders – a chain reaction ensues that could ultimately be the cause of numerous ailments, - skin disorders, malnutrition, depression, fatigue, cancer - and more. Our digestive system is to the body as the brain is to the mind – it’s the engine that makes everything run. Seeing that we live long lives – over 100 years! - isn’t it a good idea to clean that engine every once in a while?

The amount of things our system is able to cope with is truly remarkable – fighting microbes, breaking down chemical-laden food, constantly balancing the acids that have potential to damage the system itself – and all the while keep us nourished and healthy and going forward. But along the way, there are little kinks that develop – such as food that hasn’t been broken down and assimilated properly, or cilia that are no longer absorbing nutrients efficiently. If you think about it, we eat every day, 3 or more times a day – and the system never really gets a good break. By “fasting” – eating a very limited diet, we give our gut this opportunity to come into balance – to heal - and potentially nip in the bud any ailments that these lingering imbalances would have gone on to cause.

So we’ve established some core reasons why cleansing is good for our digestive (and therefore overall) health. But cleansing is also said to produce enhanced physical, mental and spiritual well-being - during and after the fast. While giving our system a break, it also promotes the excretion of toxins and decreases congestive symptoms. On a more specific level, cleansing is believed to have the following benefits:

* Eliminates most food allergies and sensitivities (during the fast).
* Reduces the burden on the digestive system, allowing it to heal.
* Releases pesticides, drugs, and other chemicals from stored fat, which can then be eliminated.
* Provides increased energy
* Supports mental clarity
* Produces glowing skin (alleviates many skin disorders)
* Prevents chronic diseases caused by poor diet and lifestyle
* Clears mucus dishcharge

This information is probably enough to make anyone at lease consider trying some sort of cleanse. But seeing this is a move to support our body, we should ask the question, WHEN is the best time to offer this support?

Spring and summer are common times to cleanse the internal organs because, whether we realize it or not, this is what the body is already doing naturally. Similar to how animals shed their coats as the weather warms, much of the fat that we stored for winter to keep us insulated, warm and moisturized, are broken down and flushed out as we adjust to warmer, wetter weather in which it’s no longer needed. Along with this fat expulsion go harmful free radicals and various toxins stored in the fat – which is one reason nature provides us with high anti-oxidant and naturally cleansing foods in spring and summer, such as berries and fresh bitter greens. By cleansing in the spring or summer, we’re supporting our body’s natural process. Why not swim with the current?

This leaves one final question: Which cleanse to try? There are many types of cleanses, from gentle to extreme, and by far, the most popular juice cleanse is one that’s been around for decades – the Master Cleanse. Formulated in the 60’s by a health guru named Stanley Burroughs, the cleanse is well-known for its safe, balanced, and effective approach, and it’s been time-tested by thousands of individuals. The cleanse consists of drinking a “spicy lemonade” made of water, lemon, cayenne pepper and maple syrup (you can learn about the details here). The idea is that the lemon cleans, provides vitamins, aids in break down and alkalizes they system (lemon is one of the most alkalizing foods on the planet), while the pepper breaks down mucus and the maple syrup provides all the nutrients and energy our bodies need. Throughout the process, there are also numerous enemas, flushes, or teas one can drink to support the elimination process. While Burroughs recommends staying on the cleanse 10-40 days, and doing it at the change of each season, this might be too intense for most people – I encourage cleansers to pick a time frame they feel they can commit to and monitor their experience. Since it takes 72 hours for food to exit our digestive system, it is recommended to cleanse for at least 3 days.

So, there you have it – cleansing – or fasting – demystified. Inspired to try it? Learn all the details here. Looking for more inspiration? Read about my personal experience, 5 Days on the Spicy Lemonade, here. Finally, if you’d like support or further information, please feel free to contact me, here. Finally, feel free to write in with your experience!