'Cause Your Body Needs an Oil Change Every Now and Then


Cleansing is trendy these days.

Who hasn’t seen a co-worker chugging that nasty lemon juice-cayenne pepper-maple syrup crap?

Starving yourself is one option, but we believe in feeding our bodies solid foods, thankyouverymuch. Plus, who has time to juice fast when you've got a client meeting, a sick kid or any other kind of commitment that requires, uh, energy?

Oil Change

Our bodies are able to eliminate most toxins naturally, but sometimes a girl needs a helping hand. You accumulate toxins from the food you eat, the products you put on your skin, the medications you take and even the air you breathe. If this crap gets stuck in your body and starts messing with your shit, water retention, premature aging, cancer and even obesity can ensue. Yep, toxins contribute to the extra junk in your trunk. The body attacks toxins by sequestering and diluting toxins with fat, so as toxin levels rise, so do fat levels.

Cleanse Benefits

Throughout history, humans have turned to cleansing for both physical and spiritual reasons. Today we know that cleanses can have many health benefits: increased energy, improved mood, weight loss, fewer colds and less sinus congestion, clearer skin and reduced menstrual pain. You might even want to try a liver cleanse to ramp up your sex life — a healthy liver is essential for a strong libido. Meow.

Cleanse Risks

So what can’t a cleanse do? For starters, it’s not going to help you lose 10 pounds in a week. And if it does, it’s dangerous and unhealthy. Steer clear of any cleanse that makes wildly outlandish claims, restricts you to liquids only or doesn’t let you have any protein. If you’re not getting protein, your body will consume the protein in your muscles, which can diminish your muscle mass and mess up your metabolism.

What's worse? Many cleanses on the market severely deprive the body of the nutrients it needs to function. Some colon cleanses work by drawing fluid into the colon from surrounding tissues. This can create an imbalance of electrolytes, like sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium and phosphorous. And that kind of imbalance can put you in danger of dehydration and low blood sugar.

Options, Baby

Always check with a medical professional before beginning a cleanse, as even some herbal cleanses can cause allergic reactions. And be sure to drink plenty of water. All of the cleanses below are designed to be combined with a healthy, organic diet. That means no booze, caffeine or tons of sugar, missy.

Kaeng Raeng. Our favorite cleanse on the market, this all-natural, non-GMO, gluten-free detox program will help remove toxins, bolster your immune system and improve your digestive health. It's one of the highest-quality cleanses available, so you know you're getting the good stuff. $64.99 at kaengraeng.com




Renew Life First Cleanse. Designed for first-time cleansers, it’s made of 29 organic whole herbs, which are gentler than the herbal extracts found in the line’s more advanced cleanses. It's 15 days and consists of two pills in the morning and two pills at night. Vegetarian capsules support normal cleansing and organ detox. I’ve been doing this cleanse for the past seven years and love it. $26.99 at renewlife.com




Garden of Life Raw Cleanse. Vegan and raw, this cleanse works by stopping toxins in the mouth, drawing them from organs and then removing them from the liver through digestion and elimination. One packet mixed with water in the morning, some capsules with breakfast and lunch and another packet mixed with water at night. $29 at luckyvitamin.com


Flor Essence Tea Beginner 30-Day Cleanse. A blend of eight herbs, this tonic originated from a formula used by medicine men from the Ojibwa tribe in Canada for generations. The Native American cure was turned into a healing tonic by a nurse in the 1920s. Today it's available in several forms, including a tea taken twice a day for 30 days. $92 at floressencetea.com



The Verdict

Pros: Safe, convenient cleansing that won’t disrupt your lifestyle or starve you.

Cons: Because these detox programs are extremely gentle, results may not be immediately apparent.
 
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Liz Farrington, Features Editor
A vegetarian who wishes she could stay vegan, Liz is a media professional and former editor at several fitness and lifestyle publications throughout Southern California. Now principal in Farrington Communications, she does sales, marketing, writing and editing for a range of clients. When she’s not shopping for leather-free handbags or deciding which companies to boycott, the Las Vegas resident enjoys following liberal politics, detoxing at the co-op, scoping farmers’ markets and volunteering for animal rescue.

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