Most of us tend to be over ambitious when it comes to planning a diet or detoxification. We over estimate our capabilities and will power and inevitably end up being disappointed when all our good intentions fly out of the window after a couple of days. In general, it is always better to be cautious about diet and detoxification plans as most of us do not have the self control to go without solid food for days together. The more realistic the plans are, the more the chances of sustaining them. To this end, a question which many people often ask about cleansing is “just how far can I realistically go?”.

How long should your cleanse last?

While the exact answer to this depends upon several factors like age, health, endurance and will power of a person, a thumb of rule is to never plan beyond 10 days if you are a beginner. Most cleansing programs are designed to run their course within 7 to 10 days and this is what you should aim for. Depending on your body’s reactions and its ability to adapt, you can probably stretch this for up to 2 weeks but not more than that, at least during the first few times. Once you are more aware of your body’s capabilities and coping mechanisms, you can think about staying on a cleansing diet for longer periods.

Precautions

Irrespective of whether you are on a one day cleansing program or a ten day cleanse, always monitor your body’s reactions closely. Watch out for irregular bowel habits, decreasing energy levels and any other general health problems. While some side effects are expected in most cleansing programs, they should never be severe enough to hamper your regular functioning. The minute you start experiencing extreme discomfort or side effects is when your body has reached its threshold and is asking you to stop.

With stressful lifestyles and haphazard eating habits becoming increasingly common, it is no wonder that accumulation of body toxins has become a serious cause of concern for many. Toxins in the body can make you overweight, lethargic and even sick. Many people go on periodic detoxification diets to get rid of these toxins. One of the most popular detoxification diets endorsed by many is the Master Cleanse diet, also known as the lemonade diet. This diet, which requires you to survive on a combination of liquids like juices, lemon tea, maple syrup and water can help you feel refreshed, lighter and energized. However, it is not for the faint hearted and many people give it up after a couple of days. If you don’t want to be one of those, then you need to know how to prepare yourself for what lies ahead.

How to prepare yourself

The master-cleanse diet, like any other diet is going to test your levels of endurance and discipline. Not only will you need a strong will power, but it is also advisable that you do a “test run” to know what’s coming. Do not shock your body. Instead, ease it into diet mode by trying it for one or two days initially. Make sure you don’t have access to many temptations. Once you finish it successfully, reward yourself with a healthy, comforting meal.  Ensure you include a portion of protein, fat and carbohydrate in this meal. Also include lots of fresh vegetables. Once you are comfortable with the idea of surviving on liquids, stock up and start the master cleanse.

Supplements 

Once you start the diet fully, ensure that you drink plenty of water and lemonade. Supplements like Hoodia Gordonii can be a big help in controlling the hunger pangs. This supplement, which belongs to the cactus family has been used as a natural appetite controller for several hundred years. There are other similar supplements and products which can help you overcome the initial difficult days. While choosing supplements, try to ensure that they are natural and organic in order to minimize the side effects and ensure a healthy cleanse.

Super cleanse is a cleansing supplement that aims to cleanse and detoxify your colon using natural ingredients. The product was traditionally available in the form of capsules. Lately, it has been introduced in liquid form for those who do not like to consume too many capsules. However, a common concern seen across colon cleansing forums is the lack of knowledge about the ingredients in this product and how it is different from capsule supplements. Many people are understandably skeptical about trying something without understanding it completely. Here, we clear the confusion about the ingredients of liquid super cleanse.

The ingredients of Liquid Super Cleanse

The only ways in which liquid super cleanse differs from its capsule counterparts is in terms of form and appearance. Liquid super cleanse is obviously available in liquid form and comes in a single size, 2 fl. Oz bottle. Other than this, the product retains all the beneficial colon cleansing qualities of a cleansing supplement and is made of around 23 natural herbs well known for their detoxification and digestive properties. The product is mainly formulated with the roots of a Japanese plant called Wasabi in addition to other herbs like black walnut hull, garlic, clove, oregano, ginger, elm and green tea extracts. It also contains a small quantity of yellow dock root.

What do these ingredients do?

Wasabi is known for its digestive and laxative properties as well as its anti oxidation abilities. The roots of the plant are also known to provide protection to the lever and intestine. The use of wasabi in liquid super cleanse provides it with bowel simulative properties. The other herbs used in the manufacture of liquid super cleanse are all well known, traditional digestion aids and are also traditionally used to increase energy levels. Also, yellow dock root is believed to help in regular bowel movements. Together, all these herbs make liquid super cleanse a powerful and highly beneficial colon cleansing supplement.

Colon cleansing diets are becoming increasing popular as weight loss and detoxification solutions. Most colon cleansing diets like Master Cleanse recommend the use of laxative teas or salt flushes to aid in the elimination of toxins from the body. While a sea salt flush is considered as the best option to aid detoxification, laxative teas generally do the job equally well too. There are many laxative teas in the market and any good brand will generally serve the purpose. But if you want something that is clinically tested yet completely organic, try the Smooth Move laxative tea.

Main Ingredients

Smooth Move tea is an herbal stimulant containing leaves of the organic Senna plant. Senna leaves are known to stimulate bowel movements by eliminating toxins from the intestine. In addition to Senna leaves, Smooth Move tea also contains other organic, herbal ingredients like ginger, cinnamon, coriander, orange peel and fennel, all of which are well known constipation relievers. Apart from stimulating your bowel, these ingredients will also help improve your digestion and burn fat.

Dosage

In general, overuse of laxative teas or any laxatives is discouraged as a permanent weight loss solution.  You can consume around half to one cup of the tea a day during your detoxification diet. A large pack of Smooth Move tea contains 16 tea bags and these should tide you over the entire duration of your detoxification and maybe more, irrespective of the diet you choose. Since the ingredients are completely organic, most people do not experience side effects like cramping and discomfort. The tea has a mild flavor and most people like the taste. However, if you find it unpleasant, you can add a few drops of lemon juice or honey to make it taste better. But even if you love the taste, please make sure not to use it as an alternative to your regular tea.

If you have ever been on a diet of any kind, you will know how tough it can be to order a simple meal in a restaurant during those times. You do not want to come across as a crazy person scrutinizing ever dish on the menu for hours on end and at the same time, you do not want to wreck your diet. The situation becomes even more difficult when you are on a special diet like the ones for colon cleansing. Not only are many food items not allowed in such diets but also in all likelihood, the people with you wouldn’t even know what the diet is all about. So, how do you survive a restaurant meal when you are on a colon-cleansing diet?

Prepare in advance

The first thing to remember before heading out with friends and family is to let them know that you are on a diet. This will help in avoiding situations where you find that the chosen place has nothing suitable on the menu. If possible, call ahead and confirm that the restaurant has items like vegetable salads, juices and plain fruits on the menu.

Go for simple, raw food items

Your best bet for eating out when you are on a colon cleansing diet is to ask for natural and raw food items. Order a bowl of plain fruit salad or raw brussel sprouts. You can also have a raw vegetable salad without dressing. Most restaurants also have dried nut bowls on their menu as starters. You can ask for one of these bowls to accompany your salad. If you are on a vegetable juice or a fruit juice diet, make sure to ask for plain juice without sugar. You can also drink either plan water or herbal tea.

Be Nice

Most chefs are happy to create specific dishes for you if you ask nicely. Explain politely about your diet and ask if they can put together a customized salad or smoothie for you. Such requests mean extra work for the chef so remember that being extra nice is the key here.

Do your research

With so many people interested in colon cleansing, it is quite easy to find out if a product has worked for others or not. There are several sites dedicated to reviews of these products. You can also post your questions on these sites and check the track record of products. In general, if a product has been around for a long time, chances are that it works, at least to an extent.

Check the ingredients

It is possible that the reviews on some websites are biased or inaccurate. It is also common to find conflicting information about the same product from different sources which might leave you more confused than ever. A better way of confirming that a product will work is to check the ingredients and do your research on them individually. Typically, a good colon cleansing product should have all natural ingredients and little or no chemicals.  Fiber supplements, toxin absorbers, digestion simulators and probiotics are all good ingredients to have in a colon cleansing product.

Check the instructions and side effects

Considering that colon cleansing programs are not very easy to begin with, you would be well advised to choose something that is not overly messy or complicated. If the program requires you to go out of your way to finish it, chances are that you will not finish it at all. Also, while some minor side effects are expected, the ones which caution against too many side effects are probably a bad idea.

Cleansing supplements

The most obvious cause of exhaustion and dizziness during a colon cleanse is that your body is not getting sufficient nutrients. Many colon cleanse programs like the master cleanse, salt water flush and juice diets are designed to reduce your calorie intake to the bare minimum in order to allow your body to get rid of toxins without interference. This means that your body is not getting many of the nutrients that it usually gets from the food you eat. In addition, you also need nutrients to flush the toxins out. This is where supplements come in. There are many colon cleanse supplements available in the market today which can help you get the essential nutrients while speeding up the cleansing process at the same time. Herbal supplements are generally considered safe and efficient. Choose one based on your individual needs, reviews and ingredients. You can also take some vitamin supplements and probiotics to help your body cope.

Water and more water

Drinking plenty of water is the key to a successful cleanse. Keep sipping water through the day at regular intervals. If plain water is too boring, consider adding a few mint leaves or a drop of lemon juice for zing. Try to eat a lot of fibrous food and yoghurt if your diet allows it. Drinking lemon juice is a good way to get rid of exhaustion. You can also try some light exercises or yoga to increase your energy levels. Having said that, if you are planning to run a marathon, now is probably not the time to do it.

Which drugs interfere with colon cleansing?

In general, it is believed that most prescription drugs interfere with the colon cleansing process to an extent and vice versa. Since the point of colon cleansing is to remove toxins from the body, taking heavy medications while trying to detoxify is like getting in your own way. However, some medicines interfere with colon cleansing more than others. As a rule of thumb, you should stay away from colon cleansing if you are on insulin, diuretics, antibiotics, anticoagulants or blood pressure medications. In addition, women should stay away from colon cleansing if they are on birth control medication.

How to minimize the effects?

If you decide to start a colon cleanse despite being on medication, you should take certain precautions to ensure a safe cleanse. To begin with, do not take your medication and colon cleansing supplements at the same time. Instead give a gap of at least two hours after medication. If you are on a juice fast, then supplement your diet with multivitamins and other nutrients in capsule form. Women on birth control medicines would be well advised to consider alternative or supplementary forms of control. Last but not the least, if you experience extreme side effects or discomfort, stop the cleanse and consult your doctor immediately.

What exactly is a solvent remover?

A solvent remover is basically something that removes solvents, no surprises there. But what exactly are solvents? Well, solvents are substances in which other substances can dissolve. Water is the most common example of a solvent. However, consuming water is not harmful for you unless it is contaminated or you decide to consume twenty gallons in one shot. On the other hand, there are many organic solvents like fumes which have been associated with liver damage, cancer, kidney damage and other diseases. You can become exposed to these solvents through paint fumes, petrol fumes, nail polish, printing cartridges – you get the idea. A solvent remover removes these harmful solvents from your body and helps in detoxification.

Will it speed up colon cleansing?

Technically, yes. A solvent remover contains amino acids like glycine and taurine which are known to remove toxins from the body during urination and strengthen the body’s resistance against toxins. So, adding a solvent remover supplement to your colon cleansing routine can help in getting rid of the toxins faster. However, the extent to which the supplement helps you depends on the actual amount of solvents present in your body. Some people are more exposed to solvents than others. The bottom-line is that solvent removers are helpful but may not be as helpful for a teacher as compared to a painter or a construction worker.

 So, are there any side effects?

Well, the answer to this is yes and no. People who are unfamiliar with colon cleansing may often mistake the process of cleansing as side effects. For instance, excessive bowel movements are considered normal during the process. Similarly, dizziness and nausea are considered as results of the low calorie diets often used for colon cleansing and not the side effects of the actual process. On the other hand, people who oppose colon cleansing list dehydration, nausea, stomach cramps, mucus and dizziness as potential side effects of the process. However, it is generally accepted that these side effects are temporary and vanish after a day or two.

Who should avoid?

People with medical conditions such as kidney stones, tumors and hemorrhoids should avoid colon cleansing. Also, anyone who has undergone bowel surgery in the recent past would be well advised to avoid it. There are no reports of any serious or long lasting side effects resulting from the process. However, it may still not be a good idea to start colon cleansing if you have any of these medical conditions. In fact, it is generally advisable to obtain medical advice before trying to colon cleanse even if you do not have any of these conditions.