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Author: Cleanse Joy Editorial Team

CleanseJoy is a natural health evidence-based community specialized in cleansing and detoxification. We are researchers, natural health practitioners and online publishers with a strong belief in the power of natural healing.
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Keto Cleanse: 30 Days of Healthy Detox with Natural Whole Foods

Keto Cleanse Detox
Cleanse Joy Research TeamKeto Cleanse
Detox Research:
CleanseJoy
Editorial Team

Diet | Foods to Eat | Foods to Avoid | Superfoods | Supplements | Side effects | Recipes

Are you looking to lose weight without being hungry all the time? Or, do you find that eating carbs make you feel sluggish, tired or cause “brain fog”?

The keto cleanse program below is a healthy evolution of the popular ketogenic diet.

Unlike many fad diets and detox plans that don’t have a lot of evidence, there is actually a lot of science and data on the benefits of the keto diet. With that said, it is important to know that the keto diet has side effects too. And, just like any popular diet that goes viral on the internet, there are many misconceptions and poor advice.

So, in this keto detox guide, we focused on the key practical keto diet guidelines that have proven to help many. You will also find common mistakes to avoid, and some of the early warning signs to watch for.

We hope this guide will help you enjoy the many benefits of the keto cleanse, enjoy eating tasty meals that you love, and achieve your health and wellness goals.

What is the keto cleanse?

Plan overview, story in nutshell

With the keto cleanse diet, you restrict your carbs and replace them with healthy fats. After a few days, your body carbs storage (glycogen) becomes low, to a point your body has no other choice but to use fats for energy instead of sugars.

Once your body and brain adapts to using fats for fuel rather than sugars, the sugar rollercoaster is gone. To many people, this means freedom.
In particular, some of the related benefits may include: 

  • Less hunger compared to high carb diets.
  • More sustained consistent energy. Including, better brain function.
  • And, when you don’t consume extra calories, there’s often a significant weight loss. With much less effort.

Perhaps a key difference between the keto cleanse to many typical keto diets, is that the keto cleanse focuses on healthy food options, that can help to:

  • Support the body’s natural detox systems and organs of elimination. Thus, promore natural and gentle detoxification. 
  • Promote gut health and digestion.

A typical plan duration is 30 days, but you can continue further if you like how you feel.

Keto cleanse diet

In the keto cleanse diet, you focus on healthy whole foods. Not pills and powders. At the same time, you avoid unhealthy foods that can cause inflammation and irritate your gut. Unfortunately, a lot of these inflammatory foods are still common in a typical keto diet eating. Like we said, the keto cleanse is a healthy evolution.

Keep in mind, there is no one diet that works best for everyone. The guidelines we provide in this guide, however, are an excellent start. Use them to tailor the best plan, foods and meals according to your body needs and personal preferences.

Also, a useful online tool to calculate macros, vitamins, and minerals in foods: cronometer.com

Foods to eat on the keto cleanse

Keto Cleanse Detox Diet

See below the list of foods, categorized by: carbs, protein, fats, fiber, spices, and superfoods. On that note, while variation is important, you do not need to eat all of these foods, of course. Find your staples and most importantly, enjoy your meals eating the foods you love.

Carbs on the keto cleanse, how low do you need to go?

Restricting carbs on a keto detox is essential, since too many carbs that convert to sugar can prevent your body from getting into ketosis.

On the other hand, you still want to include whole greens and non-starchy vegetables, so you get enough phytonutrients and fiber (see below) to support digestion and your gut health.

Additionally, greens provide essential minerals and electrolytes that can help prevent muscle cramps many people experience during keto.

But, when it comes to carbs on keto, how low do you actually need to go?

While the amount may vary from one person to another, a good starting point for most people is 50 grams of net carbs a day. To calculate net carbs, take the total grams of carbs and subtract the grams of fiber. These are the carbs that your body can fully digest and convert to sugars.

For the keto cleanse, your carb sources should come from:

  • Leafy greens. (Eat as much as you desire)
    Good examples include romaine lettuce, spinach, etc.
  • Cruciferous vegetables. (Eat generous amounts, but count the net carbs)
    These veggies which include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale are known to support detoxification in the body.[1]
    You can have them raw, or lightly steamed.
    Other non-starchy vegetables that are low in carbs but very high in valuable nutrients include asparagus, celery, and some mushrooms.
  • Green sprouts & microgreens. (Eat generous amounts, but count the net carbs)
    In particular, broccoli sprouts, but also sunflower sprouts, pea shoots and other microgreens have much more phytonutrients compared to the mature plant, and at the same time, are lower in carbs. For example, broccoli sprouts have 10-100 times the amount of cancer-fighting compounds compared to regular broccoli.[2] 
  • Fruits like veggies such as zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes are a little higher in net carbs compared to greens, but still adds a lot of essential nutrients and flavor to the diet. So, if you like these, eat good amounts, just count the net carbs.
  • Raw nuts and seeds make the perfect keto snacks, or can turn a simple salad into a perfect keto meal. Nuts and seeds are high in healthy fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals, and fiber, but they also include some net carbs, which you need to count. See more on nuts and seeds in the protein section below.

Enjoy fiber’s detox power for your keto detox

So many keto diets restrict fiber which can cause constipation and digestive issues. Fiber, however, (from whole foods, not powders) should always be an important part of almost any diet. (Unless there’s a specific health concern).

In addition to its critical role in supporting gut health and digestion, fiber is a powerful natural detoxifier. Studies have shown that fiber can bind to certain toxins in the gut and at the same time, promote healthy bowel movements that help the body eliminate these toxins.

Simply put, fiber is one of the best natural ingredients you can use to detox your body!

The exact amount of fiber intake can vary from one person to another.
30 grams for men and 25 grams for women is a great place to start.

To easily bring your fiber intake up, on a keto diet:

  • One medium avocado (13 grams fiber, but only 3.7 grams of net carb)
  • 1 oz of chia seeds soaked in water. (10 grams fiber, but only 2.2 grams of net carbs)

Healthy fats

Eat enough fats, but, choose healthy options.

Early keto diets didn’t pay much attention to the type and quality of fats. That was a long time ago, though, and the research has evolved quite a bit since then. For example, we now know that unprocessed red meat can increase the risk of stroke, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.[3]

So, it is absolutely essential to focus on healthy fats as a part of your keto cleanse.

Good options of healthy fats include:

  • Avocados, a true staple in the keto cleanse.
  • Fresh raw unroasted unsalted nuts and seeds such as macadamia nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflowers seeds, hemp hearts.
  • Oils and plant based butters: such as raw coconut oil, coconut butter, cold pressed olive oil. For cooking, use coconut oil, as it is much more stable in heat.
  • Unprocessed meat from 100% grass fed beef or bison.
  • Wild caught small fatty fish such as wild Alaskan salmon. Limit fish to 2-3 times a week to minimize mercury exposure, though.
  • Olives. Watch the added ingredients.

Natural unprocessed proteins

Low-moderate amount from high quality sources.

Choose your animal proteins wisely

Commercial meat and farm raised fish are usually fed with a diet they are not supposed to eat. Fish or cows, for example, are not supposed to eat grains or soy! Not to mention antibiotics, GMOs, hormones and other toxic substances that are often used to make the animals grow faster or survive their horrible growing conditions.

The result: highly toxic meat products humans or in fact no other beings should consume. Never. Seriously, the research data on the toxins found in these animal products is unbelievable.

Good sources of animal proteins for the keto cleanse include:

  • Unprocessed meat from grass fed beef or bison, pasture-raised free-range chickens or turkey, and wild caught small fish, such as Alaskan salmon. As we mentioned above, limit fish to 2-3 times a week to minimize mercury exposure.
  • Pasture-raised free-range eggs. Eat the entire egg. The egg yolk is a powerhouse of many vitamins and minerals.[4]

Certain raw nuts and seeds are also high in protein (in addition to the healthy fats). In particular:

  • Raw pumpkin seeds (2 oz, 18 grams, 4.7 grams net carbs )
  • Raw sunflower seeds (2 oz, 12 grams, 6.5 grams net carbs )
  • Hemp seeds (2 oz, 18 grams protein, 3 grams net carbs )
  • Fresh unroasted unsalted almonds (2 oz, 12 grams, 5 grams net carbs)

Eat enough protein

Since the body can convert protein to glucose in a process called gluconeogenesis, some versions of the keto diet restrict proteins to 10% of the total calories.

For most people, however, this may be too low. You still need enough protein to support healing and repair. As a rule of thumb, 0.6 grams protein per pound of body weight is a good starting point for most people. For example, 120 grams of protein for a 200 pounds male, and 90 grams for a 150 pounds female. Athletes and active people, however, may need more.

Algae: Chlorophyll, detox and nutrients

Looking for a natural whole food that is packed with nutrients but have almost no carbs?

Edible algae, despite not being a staple in the western diet, is one of the most potent source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals mother nature has to offer. And, at the same time, has almost zero net carbs.

E3Live Chlorophyll Detox body cleanse superfood
E3Live® is the only us grown blue-green algae (Oregon), that has one of the highest natural chlorophyll content among all algae and plants. Chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plants, is well known for its blood detoxification, odor control, wound healing, gut health, and immune system support. Even more, due to its superior nutritional profile with unique nutrients we rarely get from the western diet, E3Live® can help support multiple body systems.

E3Live® is also the only algae in north america that comes fresh. (It is frozen-liquid, not a powder). So, if you are lucky enough to live in a place where you can get E3Live®, all you need is 1-2 tbsp in the morning on an empty stomach.

If it is not available in your area, however, two great alternative you can try are spirulina and chlorella. Just make sure they come from a reputable source.

Spices & salts

  • Natural salt is important on the keto diet, in order to support initial sodium loss. Replace the standard heavily processed table salt, with natural options such as pink himalayan salt, as they contain additional trace minerals.
  • Natural spices such as ginger, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and fresh garlic cloves (count the net carbs).
  • Raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. A great way to add nutrients to your drinking water and gently detox your body without worrying about net carbs. Apple cider vinegar also makes a wonderful salad dressing that is completely keto safe. Simply mix it with olive oil and a few drops of lemon juice. Even better, add 1-2 oz of hemp seeds, and pink himalayan salt, and you got yourself a yummy nutritious salad.

Keto cleanse recipes examples

When it comes to foods and recipes, everyone is different. This is not specific to the keto diet, of course. So, it is always best to experiment with the different foods, ingredients and amounts according to your own body needs and personal preferences.

With that said, the recipes below make a great starting point you can use to tailor the recipe to your own needs. If you find that you need to go lower than 50 grams of net carbs a day, you can still use these recipes. Just adjust the amounts or remove some of the veggies to reduce the total net carbs.

  • Noatmeal Detox Recipe. Low carb oatmeal alternative with flax seeds, hemp seeds, almonds, almond milk, coconut butter, spinach and broccoli.
  • Cauliflower Rice Detox Meal Recipe. A happy, healthy, tasty and super nutritious cleansing cauliflower rice. Ingredients: cauliflower, red onion, cayenne peppers, garlic, red bell peppers, carrots, scallions, hemp seeds, almonds, coconut oil, himalayan pink salt, chipotle chili powder, turmeric powder, and unfortified nutritional yeast.
  • Detox Healthy Guacamole Recipe. This recipe is delicious, super nutritious, and can help to naturally detox your body, support weight loss, promote healthy digestion, and even protect your heart. Above all, it will make you feel full, satisfied, happy and energized. Ingredients: avocados, jalapeño chili peppers, tomato, red onion, cilantro, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, lime juice, himalayan pink salt, carrots, and celery.
  • Low Carb Chocolate Mousse Detox Recipe. A tasty healthy way to boost energy and mood, reduce inflammation, and promote gut health.
    Ingredients: almond milk, chia seeds, hemp seeds, hazelnuts, cacao powder, coconut butter, stevia, monk fruit, cinnamon powder, vanilla extract, and himalayan pink salt.

Foods to Avoid on the keto detox

  • Processed or commercial meat, farm raised fish.
  • Processed foods and refined sugars.
  • High or medium carbs. In addition to the obvious bread, paste, rice, wheat, etc. initially, you may also want to limit sugary fruits and root vegetables such as carrots and beets. Keep in mind, many people can eat small amounts of berries or root vegetables and maintain ketosis. So, once you get used to the diet and see progress, you can include small amounts and see how you feel.
  • Inflammatory foods. In particular: dairy.
    Most people can’t tolerate dairy, which can cause digestive issues, inflammation and impair the body’s detox systems. Furthermore, dairy products often contain toxins and chemicals that pass from the cows.
  • Beans & legumes are also high in carbs.

Keto cleanse supplements

Similarly to the weight loss industry, the keto scene has become a fertile ground for many products, pills and powders. Do you really need any of these? Some may help in the transition, others are completely useless.

Keep in mind, a keto diet on its own takes advantage of the body’s natural ability to use fat for energy. So, from a weight loss/fat burning perspective, you are already covered. Just do the diet right, and let your body do the rest.

With that said, some supplements can help with the transition to the keto cleanse:

Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) , from coconuts

May help with: energy

Due to their chemical structure, the body can utilize MCTs faster than other oils. In fact, studies have found that MCT oils can help improve time to ketosis and the tolerability of the diet.[5]

MCTs side effects include digestive issues, in particular diarrhea and gas. So, if you consider using MCTs, start with ¼ teaspoon a day.

Another option is to use coconut oil or coconut butter which are naturally high in MCTs. Coconut butter is a really great option because it also has the fiber and minerals from the coconut meat. Not just the MCTs.

If you like coffee, MCTs, coconut oil and coconut butter are great options you can add to your morning (black) coffee. With coconut butter, however, it is best to use a blender.

The bottom line: MCTs can help with energy in the first week or so, but, they are not always necessary. Keep in mind, the keto diet most basic and core function is to support consistent energy levels from your own body fat and the foods you eat. Not from supplements.

Digestive enzymes

May help prevent digestive issues and transition to the new diet.

Hands down, the biggest complaints and side effects people report while on a keto diet, are digestive problems and constipation.

Just like any diet, it can take time for the body to get used to new foods. But, specifically to the keto diet, the high amount of fats, and at the same time, the restriction of bulky carbs that help to promote bowel movements, can cause digestive issue.

Taking a digestive enzymes complex with your meals, can help your body to better digest your foods. For the keto cleanse (and in fact, all our gut health protocols), we use VeganZyme.

With a total of 20 plant based digestive and systemic enzymes, it can support the digestion of fats, animal proteins, nuts, seeds, plants and greens. The addition of the systemic enzymes supports the body’s ability to break down allergens, excess yeast, candida, mucus and other toxins.

Also, to optimize gut health, make sure you take a clean source of plant based probiotics. Especially, if you have a history of digestive issues.
In our gut health protocols, we use Floratrex.

Electrolytes & minerals

Due to initial water loss

Due to the low insulin levels, you may experience water loss in the early phase of the keto diet. This often includes loss of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium leading to muscles cramps, and weakness.[6]

For these concerns, taking electrolytes and some key minerals (especially magnesium and zinc) is a very reasonable strategy to avoid deficiencies.
If you consider taking electrolytes, make sure to check the sugar content.

Mitochondria support

May help support mitochondria function. In particular, if you are over 40.

Also known as the battery of the cell, mitochondria produce cellular energy. Simply put, they “power” almost every cellular activity in the body.

Here’s the exciting part. Studies have found that keto diet can actually improve mitochondrial function, with a very long list of potential benefits, due to the critical role mitochondria play in our health.[7]

Since mitochondria function naturally decline as we age[8], a practical anti-aging and longevity strategy that may help to take advantage of these benefits, is to support your mitochondria health with certain nutrients.

Dr. Group’s COQ10 & PQQ is an excellent natural mitochondria booster option, that based on our experience, can make a significant change in people over 40. The formula combines two of the most potent clinically studied patented mitochondria boosters, Kaneka Q10® Ubiquinone, and BioPQQ®. PrimaVie® organic purified shilajit was added to enhance the absorption of CoQ10 and BioPQQ. As all Dr. Group line of supplements, there are no artificial fillers or binders.

Manage “keto flu” side effects

If you already started a typical keto diet and experience side effects, below are some of the most common symptoms, and natural home remedies you can do that may help.

Mind-mood imbalances: irritability, poor concentration, feeling down, and headaches

BrainOn is a wonderful natural green blue algae extract that is high in two natural components that can help in these situations:

  • Phenylethylamine (PEA).
    Helps regulate dopamine and support mood, focus, and brain function.
  • Phycocyanin.
    The blue pigment in blue-green algae, may help with inflammation, pain, headaches and migraines.

Take 1 scoop of BrainOn in the morning and when needed, up to 2-3 times a day.

Difficulty sleeping

To promote restful sleep, take 1 dropperful of valerian extract before bedtime. Multiple studies found valerian as an effective natural alternative that can safely help improve sleep quality and relieve anxiety.[9,10]

Constipation

Oxy-powder (ozonated magnesium oxides) uses natural oxygen in the colon to loosen accumulated waste buildup. The body then can easily release these with the stool. It’s a very effective and safe home remedy for occasional constipation that also cleanses your entire digestive tract.

  • Start by taking 4 capsules at night with a 16 ounces distilled or spring water on an empty stomach. (At least two hours after your last meal).
  • Expect the next day to have 3-5 bowel movements. Since your body will get rid of a lot of waste buildup, it is best to stay home that day.

Generally speaking, when it comes to constipation prevention, it is important to drink enough liquids, and meet your daily fiber needs.

Digestive issues

For other digestive issues such as excess gas, bloating, and stomach pain, possible things to check/do:

  • Are you still eating processed foods? “Keto friendly” doesn’t mean “gut friendly”. For example, artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols are known to cause digestive issues.
  • Perhaps you are sensitive to raw veggies such as cruciferous vegetables?
  • As we mentioned, in the initial phase of the diet, it is helpful to support your digestion with enzymes. Take 2-3 capsules of VeganZyme with your meals.

Other symptoms of keto diet (usually during the first week) may include:

  • Muscle cramps and muscle soreness. These are usually due to loss of electrolytes. Consider taking an electrolytes supplement, and increase consumption of leafy greens.
  • Weakness, low energy
  • Sugar cravings
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness

Is it possible to avoid keto detox side effects?

Despite what you may have heard, it is possible to minimize and even prevent the keto flu. One of the best ways to do so, is to ease yourself into the diet. Especially, if you are used to eating high carb diet or a diet that is high in processed foods. Here are a few tips that may help:

  • Clean up your diet from all junk and processed foods. This can be done instantly. Replace with the healthy options from the keto cleanse diet menu.
  • Avoid all refined carbs. Instead, eat natural healthy whole foods. For example, replace white bread or white pasta with quinoa and steamed veggies, or one baked sweet potato.
  • Cut down all sugary beverages. If you eat a lot of sugars, you may want to follow our sugar cleanse. Sugar additions are real, and can be hard to deal with.
  •  Slowly reduce your carb intake and replace with the options from the keto cleanse diet menu.
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Calming Tea: Homemade Recipe for Anxiety, Stress & Depression

Calming Tea
Cleanse Joy Research TeamCalming Tea
Research Analysis:
CleanseJoy Editorial
Team

Recipe | Herbs | About stress | References

The simple calming tea recipe below uses common herbs and foods that can naturally help relieve anxiety and stress, support your well-being and balance the mood.

Also, see the AM & PM options of the recipe. The AM version is ideal during the day, and can help with energy and focus. While it won’t keep you awake at night, the PM option is a better for the afternoon and up, as it may also promote restful sleep.

It is important to know that not all popular calming herbs work the same. So, they may affect each person differently. For best results, listen to your body and be mindful. Observe how you feel after you drink the calming tea recipe and make changes based on your needs.

Calming Tea Recipe

Calming Tea Recipe
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Calming Tea Recipe

A simple healthy calming tea recipe with natural herbs and foods that can help the body cope with anxiety, stress and depression. Note that the recipe has an AM version that can support energy during the day, and PM version that may help to promote a restful sleep.
Prep Time5 minutes
Course: Tea
Cuisine: Chinese, Indian
Keyword: Calming tea, Tea for anxiety, stress and depression
Servings: 1 people
Author: Cleanse Joy Editorial Team

Ingredients

AM Version: support energy

  • 1 cup almond milk (pure, unsweetened) carrier
  • 1 tbsp cacao powder (raw, organic) mood
  • 1 medium banana electrolytes, minerals, fiber, improves taste, thickens the smoothie
  • 1-2 scoops BrainOn mood, brain function, focus, gentle detox
  • 1  dropperful tulsi extract calm stress and nervous system, support adrenals, balance mood & energy
  • 1/4  tsp vanilla extract (natural non-alcoholic ) optional
  • dash stevia or monkfruit  optional

PM version: support sleep

  • 1 cup almond milk (pure, unsweetened) carrier
  • 1 oz cashews or walnuts (unsalted unroasted) sleep & relaxation nutrients
  • 1 medium banana electrolytes, minerals, fiber, improves taste, thickens the smoothie
  • 1 dropperful valerian extract
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (natural non-alcoholic ) optional
  • dash cinnamon optional
  • dash stevia or monkfruit  optional

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a blender
  • Drink immediately and enjoy a state of calmness, relaxation and well-being!
  • When drinking the PM version, notice how soon you feel relaxed. Many people prefer to make the drink 30 min before bedtime.

The Foods & Herbs in the Calming Tea Recipe

So, what does the evidence say? Here’s a little more info about the main ingredients in the calming tea recipe.

  • Tulsi (Holy basil).
    One of Ayurvedic medicine most studied herb known for its ability to relieve stress, support the adrenal glands, and balance mood and energy.[1]
  • BrainOn.
    A blue-green algae extract that is naturally high in Phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural component that can help support focus, brain function, and mood.[2]
  • Valerian root.
    Multiple studies found valerian as an effective natural alternative that can safely help improve sleep quality and relieve anxiety.[3,4]
  • Raw cacao.
    According to research, the polyphenols in cacao can reduce perceived stress and support good mood.[5,6]
  • Nuts.
    Nuts and walnuts in particular are rich in melatonin, the sleep hormone. In fact, studies have found that when nuts were eaten, they increased blood melatonin concentrations.[7]

Additional calming herbs

  • CBD. Well studied for its ability to help with anxiety and sleep.[8,9]
  • Dr. Group Full Spectrum CBD (Hemp Extract) is a wonderful source of CBD from a certified organic US grown hemp, with no added fillers, binders, etc.
    Unlike many CBD products we tested that could not provide analysis of the actual CBD content in their product, Dr group openly shares the entire phytocannabinoids content on his website.
  • Other popular calming herbs. Include ashwagandha, chamomile, lavender, and passion flower. Keep in mind, the idea is not to take all these herbs together, but to find the few that actually work for you.

One more thing…Find the source of your stress

Lastly, calming teas are not a permanent solution to anxiety, stress and depression. Sure, this recipe and the list of herbs above can all help provide relief when needed. It is essential however, that you understand the cause of the stress, depression, etc. and not rely on any recipe, remedy, supplement, or herb to resolve these.

In fact, there are cases where emotional wellness challenges are caused by an underlying condition in the body. For example, studies have shown that the gut microbiome may affect mental health.[10]

Another possibility is deficiencies in vitamins and minerals. For instance, studies have found an association between depressive disorders and vitamin D deficiency. This data is very significant, because it is estimated that most Americans have low levels of vitamin D.[11]

So, the takeaway here, is that if you can’t figure out the cause of your emotional issues, it is always best to seek professional help. It may be as simple as nutritional deficiencies, something that a medical professional can easily find.

Why am I stressed or depressed?

Very often, the stress, anxiety or depression can also be resolved with a few basic changes in our natural environment, or in the way we communicate.

Here are a few common examples.
Ask yourself, do you have…

  • Too much on your plate.
    Have unrealistic expectations, ones that you can never meet.
    As a result, you have too much on your plate?
  • Challenges with work-life balance.
    The best way to achieve work-life balance, is to start and resist the pressure to have it all. Instead, evaluate and re-prioritize what is more important. Maybe it is also a good time to ask for help? There’s much more than life than task completion. And, life is short. Leave time to smell the roses!
  • Relationships & communication.
    Does the stress come from unresolved tension between you and other people? Think about your boss, your significant others, your kids, etc.
    Very often, when people openly communicate how they feel, or learn about the point of view of the other person, they find ways to reduce future stress. Keep in mind, stress is so common in our society today, that many people appreciate open communication about it. In fact, your boss may not even know that the new task at work causes you a lot of stress, because you already deliver it on time, and never say anything.

In Conclusion

Calming herbs can offer a major relief during times of emotional challenges, which sometimes, make all the difference in the world.

With that said, not everyone responds the same to medicinal herbs. The best tea for relaxation, anxiety, sleep or depression that worked for your family or friends, may not work for you. So, remember to listen to your body, and fine tune. Until you find your own winning formula. This recipe is a great starting point.

Read Next

Best Teas For Detoxing

best teas for detoxing

Finally, the complete list our most popular detox teas recipes. All natural, all safe and effective.

References

  1. Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons.
  2. β-phenylethylamine, a small molecule with a large impact.
  3. Valerian for Sleep: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
  4. Valeriana Officinalis Root Extracts Have Potent Anxiolytic Effects in Laboratory Rats.
  5. Effects of chocolate intake on Perceived Stress; a Controlled Clinical Study.
  6. Effects of Chocolate on Cognitive Function and Mood: A Systematic Review.
  7. Melatonin in Walnuts. Influence on Levels of Melatonin and Total Antioxidant Capacity of Blood.
  8. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series.
  9. Cannabidiol, a Nonpsychotropic Component of Cannabis, Inhibits Cue-Induced Heroin Seeking and Normalizes Discrete Mesolimbic Neuronal Disturbances.
  10. Gut microbiota’s effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis.
  11. Vitamin D and Depression. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing Studies with and without Biological Flaws.
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5 Popular Body Cleanse & Detox Products That Actually Work

Body Cleanse
Cleanse Joy Research TeamBody Cleanse
Research Analysis:
CleanseJoy Editorial
Team

Colon cleanse |  Detox drinks | Blue-green algae | Detox diet | Juice cleanse

Are you planning a body cleanse or a detox?

The internet has made cleansing spread like wildfire, with thousands of options of products, powders, pills and home remedies to choose from. From colon cleansing products and liver flushes you can do at home, to procedures like enemas and colon hydrotherapy. But, are these body cleanses necessary, and, if so, which ones are the best?

It’s important to know that while there are many benefits to natural cleansing, not all body cleanse programs are effective. Some, can even cause side effects. So, in this guide, our editorial team reviewed the top 5 natural body cleanse & detox products we often use in our natural cleansing protocols,
that we have found to be the most safe and effective.

Is cleansing your body necessary?

toxins

The idea of cleansing is not new. In fact, it can be traced back to ancient Egyptian physicians, who believed that waste can accumulate in the body and lead to disease.

Fast forward to today. Modern life has introduced more toxins and chemicals into our environment. More than ever before. The air we breathe, our water supply, the foods we eat, they are all affected.

Additionally, our lifestyle which includes ultra processed foods, beverages, medications, and other factors often introduce more toxins, and can even impair our body’s ability to effectively detox.

So, while the body can eliminate toxins on its own, in most cases, it can use some help. In fact, more and more researchers find evidence that link toxicity to chronic disease.[1]

5 popular body cleanses explained

Below are the top body cleanse products and programs, sorted by their popularity.

1. Colon cleanse

Oxygen colon cleanse

“All disease begins in the gut.”

– Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.

Hands down, a good colon cleanse can power your system better than two dozens cups of coffee. It is amazing how much energy one can have after they flush out waste buildup from their bowels. 

In fact, all body cleansing programs should start with a colon cleanse. Since the body eliminates many toxins with the stool, you want to make sure your bowels work properly, so that the toxins will leave the body as quick as possible and will not reabsorb back into the circulation.

Colon cleanse benefits

Oxy-powder (also called oxygen colon cleanse), releases natural oxygen in the colon to loosen accumulated waste buildup, so that the body can easily eliminate it with the stool.

Most people feel a significant “relief” as they eliminate the stored waste. “Feeling lighter”, more energy, higher clarity, a clearer complexion, better bowel movements and digestion, with many digestive issues such as constipation, bloating, body odor and gas greatly improved.

This is done in a completely natural and gentle way, and it has shown to be both effective and safe.

There are only two things you need to prepare yourself, mentally and logistically:

  • Oxy-powder is taken before bedtime. Expect the next day to have 3-5 bowel movements. These are not typical. First time users usually report eliminating a large amount of stored waste. It is better to stay home that day. At least, until you become familiar with how your body responds to Oxy-powder.
  • What comes out of your body when you detox becomes visible in the toilet. Results may include candida, yeast, dead parasites and mucus. As disturbing as these can be, it is best to have them out of your body.

Coupled with good probiotics (we use Floratrex, also from Dr. Group) and a healthy diet, doing an oxygen colon cleanse twice a year is a great way to support your health and well-being.

2. Body Detox Drinks

Liver and Kidney Cleanse Drink Recipe

Detox and cleanse your body by supporting organs of elimination.
No changes in your diet are needed.

Body cleanse and detox drinks use natural ingredients, typically medicinal herbs and mushrooms, that can help support your organs of elimination. In particular, the liver, kidneys, and the immune system.

Body detox drinks pros

Easy to use. Unlike juice cleanses which require you to replace meals with juices, you don’t need to change your diet. All you need to do is to have the detox drinks when you wake up, between your meals, and in some cases before bedtime, always on an empty stomach.

With that said, you really want to clean up your diet a bit. Cleansing your body while still putting junk in isn’t really going to work. Just like it doesn’t make sense to smoke cigarettes and at the same time, taking antioxidants.

Body detox drinks cons

We have tested hundreds of detox drinks and powders. What became clear, was that a lot of the problems we found in detox products were due to:

  • Low quality herbs. As a result, the products didn’t work.
    On that note, there’s a big difference between an organically grown herb that was extracted by an herbalist a month before you use it, that also made sure the active ingredients are at the optimal peak,  to a cheap powdered herb from an unknown source.
  • Products include aggressive ingredients that cause side effects. For example, stimulant herbs that forces your body to make a bowel movement.

Safe & effective body detox drinks

In our body cleanse protocols, we mainly use Dr. Group alcohol free tinctures. Dr. group is well known for its high quality exclusively organic and wildcrafted herbal extracts, formulated by herbalists botanical experts.

Also, the tinctures are much easier to use and taste better compared to powders. Just add them to your drinks, or even water.

  • Livatrex® (liver cleanse) and Renaltrex® (kidney cleanse) combine traditional herbs that are shown in studies to help support the liver and kidneys. According to some of the data and trantional use, these herbs can help detoxify, repair and regenerate the liver, soften liver and gallbladder stones, and flush toxins from the kidneys and the entire urinary tract.

You can mix a dropperful of each with water 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks and enjoy the detox power of these herbs. Effortlessly.

For added immune system support, add 1 dropperful of Immune support tincture. (When it’s available). Since COVID-19, it became really hard to get the ingredients in this formula. Especially the combination of certified organic elderberry, echinacea and medicinal mushrooms.

If you like apple cider vinegar and lemon water, you can mix all three tinctures with the detox drink recipe below:

Liver and Kidney Cleanse Drink Recipe
Print Recipe

Liver and Kidney Cleanse Drink

Based on ayurveda medicine principles as well as modern science. Healthy, easy to make, effective, and safe, it is one of the best home remedies you can make to naturally cleanse, strengthen and flush toxins from your liver and kidneys, while supporting your immune system.
Prep Time2 minutes
Course: Cleanse drink
Cuisine: American, Chinese, Indian
Keyword: Liver and Kidney Cleanse Drink
Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 1 liter distilled or spring water
  • 1 tbsp organic raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
  • 1 small organic lemon
  • 1 ml Renaltrex kidney cleansing herbs drops
  • 1 ml Livatrex liver cleansing herbs drops
  • 1 ml Immune support tincture immune system drops (optional)

Instructions

Drink 2-3 times a day, always on an empty stomach

  • Squeeze the juice of 1 organic lemon.
  • Add to 1 liter of distilled or spring water.
  • Shake the bottle of the apple cider vinegar until the cloudy part ("the mother") is well mixed.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of organic raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.
  • Add 1 dropperful (1 ml) of Renaltrex (kidney cleansing herbs)
  • Add 1 dropperful (1 ml) of Livatrex (liver cleansing herbs)
  • Optional: add organic stevia or monk fruit to sweeten

3. The detox power of blue-green algae; from NASA to you

E3Live Chlorophyll Detox cleanse superfood

Blue-green algae became famous after it was successfully used by NASA as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions.[2]

Besides being a powerhouse of nutrients, algae is also a potent natural detoxifier. Chlorophyll, the green pigment found in algae and other plants, is well known for its blood detoxification properties, including a natural ability to neutralize and bind to mold toxins (mycotoxins).[3] 

This is quite remarkable, considering that mold toxins are very tricky. They are so tiny, that after the liver dumps them into the gut, they can reabsorb back into the circulation. Chlorophyll was shown to bind to these toxins, so they can’t reabsorbed and are eliminated.

E3Live® is a blue-green algae that has the highest natural chlorophyll content, and the only option in north america that comes fresh. (It is frozen-liquid, not a powder). Due to its superior nutritional profile with unique nutrients we rarely get from the western diet, E3Live® can help support multiple body systems.

So if you are lucky enough to live in a place where you can get E3Live®, all you need is 1-2 tbsp in the morning on an empty stomach.

If its is not available in your area, however, a great alternative is a green algae called chlorella, which is also well known for its high chlorophyll content and detoxification abilities. Just make sure it comes from a reputable source.

4. Body Cleanse Diet

body cleanse diet

We all know it, but, sometimes prefer to ignore it. You can take all the body cleanse products in the world, as long as you keep eating junk, you will never achieve optimal health.

Now, body cleanse diets come in many shapes and forms. Some, can be very hard to follow. It all depends on what you try to optimize. For example, the candida cleanse or parasite cleanse diets. You really have to go low on carbs which serve as the main food sources of these harmful organisms.

So, while the plan and foods you may need can vary, there are still a few guidelines that can help your body to naturally cleanse. And the good news, your body cleanse diet doesn’t have to be very restrictive.

Body Cleanse Diet, General Guidelines

Avoid problematic foods

Without a doubt, one of the best investments anyone can do to improve their health and wellness, is to avoid foods that introduce more toxins to the body.

To emphasize this point, you don’t need to take any special detox powders or pills here. Simply put, you limit foods that increase toxic load or can impair your body’s ability to effectively detox. Your body does the rest. Pretty cool, right?

For best results, try to avoid these foods for 4 weeks, and see how you feel.

  • Processed foods and beverages. In particular, refined sugars, flours, and packaged foods.
  • Commercial meats, and farm raised fish. The poor animals are often kept in horrible conditions and are fed with a processed diet they are not meant to eat. Fish or beef for example, are not supposed to eat corn or soy! Not to mention antibiotics and hormones.
  • Inflammatory foods. Especially: dairy, gluten, grains, and soy. Most people have sensitivity to one or more of these foods, which can irritate the gut and cause inflammation.

Body cleanse diet, foods to eat

Detox Diet foods list

Eat more fiber from whole foods

Fiber is a very powerful natural detoxifier with triple benefits:

  1. It can bind to certain toxins in the gut
  2. Supports healthy bowel movements to help the body eliminate these toxins
  3. Serves as a food source for the healthy bacteria in your gut (probiotics).

So, while there’s a lot of fiber products out there, no products can compare to whole fresh foods. The best sources of fiber, include: raw greens, non-starchy veggies, and, fresh raw sprouted nuts and seeds.
While whole grains are high in fiber, they can cause issues to a lot of people, so it is best to avoid them during the detox diet.

The daily fiber intake can vary from one person to another, although 30 grams for men and 25 grams for women is a great place to start. And it doesn’t have to be hard. For example:

  • Morning: 1 cup of blackberries or raspberries (8 grams of fiber)
  • Between meals or with your greens: one medium avocado (13 grams fiber)
  • Night: 1 oz of chia seeds soaked in water or nut milk (10 grams fiber)

Eat detox foods

  • Fruits. Such as: lemon, apples, berries, pomegranate, pineapple.
  • Veggies. Leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, carrots, beetroot, asparagus, galric.
  • Eat from the rainbow. Try to eat a high variety of colorful fresh whole fruits, vegetables and dark leafy greens. Each color in plants represents a different plant pigment that offers different nutrients and antioxidants.
  • Sprouts. Especially: broccoli sprouts.
  • Herbs. For example: cilantro, and parsley.
  • Healthy fats. Look for fresh unroasted nuts and seeds such as almonds, and walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Other sources of healthy fats include avocado, olive oil, and coconut oil.
  • Spices. In particular: raw garlic, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon.
  • Condiments: Raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar

For a few great examples, see:

Specific detox diets and foods:

Eat healthy foods, but…listen to your body

The fact that a certain food is healthy, doesn’t mean you should automatically eat it. It also has to agree with your body. In fact, food sensitivities are very common these days, and many people find they react to healthy foods.  For example, cruciferous vegetables despite being very healthy, can cause bloating and excess gas.

So, always be mindful and listen to your body! Ask yourself how do you feel after you eat certain foods.

If you experience digestive issues and are not sure which foods cause these:

  • Cleanse your colon
  • Eliminate the foods mentioned above
  • Simplify your meals, or eat mono meals with one type of food each time.

Digestive enzymes can be very helpful to address digestive issues, especially if you are not sure which foods cause these.

Just like you think of a multivitamin supplements, a digestive enzymes complex can help your body digest different types of foods. In our gut health protocols, we use VeganZyme.
With a total of 20 plant based digestive and systemic enzymes, it can support the digestion of a wide variety of foods, which makes it ideal for many different diets, and cuisines.
The addition of the systemic enzymes supports the body’s ability to break down allergens, excess yeast, candida, mucus and other toxins.

5. Juice Cleanse

Juice cleanse

With juice cleansing, you replace meals with healthy juices. This gives your digestive system a break from having to process solid food, and at the same time nourishes your body with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals it can easily digest and utilize.

Juice cleanses pros

When you make juices, you basically break down veggies and fruits into fiber and juice. You drink the juice & pulp without the fiber. This way, your body can digest and absorb the nutrients from the juice easier and quicker.

When this happens, the juices usually taste better to most people, compared to eating the whole veggies or fruits by themselves.

Lastly, and perhaps the biggest takeaway here. For many people who struggle with eating healthy, one day of a juice cleanse can provide them with more nutrients they would normally consume in a month. At the same time, give their digestive system a well needed rest.

For example, look at our most popular liver cleanse juice.

Juice cleanses cons

As you can guess from the pros, one of the disadvantage of juice cleansing, is that there’s no fiber. So, you can either do the plan for a few days, or, have a meal rich in fiber such as the detox salad in the evening.

Additionally, some people simply prefer to eat solid meals. So, if this is you, you may not like juicing and find you are hungry, even irritated after you drink the juice, craving for a solid meal. These discomforts usually pass after a day or so, however. Assuming that your juice cleanse include enough calories and nutrients. In fact, many people actually enjoy this feeling of emptiness for a while.

If you consider doing a juice cleanse, see: 3 day juice cleanse

Read Next

10 Natural Ways to Cleanse & Support Your Body’s Detox Systems

10 Natural Ways to Support Your Body’s Detox Systems

In this article, we’ll share 10 natural ways to cleanse and support the body’s detox and filtration systems. In particular, we’ll talk about ways to reduce exposure to common toxins, how to strengthen our main organs of elimination, and the basic detox diet guidelines
Learn more.

Posted on

Meal Replacement Smoothies: Tailor Your Shake To Your Body’s Needs

Meal replacement smoothies
Cleanse Joy Research TeamMeal Replacement
Smoothies Research:
CleanseJoy
Editorial Team

Green recipe | Cacao recipe | Coffee | Superfoods | Weight loss | Benefits | Side effects | Make you own | Shakes vs. meals | References
Meal replacement smoothies are becoming very popular, but, can they truly replace solid meals? Are they healthy? Just like any diet or eating plan, smoothies have pros and cons. There are times where they can benefit an individual, there are scenarios where they cause problems.

Also, there’s no one size fit all smoothie recipe. You have to ask yourself what are you optimize for, and tailor the smoothie to your needs. For example, are you looking to lose weight, gain weight, or give your digestion a break?

In this guide, we’ll cover all these basics, including the top meal replacement smoothies you can start with, and how to tailor them to your needs. We’ll also review common warning signs that may indicate your smoothie do not agree with your body.

Green Meal Replacement Smoothies

Green Meal Replacement Smoothie

A great recipe you can get started with and use as a baseline, is the green meal replacement smoothie.

This recipe is very well balanced. This means both in terms of taste and function. It’s not too high in sugars, fats or calories, yet you still get enough nutrients to support your day. The ingredients can help nourish, gently detox and cleanse your body, support gut health, and promote natural energy, mood and focus.

Many people like to make this green smoothie in the morning, place in a glass bottle and sip through the day. Don’t be surprised if you find that you are not hungry by lunch.

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Green Meal Replacement Smoothie

The green meal replacement smoothie is a well balanced tasty recipe that help nourish, gently detox and cleanse your body, support gut health, and promote natural energy, mood and focus.
Prep Time5 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, Indian, Mediterranean
Keyword: Green Meal Replacement Smoothie
Servings: 1
Author: Cleanse Joy Editorial Team

Ingredients

  • 1 cup spring water
  • 1-4 cups spinach, lettuce, or your favorite mixed greens Fiber, gut health, satiation, detox
  • 2 stalks celery  Electrolytes, minerals, fiber
  • 1 medium cucumber Hydration
  • 1-2 scoop BrainOn Brain function, focus, mood, chlorophyll, detox
  • 1 medium banana Electrolytes, minerals, fiber, improves taste, thickens the smoothie
  • 20-35 grams plant based protein powder Build and repair
  • 1 oz almonds (unroasted, unsalted) Essential fats, vitamin E, minerals, fiber, improves taste and consistency

Optional

  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (natural non-alcoholic ) improves taste
  • dash Stevia or monkfruit natural sweeteners

Instructions

  • If you use unpasteurized almonds, soak the almonds in water for 8 hours or overnight
  • Drain and rinse the almonds
  • Add one cup of water and almonds to the blender, and blend until smooth
  • Add the greens, celery, cucumber, and banana and blend
  • Add the protein powder and BrainOn
  • Add dash of salt, stevia or monkfruit to taste and blend
  • Add a little vanilla and blend
  • Pour into a glass bottle, mason jar, or a cup, and enjoy!
  • If you take the bottle with you to work, keep refrigerated

How to Tailor Your Meal Replacement Smoothies

3 steps: make the smoothie base, add superfoods and herbs, and fine tune flavor.

1. Make the smoothie base

With the smoothie base, you cover the basic foundation of a meal, in particular, calories, protein, and fiber.

Fiber & Greens

Fiber promotes satiation and gut health. As a rule of thumb, start with the greens that you enjoy eating and go from there.

Spinach and romaine lettuce have more neutral mild sweet taste. Mixed greens are also a great option.

On the other hand, some greens can completely ruin your smoothie, and are a much better options for juices. In particular: bitter greens such as arugula, dandelion greens, kale, parsley, and cilantro. Nobody gets extra points for drinking healthy smoothies that don’t taste good. Meal replacement smoothies should taste wonderful.

Calories

Just like you approach a meal, you want to make sure you have enough calories in your smoothie to support your energy. In particular, ask yourself if you are going with fats or sugars. This need to match your diet plan, especially if you follow a low carb or a low fat diet.

What works well for most people is to start with a balanced approach. So, you mix moderate amount of whole fruits, nuts or seeds, and fine tune from there. Just like we have done with the green smoothie.

  • Other options: 
  • Nuts: 1 oz of raw natural nuts, such as almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts or cashews. Start with one type of nuts.
  • Fruits: 1 apple instead of the banana.
  • Protein. 1 scoop of plant based protein powder, or, 1 oz of hemp seeds.

2. Add medicinal herbs and superfoods to the smoothie

Certain herbs and foods have medicinal properties that can further support your goals. While this step is optional, it is actually where smoothies shine, as they act as a great “vehicle” that can help deliver these herbs.

Alcohol free liquid tinctures extracts or powders are ideal for smoothies or juices, compared to unprocessed raw herbs. They are easily to use, and usually do not alter the taste.

While you can consider many foods as superfoods, in this section, we focused in those natural ingredients that have unique nutrients most people don’t get in their diet.

Here are some of the top options of superfoods to add to your smoothie:

Algae

In the green smoothie above, we used BrainOn, which is a green blue algae extract that is high in Phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural component that can help support focus, brain function, and mood.

Other options for algae include:

  • E3Live® is a fresh blue-green algae that is very high in chlorophyll, the dark green pigment of plants. It is the only option in north america that comes fresh. This is a not powder! It is delivered frozen.
    Due to its superior nutritional profile with unique nutrients we rarely get from the western diet, E3Live® can help support multiple body systems.
    So, if you live in areas that it is shipped to, it is one of the best option for algae for overall support.
  • Bluemajik. (for inflammation, pain, migraines)
    Phycocyanin is one of the main active components in the blue green algae spirulina that give its blue color. Research has shown that phycocyanin has natural anti-inflammatory (cox-2 inhibitor) properties.[1].
  • Other great options for algae in smoothies: spirulina (energy, although it may affect the taste), chlorella (detox).

Stress & energy (caffeine free)

  • Tulsi (holy basil), calm stress, 1 dropperful
    One of Ayurvedic medicine most studied herb known for its ability to support the adrenal glands, calm stress, balance mood, and naturally boost physical and mental energy.[2]
  • Ginseng Fuzion, calm stress and promote energy, 1 dropperful
    Certified organic herbal blend of the five most studied types of ginseng: Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng, root), Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus, root), Indian Ginseng/Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, root), Peruvian Ginseng/Maca (Lepidium meyenii, root), Five Leaf Ginseng/Jiao Gu Lan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum, leaf). Note that each type may work a little different, so this formula is a great place to start.

Other super foods mentioned in this guide: cacao, matcha green tea and coffee. We’ll discuss these in the cacao – coffee – weight loss sections below.

3. Fine tune taste

Finally! This is the step where you get to optimize the taste of your smoothie.

On that note, the goal is not to completely mask the flavor, but to enhance the natural flavor with small changes. So, before you add sweeteners, check the overall taste of the smoothie. If it doesn’t taste good, it is best to go back and change the ingredients. (Rather than “dumping” the smoothie with sugary fruits or sweeteners).

  • Stevia or monkfruit. Little goes a long way! Balance with a little sea salt.
    A popular options most of our testers love, is sweet leaf Vanilla Crème or English Toffee liquid stevia.
  • Vanilla extract. A very pleasant flavor most people like which is a great starting point.
  • A few drops of lemon juice can help to neutralize the taste of greens
  • Cinnamon

If you use liquid extracts, make sure there’s no alcohol. Many people can still feel the aftertaste of the alcohol in the smoothie.

Happy Healthy Meal Replacement Smoothie

Happy Healthy Meal replacement smoothies

The Happy Healthy Smoothie Recipe
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Happy Healthy Meal Replacement Smoothie

Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Keyword: Meal replacement smoothies, Raw cacao smoothie, The Happy Healthy Smoothie
Servings: 1 people
Author: Cleanse Joy Editorial Team

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

  • 1 cup spring water you can use less or more to adjust the consistency and texture
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao powder or cacao nibs organic
  • 1 oz almonds unsalted, unroasted, preferably unpasteurized
  • 1 oz hemp seeds
  • 1 medium banana
  • 1 cup blueberries organic or wild
  • 2-4 oz raw spinach organic
  • 1 tbsp raw coconut butter
  • 1 scoop BrainOn
  • sea salt to taste (optional)
  • stevia or monk fruit to taste optional for natural healthy sweeteners, little goes a long way

Optional ingredients to play with based on your personal preferences, each can create a totally different experience!

  • 1 tbsp Lucuma  add more sweetness
  • 1 tbsp mesquite powder add more sweetness & earthy taste
  • 1 tbsp acai a meal replacement option for an acai bowl
  • dash vanilla powder or non alcoholic vanilla extract
  • dash cinnamon
  • dash cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • If you use unpasteurized almonds, soak the almonds in water for 8 hours or overnight
  • Drain and rinse the almonds
  • Add one cup of water and almonds to the blender, and blend until smooth
  • Add the coconut butter and cacao and blend until smooth
  • Add the spinach, banana, blueberries, hemp seeds, and BrainON, and blend
  • Add dash of salt, stevia or monkfruit to taste and blend
  • Pour into a glass bottle, mason jar, or a cup, and enjoy! If you take the bottle with you to work, keep refrigerated

Tailor The Happy Healthy Meal Replacement Smoothie

  • Serving size. For most people, the quantities above provide 1-3 serving sizes.
  • Nuts. You can use hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts or macadamia nuts instead of the almonds.
  • Greens. Always rotate your greens. Instead of spinach, you can also use romaine lettuce which has a very neutral flavor. Mixed greens usually work as well.
  • Keto diet or other low carb diets. The recipe still tastes great without the banana and blueberries. For added flavor and calories, you can add more nuts.
  • Don’t like coconuts? You may want to try peanut butter instead. Most of our testers really loved the peanut butter in this recipe. Chocolate and peanuts, what can get wrong, right? Keep in mind, though, a lot of the peanut butter products our there have a lot of added sugars and salt. So, look for the ones that are 100% pure and organic.
  • Make protein shake or protein pudding.
    Depending on the desired consistent, mix one scoop of protein powder with the smoothie. Hemp protein works very well with this recipe.
    And the beauty here, is that you don’t have to use a blender to do that.
    Just place the smoothie in a glass bottle, and when its time to eat or drink, mix with the protein using a separate bowl later. We highly recommend to try the pudding consistency.
  • Turn into acai bowl. Similar idea to the protein pudding, just add one tablespoon of acai powder and mix.

Meal replacement smoothies for weight loss

Meal replacement smoothies for weight loss are popular yet controversial. Solid meals still have a big advantage over smoothies, when it comes to the satiation and slow release of nutrients. Thus, you are likely to consume less calories when you eat solid meals.

On the other hand, many people respond very well to smoothies. And, due to their schedule, struggle with eating healthy foods. For example, at the office, or while on the go. So, meal replacement smoothies still offer a practical way to get healthy nutrients and avoid snacking, sugary beverages and other problematic eating patterns. These, as we all know, often lead to weight gain.

Here are a few suggestions for meal replacement smoothies for weight loss. Keep in mind, there’s much more to weight loss than just calories or nutrients. For example, hormones, stress levels, sleep, exercise, and many other factors can play a role and affect your ability to lose or gain weight.

Meal replacement smoothies with coffee

Meal replacement smoothies with coffee

Bulletproof coffee smoothie

In case this is the first time you hear about the bulletproof coffee, here’s a quick recap. It’s a high-fat very low carb coffee meal replacement smoothie, usually for breakfast.

With the original recipe, you make a smoothie with:

  • 1 cup of brewed coffee
  • 1-2 teaspoon of C8 Caprylic Acid Triglycerides MCT oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons of grass-fed, unsalted butter

The recipe truly complement the keto diet, which is one of the most popular diets for weight loss. The biggest advantages of the bulletproof coffee is that it can help to suppress hunger and maintain energy for many hours. Thus, when combined with a low carb diet such as the keto diet, it can help with weight loss despite being high in calories.

At the same time, the biggest critique come from the fact that besides fats, the majority of these calories (about 440) are very low in other nutrients. Think about vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein. There are not a lot in this recipe. In fact, one may argue that most of the minerals in this recipe come from the coffee, which has zero calories.

The upgraded vegan bulletproof coffee smoothie

An alternative approach to the recipe that attempt to solve the concerns of the original recipe, is the vegan bulletproof coffee smoothie recipe:

  • 1 cup of brewed coffee
  • 1-2 teaspoon of coconut butter. Also called coconut paste, this is simply the coconut flesh that’s been ground into a paste. Coconuts are naturally high in MCT oils, but, you also get the other minerals and fiber from the coconut.

Matcha green tea meal replacement smoothie

Matcha Latte Smoothie

The best way to describe matcha green tea when it comes to smoothies is that it tastes more like green powder than green tea. Matcha is special stone-ground powdered green tea, so unlike a tea bag which you just dip into the water, you are getting a lot more nutrients here. In fact, a study that compared matcha to regular green tea found matcha had 137 times more antioxidants.[3].

Matcha can help suppress hunger, increase energy and promote a sense of well-being. The combination of the naturally occurring caffeine and theanine in matcha can have a longer effect compared to coffee. So, while you may feel less energized compared to coffee, you may avoid the coffee-caffeine crashes.

A simple meal replacement smoothie with matcha:

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1-2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder. Keep in mind, 1 teaspoon of matcha still has 60 mg of caffeine, so if you are sensitive to caffeine, start low and slow.
  • 1 medium banana
  • 1 cup spinach or your favorite greens
  • Ice cubes (optional)
  • Stevia or monkfruit to taste (optional)

Other Smoothies Recipes:

Meal replacement smoothies vs. solid meals

Smoothies work by breaking down the fiber in plants. So, you get a concentrated source of nutrients in a liquid form that the body can digest quickly and easily, compared to solid food.

While there are scenarios that this is exactly what you need, the quick release of nutrients is not always ideal. For example, when you get too much sugar too quickly. In fact, some people benefit much more from the gradual slow release of nutrients and do not do so well with smoothies.

So, it is important to ask yourself:

  1. Why smoothies? what are you optimize for?
  2. Pay attention to how you feel after drinking the smoothies.

Here’s a brief summary of the benefits of smoothies along with warning signs to watch for:

4 meal replacement smoothies benefits

Meal replacement smoothies may shine in the following scenarios:

1. You have gut health of digestive issues, or want to give your digestion a break

In particular, because smoothies are easier to digest compared to solid meals

The liquid form of meal replacement smoothies allow your body to better digest and utilize the nutrients. This can help your gut to rest more and heal.  Plus, your body also get the fiber from the smoothies to further support healthy bacteria growth in the gut.

2. You need quick energy and nutrients, but can’t eat a heavy meal

This is a known need of athletes and people with active jobs, but, can  lot of people don’t always have time to eat during the day. For example, students, or people with crazy work schedules.

This distinction is important, because you will need to tailor your smoothies to your activity and ideally, improve your performance. This goes beyond just energy. Think about a pre-workout vs. post workout smoothies that can support your recovery from the exercise, or, a smoothie before a test that can help you stay focus longer.

3. You are trying to gain weight

While meal replacement smoothies for weight loss may work for some people, they are far a better option to gain weight.

Simply put, it is usually easier to drink more calories compared to eating solid foods. This is especially true for people with very fast metabolism or that are very active. Sure, there’a always the fast junk food option which is very high in calories, but, we are taking here about healthy weight gain.

4. You don’t eat enough green, vegetables or fruits

Speaking of health, some people just don’t like to eat vegetables, greens or fruits. So, if this sounds like you, smoothies may become your best friends. Especially, when it comes to greens. While everyone is different, most people will find a green smoothie much more appealing than eating the greens by themselves.

Also, smoothies can also be a good way to introduce healthy foods you rarely eat. Thus, provide your body a higher variety of nutrients.

Meal replacement smoothies cons & problems

Below are some of the most common issues people experience with smoothies, and ways to solve them. Keep in mind, not all people respond well to smoothies. So, it is important to look for these warning signs. You can then decide if you want to try to tailor your smoothies or switch to solid meals.

1. Smoothies cause digestive issues

Meal replacement smoothies often cause digestive issues such as:

  • Bloating
  • Excess gas
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain and cramps
  • Unusual bowel movements

Symptoms may appear minutes to hours after drinking the smoothie.

Possible causes. Too many sugars, too many ingredients, or problematic food combination. For example, smoothies that contain watery fruits such as melon or watermelon with “heavy” slower foods such as nuts, oils or protein. Each of these foods require a completely different environment in your digestive tract in order to be properly digested.

A few suggestions to prevent these issues:

  • Simple is better. Reduce the number of ingredients. Especially, if you suspect your body may be sensitive to certain foods in your smoothie.
  • Speaking of food sensitivities, grains, gluten and dairy are the biggest offenders. So, instead of whey protein, try hemp protein. Replace the Greek yogurt with coconut yogurt, or the milk/oat milk with nut milk.
  • Watch for the sugar content. A great free online tool to calculate:  cronometer.
  • Do not mix different types of fruits. It is ok however, to mix different berries, or fruits with similar characteristic (sweet).
  • Do not use high water content fruits such as watermelon or melons. You should eat these by themselves. A few drops of lemon to neutralize the taste of greens is ok, though.
  • Be mindful about combining high sugars with high fats.
  • Drink on an empty stomach.
  • Drink smaller amounts over time.

Lastly, it is always better to go organic when it comes to smoothies

To avoid a reaction to pesticides in your produce. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published a list of twelve fruits and vegetables that are exposed to the most pesticides. Also called “dirty dozen”, if you can’t find these organic, it is better to avoid them altogether.

So, it is best to educate yourself about pesticides in foods, and shop wisely. See the EWG’s complete report: Dirty dozen list.

2. Smoothies make you feel tired with low energy

If you feel sleepy or tired after you drink the smoothie, chances are you experience blood sugar fluctuations, or insulin resistance issues.

While many people ignore these signs, they can be important red flags for type II diabetes or pre diabetes.

Things you can do:

  • Reduce sugar content
  • Drink smaller amounts over time
  • Practice intermittent fasting and drink the smoothie to break the fast
  • Switch to a whole solid meal

References

  1. Antiinflammatory and Antihyperalgesic Activity of C-phycocyanin
  2. Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons
  3. Determination of Catechins in Matcha Green Tea by Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography.
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10 Natural Ways to Cleanse & Support Your Body’s Detox Systems

10 Natural Ways to Support Your Body’s Detox Systems
Cleanse Joy Research TeamResearch analysis:
CleanseJoy Editorial Team
Detox supplements reviewed:
Dr. Edward Group, DC, NP
Dr. Emek Blair, Ph.D

Toxins in foods | Toxins in your home | Fiber | Diet | Supplements | Sleep | Stress | Kidneys | Sweat | Intermittent fasting

Everyday new toxins enter our body through the air, our skin, food and water. Our body can naturally detox and filter toxins in the liver and kidneys, and then eliminate them through sweat, urine and stool. But, is it enough?

Never before in the human history we were exposed to so many potential toxins and chemicals from our environment. In fact, the body may not always recognize or know to effectively handle some of the new lab made chemicals. Overtime, toxins continue to accumulate in the body, can damage our cells and impact our overall health and wellness.

In this article, we’ll share 10 natural ways to cleanse and support the body’s detox and filtration systems. In particular, we’ll talk about ways to reduce exposure to common toxins, how to strengthen our main organs of elimination, and the basic detox diet guidelines.

Choosing the best detox plan your body needs

In the world of cleansing and detoxification, you may find yourself lost with endless options to choose from. Should you start with a full body detox, or is it better do do a liver cleanse first?

The first thing you should ask yourself, is what are you optimizing for? What are your goals or concerns? Only then, you can choose the type of cleanse that is the best for you.

So, while there may be a lot of different cleansing protocols and detox plans, they usually fall under one of these options:

Not sure where to start? this guide is exactly for you! Keep reading.

10 natural ways to cleanse & support your body’s filtration systems

1. Remove common toxic foods and drinks

Hands down, the first step to detox your body is to reduce the toxins that go into your system from your diet. This also includes foods that are very hard to digest that can cause digestive distress and impair your detox and elimination pathways.

Many people that go into body cleansing skip this step, as they believe that cleansing alone can mitigate poor eating habits. This, however, couldn’t be further away from the truth. With thousands of studies that identified toxins in certain foods and linked poor diets to disease, it is one of the most important steps anyone can take to improve their health and wellness. It is by far, the most important step.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to stop eating delicious foods. The idea is to eliminate the top “offenders” and replace with healthier alternatives.

The six foods you need to avoid during detox

Foods to avoid during detox

Not only the foods below can impair your body’s detox systems, they are well known to contain plenty of toxins, chemicals and harmful ingredients.

Just like the warning on a pack of cigarettes, each of the following foods should come with similar warnings.

1: Processed or commercial meat

Think about antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals the animals are often given so they grow faster. Even more, these poor animals are often fed with a diet they are not even intended to eat. For example, cheap processed corn and grains. The result is a meat product that is simply not healthy and full of toxins.

If you want to include meat in your diet, look for grass fed beef or free range pastured chicken from a reputable source.

2: Farm raised fish

Similarly to commercial meat, farmed fish are not healthy at all. Fish are not supposed to eat corn, soy or wheat!

In fact, many people are shocked to learn that the pink color of the fish they buy at the store is nothing but paint!
The natural “salmon” pinkish-orange color is obtained as a result of natural diet of the fish.

Are they tricking us to think everything is ok with that painted fish? why the paint in not listed as one of the ingredients? Is it toxic to us? How is this even legal? These are all questions we need to constantly ask.

This is unfortunate since wild fish can offer many health benefits to humans, which many studied were able to support. So, if you decide to eat fish, always look for wild fatty fish such as wild alaskan salmon from a trusted source.
Lastly, due to mercury and other toxins found in the ocean, limit your fish intake to 2-3 times a week.

3: Refined sugars & processed carbs

The average American consumes 150 pounds of sugar in one year.[1]
Can you believe it? That’s 3 pounds of sugar every week. Sodas, sugary beverages, energy bars, cereals, the list goes on and on.

And the problem with these sugars, is that the more you consume them, the more your body wants them. No wonder so many people find it so hard to lose weight. These unnatural substances disrupt so many body systems, it’s a miracle our body can still somewhat function.

So, you want to read the label and check the sugar content. In particular, be aware of the different names of processed sugars hiding on food labels:  high fructose corn syrup, rice syrup, maltodextrin, glucose, fructose and more.

Pro tip: if the list of ingredients look complicated, you probably shouldn’t eat it.

4: Artificial sweeteners

The terms sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners may sound innocent, but at the end of the day, we are talking about lab made chemicals that mimic the effect of sugar in taste.

In other words, these are chemicals that trick your brain to think you are getting sugars, even though you are not.

And according to research, there’s a price for this trickery. Animal studies have convincingly proven that artificial sweeteners cause weight gain, brain tumors, bladder cancer and many other health hazards.[2]

Similarly to sugars, artificial sweeteners often hide in product labels with many creative names such as: saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, and sucralose. If you want to add some sweetness to your drinks, smoothies or meals, switch to natural alternatives such as pure monk fruit or stevia.

On that note, always be mindful about sweeteners. Long term use can make your brain get used to an extreme level of sweetness whole foods can’t provide.

5: Dairy & gluten

Most people can’t tolerate either dairy, gluten or both, which can cause digestive issues, inflammation and impair your detox systems. Furthermore, dairy often contains toxins or chemicals that pass from the cows to the milk, cheese, yogurt, or other dairy products.

In fact, most people that limit dairy and gluten for a few weeks, report they feel a big difference. In particular, weight loss, better looking skin, and inflammation. Natural nut milk such as unsweetened pure almond milk or hemp milk are great dairy alternatives. (Watch for the added ingredients, though).

6: Dirty dozen

Lastly, and we wish we wouldn’t have to mention this, are toxins and pesticides in produce. Unfortunately, man made chemicals turn even healthy foods such as our precious fruits and vegetables into a toxic mess.

In fact, nearly 70 percent of the fresh produce sold in the U.S. contains residues of potentially harmful chemical pesticides!

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published a list of twelve fruits and vegetables that are exposed to the most pesticides. Also called “dirty dozen”, if you can’t find these organic, it is better to avoid them altogether.

The 2020 Dirty dozen list:

  1. Strawberries
  2. Spinach
  3. Kale
  4. Nectarines
  5. Apples
  6. Grapes
  7. Peaches
  8. Cherries
  9. Pears
  10. Tomatoes
  11. Celery
  12. Potatoes

It is best to educate yourself about these foods, and shop wisely.
See the EWG’s complete report: Dirty dozen list.

2. Limit exposure to common toxins in your home

Limit exposure to common toxins in your home

Once you go down that rabbit hole of toxins, it’s really hard to stop. Toxins are just about everywhere! So now that we addressed the toxins from the diet, it is time to have a look at the toxins in our home.

  • Mold issues in your home.
    Mold toxicity is much more common than many people realize. And the worst part, you can’t always see or smell it. So, if you or your family think you may have a water damage or mold problem in your home, it is always best to have it professionally inspected.
  • Skin care products.
    Anything that you apply on your skin can get into your system. Most skin care products and cosmetics, even “natural” ones are loaded with chemicals.
    Read the label. EWG’s skin care database is a great resource.
  • Household cleaners.
    Aim for “green” safe options. You don’t need to pollute your indoor air with chemicals in order to disinfect and clean your home.
  • Passive smoking.
    Second-hand smoke is one of the most important and most widespread toxic exposures in the indoor environment. Unfortunately, second-hand smoke causes more than 600k deaths per year![3]

3. Eat more fiber

Fiber in Foods

Did you know that fiber can bind to certain toxins in the gut and also supports healthy bowel movements to help the body eliminate these? Simply put, fiber is one of the best natural ingredients you can use to detox your body!

And unless there’s something specifically wrong with your gut, there’s really no need to use fiber supplements. In fact, many fiber supplements such as psyllium husk have side effects and often cause more harm than good. Most people can easily get enough fiber simply by eating whole foods.

While the daily fiber intake can vary from one person to another, 30 grams for men and 25 grams for women is a great place to start.

To easily bring your fiber intake up, eat:

  • Morning: 1 cup of blackberries or raspberries (8 grams of fiber)
  • Between meals or with your greens: one medium avocado (13 grams fiber)
  • Night: 1 oz of chia seeds soaked in water (10 grams fiber)

4. The detox diet: Foods that detox your body

Detox Diet foods list

Certain foods have unique components in them that can support your body’s natural detoxification processes. While there’s no diet that works best for everyone, most people will benefit from eating the top detox foods below.

Cruciferous vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are among the best foods that can support detoxification in your body. Sulforaphane, a natural plant compound found in many cruciferous vegetables can induce phase II detoxification in the liver. In phase II detoxification, liver cells add a substance (such as a sulfur molecule) to a toxic chemical, to make it less harmful. Common cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale.[4]

Broccoli sprouts in particular, are exceptional when it comes to detoxification. With 10-100 times the amount of cancer-fighting compounds compared to regular broccoli, you definitely want to add these detox powerhouses into your salads of smoothies.[5] 

Eat the rainbow

Every day, try to eat a high variety of colorful fresh whole fruits, vegetables and dark leafy greens. Each color in plants represents a different plant pigment that offers different nutrients and antioxidants. As a good rule of thumb, vegetables and greens should take three quarters of your plate.

A few examples:

  • Antioxidant-rich foods.
    Can help to balance the free radical damage and oxidative stress. Especially dark berries, pomegranate, dark raw chocolate (watch the sugars, no dairy) and green tea.
  • Apples (with the peel).
    Pectin, a naturally occurring fiber found in apples was able to to bind to heavy metals and help promote their detoxification.[6,7]

Liver cleansing fats & oils

Healthy fats, in particular, extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, avocado, fresh raw nuts and walnuts can help support healthy liver function.

Cleansing herbs & spices

  • Cilantro.
    Can bind to heavy metals, such as lead, in the digestive tract.[8] 
  • Raw garlic.
    An effective home remedy for parasites, candida and fungal infections. Can also help to support liver detoxification.[9,10,11,12]
  • Natural spices: such as ginger, turmeric.

5. Take detox supplements

As a reminder, when we consider the best detox supplements, we have to ask ourselves, what are you optimizing for? Even more, when it comes to cleansing, you always need to consider your starting point. Individual factors that are unique to you, such as your toxicity levels, organ function, and how effective your body can detoxify, can make a difference in the benefits and side effects you may experience.

So, start low and slow, and listen to your body. Below are the top 4 supplements that most people can benefit from that naturally support the body’s detox systems.

1. Oxygen colon cleanse

Oxygen colon cleanse

  • Signs you may need it: digestive issues, bloating, excess gas, body odor, occasional constipation.
  • When: weekend cleanse.

Oxy-Powder releases natural oxygen in your colon that dissolves colon waste and toxins build up. The toxic waste is then flushed out through normal bowel movements.

You take 4 capsules before bedtime on an empty stomach. Expect the next day to have 3-5 bowel movements with large amount of waste eliminate. (Thus, the weekend part. You definitely want to stay at home).

People often report flatter stomach, improved digestion, more energy, better brain function and glowing skin.

Pro tip: Removing waste buildup from the colon can help your body eliminate toxins quicker, as you continue with cleansing other organs of  go into cellular detoxification. Thus, colon cleanse is usually the first step in body detox programs.

2. Support your gut with probiotics & prebiotics

Probiotics for gut cleanse

You may have heard that the liver plays an important rôle in protecting us from potentially toxic chemicals.[13] But, did you know that in order to complete the process, the liver dumps these toxins into the gut? So, optimizing your gut and your gut flora is as important.

In fact, the research data suggests that probiotics can help protect the intestinal mucosa from injuries caused by toxins, allergens and pathogens, and help the immune system to fight future infections [14,15].

It is very important that the probiotic supplements you use are free from common allergens, especially soy, dairy, gluten and wheat and have no binders or fillers.

Floratrex is good example of probiotics we use in our different gut cleanse protocols. (When you are lucky enough to get it, as it is often run out of stock). The formula combines the highly studied lactobacillus probiotic strains with inulin prebiotic. Prebiotics serve as a food source for probiotics, thus can further supports the good bacteria growth in your gut.

Pro tip: 80% of our immune system resides in the gut. So, before you look into exotic supplements to boost your immune system, you probably want to cover the basics and support your gut health with probiotics.

3. Detox your body with algae and chlorophyll

E3Live Chlorophyll Detox superfood

Chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plants, is well known for its blood detoxification, odor control, wound healing, gut health, and immune system support. In fact, studies found it even has a natural ability to neutralize and bind to mold toxins (mycotoxins).[16] 

This is quite remarkable, considering that mold toxins are very tricky. They are so tiny, that after the liver dumps them into the gut, they can reabsorb back into the circulation. Chlorophyll was shown to bind to these toxins, so they can’t reabsorbed and are eliminated.

E3Live® is a blue-green algae that has the highest natural chlorophyll content, and the only option in north america that comes fresh. (It is frozen-liquid, not a powder). Even more, due to its superior nutritional profile with unique nutrients we rarely get from the western diet, E3Live® can help support multiple body systems.

So if you are lucky enough to live in a place where you can get E3Live®, all you need is 1-2 tbsp in the morning on an empty stomach.

If its is not available in your area, however, a great alternative is another algae, chlorella, which is also well known for its high chlorophyll content and detoxification abilities. Just make sure it comes from a reputable source.

4. Detox your cells with liposomal glutathione

Detox your cells with liposomal glutathione
Glutathione is one of the most potent antioxidants and cellular detoxifiers found in every cell in the body. Multiple studies have shown that glutathione can neutralize and bind to water-soluble toxins, so they are then marked or targeted to be removed by the body and in the liver.[17]

Liposomal delivery system offers higher absorption compared to traditional glutathione supplements.[18]

6. Detox your body as you sleep

sleep detox

Every night when you go to sleep, your body actually begins a series of maintenance tasks to heal and repair damaged cells and tissue. As a part of this process, the glymphatic system, the waste clearance pathway of the central nervous system removes toxic waste byproducts.

When you do not get enough sleep, however, your glymphatic system may not have enough time to perform that function. As a result, toxins can build up and affect your cognitive abilities, behavior, and judgment.[19].

Unfortunately, we don’t always give sleep the right priority.

In our fast pace society, we often choose to sleep less in order to achieve more and be more productive. Ironically, lack of sleep can impair our performance and productivity. Even more, multiple studies have shown a link between lack of sleep and many health issues.

So, give sleep the right priority.Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep. Athletes may need more, though.

7. Detox stress

stress detox

Chronic stress has become such a normal part of our life, many people tend to ignore it. But, did you know that stress can impair your body’s ability to detox? Even more, over time, a buildup of toxins can occur and if we aren’t able to de-stress and relax.

How stress affect your body’s detoxification function

When a stressful event occurs, our body triggers the “fight or flight” response. The body then goes into survival mode. Stress hormones rise, our focus increases, blood goes to the muscles, our entire biology is shifted to make sure we can survive an attack or a threat.

On the flip side, while at this state, the body’s ability to heal, detox or digest food is significantly reduced. 

In the past, this mechanism was essential to our survival. Just think about our ancestors running away from a saber-toothed tiger, for example. The stress response was short, then when we found shelter and felt safe again, our body was able to relax, heal, detox and return back to normal function.

Modern life stressors however, have turned the natural “fight or flee” stress response into a prolonged chronic stress that never seem to stop.

In fact, 44 percent of Americans reported that they suffer from moderate to high stress. Concerns about money, work and the economy, fears about job security, top the list of most frequently cited sources of stress.[20]

Just like we need to be mindful about toxins in our food and environment and ways to eliminate them, we need to also consider the damaging effect stress has on our health, and ways to detoxify it as well. 

5 effective strategies to detox stress

  • Schedule a time off.
    Sometimes a relaxing vacation can do you more good than a dozen of body cleansing programs. Just as you remember to set up work calls and meeting in your calendar, make sure to set up some quality time off where you can de-stress.
  • Digital & social media cleanse.
    A big part of the stress problem, is information overload. We are constantly bombarded with more and more information, much of which is not useful to us, and in many cases, stressful.
    Ask yourself: how often do you find yourself opening up your favorite app on your phone and looking up a half hour or even hours later to discover you’ve gotten nothing productive done? if this sounds too familiar, perhaps it’s time for a social media cleanse.
  • Exercise smart.
    Find a physical activity that you love that can help take your mind away from all this stress. The best exercise for stress is the one you love so you keep doing it. Be mindful, however, not to overtrain, as this can increase your stress levels.
  • Meditate.
    You don’t have to be a yogi to enjoy the power of meditation in your life. Sit down quietly for a few minutes every day, breath deeply, and express gratitude. These simple steps can help signal your brain there’s no real danger and that you are safe.
  • Sleep.
    As a reminder, the body detoxify excess stress hormones while you sleep. So, during time of extra stress, you may find that you need to sleep longer.
  • Take Tulsi.
    Tulsi (Holy basil) is one of Ayurvedic medicine most studied herb known for its ability to calm stress, balance mood, and support the adrenal glands.[21]

8. Detox your kidneys

kidneys detox

The main function of the kidneys is to filter waste products and extra fluids and flush them from the body as urine. So, simply by drinking enough water or liquids, you can help support your kidneys as they detox and cleanse toxins.

As a rule of thumb, drink half your body weight in ounces of water. You should drink enough so you have a strong urine flow, with clear urine color.

Also, on that note, it is imperative that you drink high quality water.
Most tap water in the US have been polluted with chemicals such as chlorine, foruide and other contaminants.

9. Sweat out toxins

Sweat out toxins

Another powerful way to detox your body, is to support one of your body’s biggest detox system, the skin. In fact, studies have found toxic materials and heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sweat. The researchers concluded that sweating may help remove toxic elements from the body.[22]

So, keep moving, have a good sweat, and at the same time, make sure you are well hydrated. A sauna session, yoga or exercise can help you naturally eliminates toxins through sweat along with the many other benefits. Sure, you’ll notice smells come out of your skin. But, do you rather these toxins stay inside your body?

10. Cleanse your body with intermittent fasting

Intermittent Fasting detox

Lastly, we wrap up with the ultimate natural detox tool, fasting!

Everyday, your body cleanses and eliminates toxins, especially during these times when you do not eat. So, just by shortening the time you eat, you can enhance your body’s ability to detox.

In fact, intermittent fasting (also called time restricted eating) has become very popular in the past few years as a weight loss and longevity tool. Studies have found that intermittent fasting can support weight loss, reduce insulin resistance, regulate hormones and turn on Sirtuin longevity genes.[23]

A few examples of popular intermittent fasting protocols include:

  • 16 hours fasting each day, 8 hours eating.
    For example, you skip breakfast, and eat between 12pm-8pm.
  • One meal a day (OMAD).
    While this may sound extreme, this type of eating is getting very popular, especially if you prefer to eat larger meals or tend to prefer higher fats foods.

Pro tip: It is always best to ease yourself into intermittent fasting. Most people start by skipping breakfast for a few days. Additionally, limit processed foods and high carb foods to avoid sugar spikes that will make you crave sugars.

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Celery Juice Detox Symptoms: Surprising Side Effects You Should Know

Celery Juice Detox Symptoms
Cleanse Joy Research TeamResearch analysis:
CleanseJoy
Editorial Team

Overview | Side effects | How to prevent | Detox diet | Constipation | Benefits | References

Did you drink celery juice on an empty stomach and think you have celery juice detox symptoms?

Many people are surprised to learn that this trendy cleanse causes a detox reaction. After all, it’s just…celery juice. Healthy, nutritious, with many benefits. What could possibly go wrong? Even more, out of all these testimonials and celebrities, why nobody is talking about all these side effects?

Celery Juice Detox, Is There Anything Wrong With My Body?

No, it’s completely not your fault. It’s just another example of health fads that gain popularity over the internet and spread like wildfire.

The medical medium celery juice book by Anthony William made the celery juice cleanse become viral. Suddenly, everybody was talking about this miracle juice that heals just about everything. But, just like so many things in life, there is another less glamorous side of the story.

So, while celery juice has its benefits, there are also the side effects. The good news, you can prevent the celery juice detox symptoms with a few basic steps which will cover in the review.

Also, it’s time to demystify the detox reaction.

Detox symptoms are not necessary when you detox or cleanse. In fact, they are not signs that whatever you do is working. Simply put, your body releases too much toxins at a pace it can’t safely handle. So, you may feel sick.

The other option, is that you can be sensitive to the ingredients. In our case, the celery. In any case, your goal with any cleanse or juice should be to improve the way you feel, not to make you feel worse.

Common Celery Juice Detox Symptoms May Include

  • Skin rash, acne
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Digestive issues, in particular: gas, diarrhea, and bloating
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling tired
  • Headache
  • Flu-like symptoms

Drinking Celery Juice Is Not The Same As Eating Celery

Drinking Celery Juice cleanse Is Not The Same As Eating Celery

With the celery juice challenge, you drink 16 ounces of celery juice on an empty stomach every morning for a week. To make that much juice, you usually need one large bunch celery. In other words, about 1 pound, 8 or 9 medium ribbed celery stalks.

Drinking celery juice is very different from eating celery. There’s a lot of medicinal properties in a quick acting juice form. In fact, this is where the food can very well act as a powerful medicine. After all, not a lot of people can eat 1 pound of celery every day.

What Does the Celery Juice Cleanse Do?

When you make the celery juice, you remove the fiber. So, you end up with a liquid that contains most of the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Since the fiber slows down the digestion and the release of nutrients in the body, your body can absorb the nutrients from the juice much quicker.

Now, the question is whether your body needs that much “medicine” so quickly. Some of these medicinal properties can nourish the body. Others, may kill bacteria, parasites, or release toxins. In other words, “cleanse”.
Similarly to other juices such as wheatgrass, this cleansing effect can benefit you in many way, but, can also cause detox symptoms.

Prevent Celery Juice Detox Symptoms (and Boost Your Health)

Here are five ways to help prevent celery juice side effects that can help you get the most out of your cleanse.

1. Clean your diet

The following simple plan below can do more than just preventing a detox reaction. It can change your life. In fact, we guarantee it will do much more to your health than any amount of celery juice.

We wish there would be more challenges that involved this type of simple healthy eating. Unfortunately, it’s not very glamorous, sexy, or viral.

Many people are often surprised to learn how good they feel when they clean their diet. Even more, not only they feel better, very quickly they start to enjoy the taste of real simple whole foods without all these additives.

To summarize this point, the cleaner your diet, the less toxins you will have. Thus, the less chances of a detox reaction. Then take full advantage of the benefits celery juice and other natural remedies may have. Without having to worry about detox symptoms.

More importantly, just like it doesn’t make sense to smoke and take antioxidants, you don’t want to juice and do all these healthy things on one hand, but keep putting junk into your body.

It’s time to take an honest look into the health and wellness of our nation.

Despite all the advances in modern medicine, people are sicker than ever. In fact, almost 50% of the U.S. population use prescription drugs. If you think it’s only elderly people, think again. Almost 20% of children under age 12 years use prescription drugs.[1]

And, a big part of the problem is the standard american diet. So many studies have shown a link between modern diets to chronic disease, health issues, including depression and mental illnesses. All these processed foods, artificial chemicals and other toxins we call “foods” take a toll on our body. It’s a huge burden that our entire system constantly need to process every day. Ironically, processed foods lack essential nutrients are body needs to properly function .

So, as a first step, a week before you start the celery juice detox, remove the top toxins from your diet. In particular:

    • Processed foods & beverages
    • Refined sugars, in particular: high-fructose corn syrup (read the label of your “healthy” energy bars or drinks. The average American consumes 150 pounds of sugar in one year. Can you believe it? This means 3 pounds of sugar every week.
    • Proceed grains, cereals. Again, these are not healthy foods. Just look at the list of the ingredients and see how many of them are actually foods.
    • Fried foods
    • Processed or commercial meat. These poor animals! Not only they are often treated poorly and are kept in horrible conditions, they are also fed with a diet that contains hormones, antibiotics, and chemicals to make them grow quicker. Quicker growth means more money for these industries but, when you eat the meat, you also consume all these toxins.
    • Limit gluten and dairy. Most people can’t tolerate at least one of them. As a result, you may end up with inflammation in the gut and body. And easy way to tell is to limit them for a few weeks. If you have dairy or gluten sensitivity, expect to feel a big difference after you eliminate these.

Eat:

  • Eat from the rainbow. Plenty of colorful fresh whole fruits, vegetables and dark leafy greens. Each color in plants represents a different plant pigment that offers different nutrients and antioxidants. As a good rule of thumb, vegetables and greens should take three quarters of your plate.
  • Fiber. Did you know that fiber can bind to certain toxins in the gut and also supports healthy bowel movements? Simply put, fiber is one of the best natural ingredients to detox your body! The fiber intake recommendations range from 19 grams to 38 grams per day.[2] On average, 30 grams for men and 25 grams for women (from whole foods, not supplements) is a great place to start.
    An easy way to boost your fiber intake: eat one medium avocado (13 grams fiber), and 1 oz of chia seeds soaked in water (10 grams fiber) everyday.

2. Eat celery a week before you drink celery juice

Celery juice tastes way better than whole celery, we know. With that said, you want to start and eat celery first, to see if you have a reaction to it. This safe approach can save you a lot of trouble, before you consume the fast acting concentrated juice form.

So, start and eat a few ribbed celery stalks for 2-3 days and see how you feel. Celery stalks with carrots are great healthy snacks. Use humus or salsa as a dip.

3. Address Constipation

The following tip is true for any detox or cleanse, not just the celery juice cleanse. If you experience constipation, it is absolutely essential you regulate your bowels before you start.

If your colon is congested or constipated, toxins my stay in your body longer. Even worse, some of the toxins may re-absorbed back into the circulation.

So easy to prevent. Some useful home remedies for constipation include:

  • Overnight colon cleanse (with apple cider vinegar, lemon, oxygen).
  • Oxy-Powder. Releases natural oxygen in your colon that dissolves colon waste buildup. The waste is then flushed out through normal bowel movements. As a result, your body can eliminate toxins quicker. Thus, minimize or prevent potential celery juice detox symptoms.

4. How much celery juice should you drink a day? go low and slow

There’s no universal serving size of celery juice that works best for everyone. A 120 pounds female may need a different amount than a 250 pounds male. Furthermore, some people have more toxins in their body than others. Genetics can also play a role as it may affect the body’s ability to eliminate toxins.

So, play it safe, and go low and slow. To minimize the celery juice detox symptoms, start with a smaller amount and work your way up. For example:

  • Drink 1 oz of celery juice in the morning on an empty stomach. Do you notice any of the celery juice detox symptoms we mentioned? If so, perhaps it’s better to respect your body and listen. Celery juice may not agree with your body right now.
  • If everything goes well, however, increase to 2 oz the next day. Similarly, listen to your body, stop if you experience a detox reaction, or double the amount. So the next day jump from 2 oz to 4 oz.
  • Continue with this protocol and be mindful about how you feel after you drink the celery juice. For example: did you feel more energized from 8 oz compared to 2 oz, or did you feel a little tired and lightheaded?
  • Always first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
  • Stop until you feel that you have had enough juice or reach 16 oz.

5. Use organic celery

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published a list of twelve fruits and vegetables that are exposed to the most pesticides. Also called “dirty dozen”, if you can’t find these organic, it is better to avoid them altogether.

As of 2020, celery is on that list. When you make celery juice, you filter the fiber, but do you also remove the pesticides? It is not clear.
So, to minimize side effects due to a reaction to pesticides in the celery, it is much better to use organic celery.

On that note, it is best to educate yourself about pesticides in foods, and shop wisely. See the EWG’s complete report: Dirty dozen list.

Celery Juice Benefits

Below are some of the main benefits of celery according to the medical literature. Keep in mind, the data doesn’t show that celery juice will heal these conditions. The studies simply found that celery has medicinal properties that can play a role.

So, with that said, celery main medicinal properties includes[3]:

  • Antibacterial
  • Antifungal
  • Antioxidants
  • Anti-inflammatory

Celery can prevent or help with[4]:

  • Elevated blood glucose and serum lipid levels
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Jaundice and liver function
  • Urinary tract obstruction
  • Gout
  • Rheumatic disease
  • Blood pressure
  • Chronic skin disorders (celery seeds).

Celery main compounds include caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, apigenin, luteolin, tannin, saponin, and kaempferol.

In Conclusion: Should I Do The Celery Juice Cleanse?

Celery juice can be a powerful tool for health and wellness. The juice is shown to have medicinal properties with some impressive potential benefits. But, just like any medicine, it can also cause side effects.

So, use this information and safety guideline, and hopefully, you will experience the benefits. Keep in mind, the idea in any juice or cleanse is to compliment a healthy diet and lifestyle, not replace them.

We hope you find this review helpful, and wish you all the best in your journey to better health.

References

  1. Prescription Drug Use in the United States, 2015–2016
  2. Closing America’s Fiber Intake Gap
  3. Advances in the Research of Celery, an Important Apiaceae Vegetable Crop
  4. A Review of the Antioxidant Activity of Celery (Apium graveolens L).
Posted on

Gallbladder Cleanse: Complete 6 Days Flush Plan, Diet & Supplements

Gallbladder Cleanse
Cleanse Joy Research TeamResearch analysis:
CleanseJoy Editorial Team
Main references:
Dr. Frank O. McGehee, Jr, MD
Dr. Alan R. Gaby, MD

Common issues | Recipe | Diet | Benefits | Side Effects | Directions for the first time

The gallbladder cleanse (also called a liver or gallbladder flush) is one of the most common home remedies for gallstones. While you may see different versions and recipes, they all claim to dissolve and remove gallstones naturally in less than 24 hours.

To summarize, the liver and gallbladder cleanse is not an easy protocol. But, it is one of the most popular body cleanse.
For best results, and to avoid side effects, educate yourself as much as possible. So, you know the warnings, risks, safety guidelines, and steps you can take.

In this overview, our editorial team breaks down the research, including a step by step flush recipe, diet & supplements, and common problems of the flush and how to prevent/solve them.

The gallbladder cleanse protocol takes a total of six days:

  • Day 1-4: you switch to the gallbladder diet with liver cleansing herbs
  • Day 5: you drink the olive oil – citrus drink
  • Day 6: also known as the flush day, where you start eliminate gallstones.

3 Common Gallbladder Cleanse Problems & How to Fix them

Before we get to the gallbladder cleanse protocol, a quick review of three of the most common problems people run into, and how to solve them.

1: You experience detox symptoms after the gallbladder flush

Hands down, a healing crisis after the flush is the most common side effect, yet, you can easily prevent or minimize it with proper care.

When the flush releases gallstones and other toxins from the liver and gallbladder, the body eliminates them through bowel movements.

If your colon is congested or constipated, however, the toxins and stones my stay in your body longer. Even worse, some of the toxins may re-absorbed back into the circulation.

Dr. Hulda Clark and Andreas Moritz  (both known for their liver cleanse protocols) described this exact problem. The intestines are the primary organ of elimination. Thus, it is essential that you regulate your bowels before the gallbladder cleanse.

Solution: Cleanse your colon before & after the flush

Oxy-Powder (Ozonated Magnesium Oxides).
Take: 4 capsules before bedtime on Day 1-4.
6 capsules the morning after the flush.

Oxy-Powder releases natural oxygen in your colon to dissolve colon waste buildup, which is then flushed out through normal bowel movements. As a result, your body can eliminate the gallstones and other toxins quicker after the gallbladder cleanse. Thus, minimize or prevent detox symptoms.

2: You can’t tolerate the apple juice

Earlier gallbladder cleanse protocols advised people to drink 1 liter (32oz) of apple juice every day, for five days before the actual flush. The idea behind this recommendation, is that the malic acid in the apple juice can soften the gallstones, and therefore, help make their passage through the bile ducts easier.

The problem, however, is that apple juice has a strong cleansing effect. Not to mention, one liter of apple juice contains 96 grams of sugars. As a result, many people experienced nausea, bloating, diarrhea and other digestive issues. Even more, the evidence on apple juice effectiveness to dissolve gallstones is very limited.

Solution: Don’t drink apple juice. Use liver & gallbladder cleansing herbs instead.

Livatrex
5ml x 3 times a day for day 1-4 prior the flush.

Livatrex is a blend of organic and wild grown medicinal herbs known for their ability to detoxify and cleanse the liver, dissolve and soften gallbladder stones, and support the repair and regeneration of the liver.[1,2,3,4,5]

Ingredients: milk thistle, chanca piedra (stone breaker), borututu, reishi, yellow dock, dandelion, turmeric, chicory, peppermint.

3: Gallbladder cleanse didn’t work

Certainly, the most exciting part of the gallbladder cleanse is the “flush”.
You drink the famous olive oil – grapefruit drink (see exact recipe below), and go to sleep. If everything works according to plan, you get up in the morning and start to eliminate gallstones. But, what if you get up in the morning and there are no stones? What could possibly went wrong?

Solution: The gallbladder cleanse diet

Surprisingly, many liver cleanse recipes overlook a key step, the gallbladder cleanse diet. What you eat in the four days prior to the flush, and most importantly, what you should not eat, can significantly affect the outcome.

In addition to the obvious processed foods, high sugars, alcohol and other unhealthy foods to avoid (see the complete list below), you also want to limit your protein and fat intake.

Fat and protein trigger the gallbladder to squeeze itself empty. So, when you keep these low,  you allow the bile to build up and develop more pressure in the liver, thus, help to eliminate more toxins after you drink the olive oil.

So, for best results, keep your fats and proteins as low as possible the night before and during the day you plan to drink the olive oil. With that said, there’s no need to go to the extreme and be on a zero fat and protein diet. Just eat light, and avoid high protein and high fat foods.

Gallbladder flush/liver cleanse recipe

Below is a summary of the protocol’s main steps. Keep in mind, there’s no exact recipe that works best for everyone. So, for best results, listen to your body and common sense, and educate yourself as much as possible.

DIY vs. Liver cleanse kit

Some people enjoy to explore all the technical details and steps of the protocol. Others, however, may struggle a bit. For example, serving size, exact timing are common questions we get every day. Especially from people who do the cleanse for the first time.

So, if you are one of the many people who find the typical gallbladder flush protocol a bit too much, you may want to check Dr. Edward Group’s Liver Cleanse Program. Essentially, Dr. Group simplified the approach into a step by steps guide and already pre-packaged the flush ingredients.

Gallbladder flush/liver cleanse recipe
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Gallbladder flush/liver cleanse recipe

The gallbladder flush (also called a liver flush), is one of the most popular home remedies for gallstones. While you may see multiple recipes, they all claim to dissolve and remove gallstones naturally in less than 24 hours.
Prep Time10 minutes
Keyword: gallbladder cleanse, gallbladder flush, liver cleanse recipe
Servings: 1 People
Author: Cleanse Joy Editorial Team

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle Oxy-Powder Colon cleanse
  • 1 bottle Livatrex Liver & gallbladder herbs
  • 1 tbsp epsom salt (15 grams) (Magnesium sulfate)
  • 6 oz olive oil (about ¾ a cup) extra virgin cold pressed
  • 4 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit or orange juice

Instructions

The Night Before

  • Limit fat and protein intake.

The Pre-Flush Day

  • Eat light during the day. Focus on whole vegetables and fresh fruits. Keep fat and protein intake as low as possible to help build pressure in the liver.
  • 12PM: Eat your last meal with only sips of water after.
  • 8PM: Mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in 8 ounces of warm water and drink immediately.
  • 10PM: Combine 4 ounces of fresh grapefruit juice or orange juice with 6 oz olive oil. Shake well.
  • Stand next to your bed (do not sit down) and drink.
  • Immediately after you drink the olive oil-citrus mix, lie on your right side with your knees drawn up to your stomach for 30 minutes. Do not talk. Focus on your breathing and try to sleep.

The Day After

  • Morning: take 6 capsules of Oxy-Powder immediately upon waking to help your body flush the toxins that were released during the night. Do not eat for two hours after taking Oxy-Powder.
  • Expect to have a series of bowel movements. This is the point where people report eliminating stones.
  • Eat light during the day. A good first meal for most people is "hard" fruits such as apples to further stimulate digestion.

Gallbladder Cleanse Side Effects

You should expect diarrhea the day after the olive-citrus drink, a direct result of the epsom salt.  Other common side effects may include:

  • Difficulty to sleep after the olive oil – citrus drink (very common)
  • Pain, especially, abdominal pain and lower back pain
  • Headache
  • Weakness
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Digestive issues, in particular: bloating, excess gas
  • Irritability

Most of these are detox symptoms you can minimize or prevent by cleansing your colon before.

Your First Gallbladder Cleanse

The gallbladder flush is not a simple cleanse. There are several steps you must carefully execute, with timing, serving size and other factors you should consider. Furthermore, since the liver breaks down toxins and chemicals we are exposed to, the flush can release many of these toxic substances in a relatively short time. So, you have to make sure your intestines, the primary organ of elimination, are working properly.

For these reasons, the gallbladder flush is not a good option as a first body cleanse. Most natural health practitioners that practice the gallbladder cleanse, recommend to optimize the bowels, switch to a healthier diet, and in general, gain experience with other more simple cleanses first.

So, if you have never done the  gallbladder cleanse, here is a simple protocol to help you transition into it:

How to Safely Start Gallbladder Cleanse in 3 Steps:

Follow the 3 steps:

1: Support your gallbladder and liver

Take 5 ml Livatrex three times a day, on an empty stomach. For example, first thing in the morning, and between meals.

2: Cleanse your colon

  1. Take 4 capsules of Oxy-Powder before bedtime on an empty stomach.
  2. Expect the next day to have three to five bowel movements. First time users usually report eliminating large amounts of waste.
  3. If you had less than three bowel movements, increase by two capsules the next day. The serving size that works for most people is 4-8 capsules.
  4. Continue for up to five days. By this time, your colon should be completely cleansed, thus, you will no longer purge large amount of waste.
  5. Proceed to step three.

3: Start with “mini” gallbladder flushes

In her liver cleanse protocol, Dr. Hulda Clark recommend to experiment with low dosage of some of the key ingredients of the flush. In particular, the epsom salt and olive oil. This can help to tailor the ideal serving size you may need. As importantly, this can also give you confidence and peace of mind.

Simply put, go low and slow.
For best results, try to keep the timing of these “mini flushes” as close as possible to the gallbladder flush.

  1. Switch to a gallbladder cleanse diet. Eat light, and do not eat after 6PM. Even better, try to have your last meal by 4PM.
  2. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of epsom salt in ¾ cup warm water.
  3. 8PM: Drink on an empty stomach, at least two hours after your last meal.
  4. Increase daily, by no more than 1 teaspoon until you reach 3 teaspoons. This is the amount you take during the gallbladder flush.
  5. 10PM: Similarly, follow the same protocol for the olive oil with the citrus juice.
    Start with 1 tbsp. of oil and 1 tbsp. of juice, right before bedtime. Then, increase daily, by no more than 1 tbsp of each oil and juice, until you reach 4 tbsp. of oil and 4 tbsp. of juice.
  6. Take 6 capsules of Oxy-Powder immediately after you wake up.
    Do not eat for two hours after taking Oxy-Powder.

Gallbladder Cleanse Diet

Gallbladder Cleanse Diet

As we mentioned, what you eat in the four days prior to the flush, and most importantly, the foods you avoid, can significantly affect the outcome.

So, while there’s no diet that works best for everyone, follow these basic guidelines:

Avoid processed & inflammatory foods, especially:

  • Refined sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup
  • Fried foods
  • Dairy, soy, gluten and wheat
  • Stimulants
  • Alcohol
  • Artificial sweeteners

Limit high protein and fat foods, in particular:

  • High protein foods such as meat and eggs and dairy products
  • High fat foods such as oils and butter

As a reminder, fat and protein trigger the gallbladder to empty itself. So, when you keep these low,  you allow the bile to build up and develop more pressure in the liver, thus, help to eliminate more toxins after you drink the olive oil.

Also, try to eat light and avoid large meals and overeating. Keep in mind, the gallbladder cleanse diet is a short term eating plan to support the cleanse, not a plan you should follow long term.

Eat the following foods:

  • Fruits. In particular, apples, lemon and other citrus, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries. (Always on an empty stomach).
  • Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, garden cress, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts.
  • Other liver cleansing veggies include beetroot, asparagus, and carrots.
  • Greens such as spinach and all leafy greens. Especially, dark leafy greens.
  • Plant based fats & protein in moderation.  Stop to eat the night before the pre-flush day. Good sources of fats include avocado, and fresh raw sprouted raw nuts & seeds. Beans, legumes (soak or sprout them before) and also pumpkin seeds and hemp seeds are great sources of protein.
  • Spices such as turmeric, garlic, ginger, cinnamon.
  • Vinegar. (if you like), raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.

Example of recipes you can make for the liver and gallbladder cleanse:

  • Liver cleansing juice with celery, spinach, carrots, beetroot, ginger root, lemon, apple, cucumbers, stevia, cinnamon.
  • Liver detox tea with ginger, lemon, clove, cinnamon, stevia and honey.

To learn more about additional tips for the gallbladder cleanse diet, including are famous liver cleanse salad dressing recipe, see: Liver cleanse recipes.

Does The Gallbladder Cleanse Work?

Most people typically pass multiple semi solid green or brown stones. But, are these gallstones? The majority of the evidence on the gallbladder flush comes from anecdotal reports. Thus, the data is limited, with very few cases where medical professionals actually tested the “stones” and the patients.

So, what evidence do we have?

  • Chemical analysis of the stones. A few medical professionals that analyzed the stones, concluded they were “soap stones”. In other words, the stones were created by the interaction of digestive enzymes with certain components of olive oil and lemon juice.
  • Ultrasound. On the other hand, using an ultrasound, a few practitioners reported that they saw a reduction in the number of gallstones after their patients ingested the olive oil and citrus drink.
  • Benefits. Most people report that they feel much better after the flush. In particular, more energy, better digestion, and improved clarity.

Keep in mind, most natural health experts that promote the gallbladder flush also recommend to do multiple flushes. After all, we are trying to eliminate decades of toxins. So, one flush may be just “scratching the surface”.

References

  1. Liver immunology and herbal treatment
  2. Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) for the Therapy of Liver Disease
  3. The Use of Silymarin in the Treatment of Liver Diseases
  4. Milk Thistle Extract and Silymarin Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide Induced Lamellar Separation of Hoof Explants in Vitro
  5. Phyllanthus Niruri Standardized Extract Alleviates the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Decreases Atherosclerotic Risk in Sprague–Dawley Rats
  6. Nutritional Approaches to Prevention and Treatment of Gallstones, Dr. Alan R. Gaby, MD
  7. The Amazing Liver Cleanse – a Powerful Tool to Improve Your Health, Dr. Frank O. McGehee, Jr, MD, CCN
Posted on

What is Mucoid Plaque & How to Remove It: 5-Day Cleanse

What is Mucoid Plaque & How to Remove It 5-Day Cleanse
Cleanse Joy Research TeamResearch analysis:
CleanseJoy Editorial Team
Main references:
Dr. Richard Anderson, ND,
Dr. Bernard Jensen, ND, PhD

Causes | Symptoms | Cleanse | Diet | Case Studies | References

In this article, we’ll address mucoid plaque FAQ, especially what is mucoid plaque, potential causes, and how to safely cleanse and remove mucoid plaque using natural foods and herbs.

Is Mucoid Plaque Real?

Let’s start with a quick disclaimer. We are an evidence-based community. As such, we stick to proven facts, and try the best we can to stay away from controversial topics. There are no published studies or medical research that suggest mucoid plaque is real.

This doesn’t mean however, that mucoid plaque is a myth or hoax.
Although there is no clear definition of mucoid plaque, it is common in the alternative medicine world. In fact, to many practitioners that are experts in cleansing, colonic irrigation, colon hydrotherapy, enemas and fasting protocols, there’s nothing special about mucoid plaque. It is something they see everyday.

What is Mucoid Plaque?

While there are different theories aim to explain what mucoid plaque is and how to get rid of it, they are all based on the idea that mucoid plaque is just another term that describes accumulated waste buildup in the colon.

Plenty of anecdotal evidence here, with people and natural health practitioners report passing long green-brownish rope-rubbery fibrous strands after doing colon cleansing, enemas or colonics.

To properly remove mucoid plaque and prevent it from becoming a chronic problem that keeps coming back, it is important to address its root cause. In other words, the reason(s) that may cause it to accumulate.

Mucoid Plaque Causes

Mucoid Plaque is Colon Waste Buildup

The main cause of mucoid plaque has to do with modern diets. We have stepped away from eating natural whole foods like our ancestors did.

Modern diet is high in processed foods, lab created chemicals and at the same time, very little fiber, vitamins and minerals. Multiple studies have clearly shown that processed foods, artificial food additives, antibiotics and other medication can disrupt gut microbiome and lead to major imbalances in our gut and digestive health.[1]

  • The body can’t properly digest or even recognize these unnatural substances. As a result, the foods may stay in the digestive tract for a long time, begin to rot and start to accumulate.[2]
  • The intestines produce mucus to support normal digestion. But, with this unnatural environment in the intestines, the mucus accumulates as well.
  • This creates a heavy mucus coating in the colon that thickens, becomes drier and harder and sticks to the colon wall to a point the body can’t eliminate it through normal bowel movements.

“The unnatural accumulations on the bowel wall become a breeding ground for parasites and unhealthy bacterial life forms…
The
blood capillaries to the colon begin to pick up the toxins, poisons and noxious debris as it seeps through the bowel wall. All tissues and organs of the body are now taking on toxic substances.”[8]

– Dr. Bernard Jensen, DC, ND, Ph.D.

We have seen this time after time in our colon cleanse, gut health and parasite cleanse protocols. First time users usually report passing large amount of waste. Often with very long rubber like material, mucus, dead parasites and candida yeast. Yikes! Some people lose over 10 pounds in three days. Their stomach look flatter. Digestive issues become much better. This is obviously not fat loss or just a typical water weight.

Mucoid Plaque Symptoms

What may start as occasional digestive issues such as gas, bloating after eating and constipation may develop into chronic digestive issues due to the accumulated waste buildup in the intestines.

This creates a vicious cycle: the colon waste buildup make it even harder for food to pass in the insteines at a normal healthy pace. The food stay longer than it should, start to ferment, can feed parasites, candida and other pathogens leading to more digestive issues.

Symptoms of mucoid plaque may include:

  • Digestive issues such as constipation, diarrhea, excess gas, bloated stomach, abdominal pain and cramping,
  • Skin breakouts and acne.
  • Body odor.
  • Low energy and fatigue.
  • Low cognitive function, “Brain fog”, difficulty to concentrate, memory issues.

This may give an interesting perspective to the prevalence of digestive disorders in the US, which is reaching alarming numbers of 60-70 million people.[3] 

In fact, a study that had 71,812 individuals complete a survey about their digestive health, found that 61% had one or more GI symptom in the week prior to filling the survey.[4]

The most commonly reported symptoms were heartburn/reflux (30.9%), abdominal pain (24.8%), bloating (20.6%), diarrhea (20.2%), and constipation (19.7%).

How To Remove Mucoid Plaque Naturally

The 5-day protocol below is designed to:

  • Flush out your entire digestive system. You may notice mucoid plaque in stool after day 3.
  • Support your natural elimination organs and detoxification pathways.
  • Promote healthy gut flora.

The protocol uses safe and gentle natural foods and herbs.

Notice that certain colon cleansing herbs and over the counter laxatives work by forcing your body to make a bowel movement. This action may be too aggressive and may lead to laxative dependency. This means that you won’t be able to make regular bowel movements without these products.
Safety should always come first. Especially when self-cleansing at home.

Mucoid Plaque Cleanse

  1. Cleanse your intestines.
    Oxy-powder®: Take 4 capsules before bedtime, for 3-5 days.
    Oxy-powder® uses natural ozonated magnesium oxides to release oxygen into the intestines. The oxygen gently loosens accumulated waste buildup which allows the body to flush it out through normal bowel movements.
    A popular recipe that uses Oxy-powder: overnight colon cleanse.
  2. Expect the next day to have 3-5 bowel movements.
    First time users usually eliminate a large amount of stored waste.
    You may notice mucoid plaque in stool after day 3.
  3. Follow the digestive cleanse diet. (See complete plan below).
  4. Eat colon cleanse detox salad daily.
    Ideas for detox salad recipes:  colon cleanse recipe, Aunt Mary’s recipe.
  5. Take herbs that kill parasites. (Optional)
    Since accumulated waste buildup can feed different pathogens, you may see dead parasites and candida yeast in stool during the mucoid plaque cleanse. To support the process, you may want to supplement the plan with antiparasitic herbs.
    Paratrex: Take 3 capsules twice a day, before your biggest meals.
    Paratrex is a blend of organic and wild grown antiparasitic herbs known for their ability to kill different types of worms, parasites, bacteria and fungus.
    The formula also helps to eliminate parasite eggs and larvae in the body, which is essential to stop the reproduction and the parasite life cycle.[5,6]
  6. Support gut health with probiotics & prebioitcs.
    Floratrex: Take 2 capsules daily, 20 minutes before your first meal.
    When you remove waste buildup from the colon, you create an ideal environment in your gut that can encourage friendly probiotic growth, hence making probiotic supplements much more effective.
    Floratrex is a professional strength complex of 75 billion CFUs 25-Strain Probiotic & Prebiotics, designed to promote healthy bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics serve as a food source for probiotics that supports the good bacteria growth in your gut.

Diet To Remove Mucoid Plaque

Mucoid Plaque Diet

During the mucoid plaque cleanse, it is important to avoid problematic foods that are hard to digest or that are known to cause digestive issues. At the same time, you eat more natural raw whole foods to help cleanse the digestive tract and promote healthy bowel movements.

Most people do very well by eating a lighter diet with fresh whole fruits, vegetables and easy to digest foods during the cleanse. Remember, this is not a plan you should do long term, but for a very limited time to help flush out and reset your digestive system.

Raw non-starchy vegetables in particular are a good option for the mucoid plaque diet due to their insoluble fiber content. Insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water, and typically passes through the gut largely intact. Think about insoluble fiber as rough brooms inside your colon that grabs accumulated waste buildup and toxins on their way out.

Mucoid Plaque Cleanse Diet
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Mucoid Plaque Cleanse Diet

During the mucoid plaque cleanse, it is important to avoid problematic foods that are hard to digest or that are known to cause digestive issues. At the same time, you eat more natural raw whole foods to help cleanse the digestive tract and promote healthy bowel movements.
Prep Time10 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Servings: 1 day
Author: Cleanse Joy Editorial Team

Ingredients

Raw vegetables

  • beetroot
  • asparagus
  • carrots

Dark leafy greens

  • kale
  • spinach
  • lettuce

Cruciferous vegetables

  • cauliflower
  • cabbage
  • garden cress
  • bok choy
  • broccoli
  • brussels sprouts

Low glycemic fruits

  • apples
  • lemon
  • citrus fruits
  • blueberries
  • blackberries
  • strawberries

Raw nuts and seeds

  • sprouted almonds
  • pumpkin seeds
  • sunflower seeds
  • hemp seeds

Healthy fats & oils

  • avocado
  • olive oil extra virgin
  • coconut oil extra virgin

Natural spices

  • turmeric
  • garlic
  • ginger
  • cinnamon

Vinegar

  • raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar

Intestinal Cleanse (Before bedtime)

  • 4 capsules Oxy-powder® Ozonated Magnesium Oxides, Natural Citric Acid

Foods to Avoid

  • Processed foods.
  • Fried foods.
  • Refined oils and sugars.
  • Alcohol.
  • Hard to digest foods such as beans and legumes.
  • GMOs.
  • Dairy.
  • Meat.

Psyllium Husk & Bentonite Clay May Cause Mucoid Plaque

Many natural health experts believe that not only psyllium husk and bentonite clay do not remove mucoid plaque, they may be the cause of mucoid plaque.

When psyllium husk and bentonite clay get wet, they form a thick, gooey, sticky gel like material. The idea is that as this gel passes through the digestive tract, it can absorb toxins and therefore, help to cleanse your intestines.

The issue is that it is not very easy for the body to eliminate psyllium husk. In fact, both psyllium husk and clay can slow your digestion and may lead to constipation and other digestive issues.

Eventually, when you pass the gell, you may see a long, stringy rubbery substance in your stool. This is nothing but fecal matter combined with mucilage from the psyllium.

Mucoid Plaque or Rope Worm?

Some researchers believe that mucoid plaque is actually an intestinal parasite called rope worm. Rope worms were first reported in a paper published by two researchers, Dr. Alex A. Volinsky and Dr. Nikolai V. Gubarev as a result of cleansing protocols involving:[7]

  • Fasting.
  • Enemas with eucalyptus decoction and several drops of eucalyptus oil.
  • Enemas with freshly squeezed lemon juice enema.

Rope worms look like twisted fibers of a rope in stool. In its early stages it resembles slimy viscous mucus. In its adult stage, it can be over one meter long. The researchers claim that since the appearance of rope worm looks like human feces and intestinal lining, medical professionals often miss it.

In the natural alternative medicine world, many people who practice prolong water fasting report passing rope worms, with or without enemas. It’s much easier to see rope worms and parasites when you cleanse your colon, as there is barely any waste and stool left after a few days.

The bottom line

We do not think the evidence on rope worm justifies doing such an aggressive protocol the includes essential oil enemas. These can cause side effects and harm your intestines.

To see our complete review on rope worm, see:
Rope Worm Parasite: Health Concern or Pseudoscience Term?

We do find that combining safe antiparasitic herbs as a part of the mucoid plaque cleanse as shown above, may help to eliminate parasites and candida yeast. If during the cleanse you pass parasites or fungus, you may want to continue with parasite cleanse or candida cleanse as next steps.

Mucoid Plaque History & Case Studies

The following section summarizes some of the key data on mucoid plaque and the relevant references we have found in our research.

The term mucoid plaque was coined by Dr. Richard Anderson, N.D., N.M.D. to describe “an unhealthy accumulation of abnormal mucous matter on the walls of the intestines.”[8]

In his book, Cleanse And Purify Thyself, Dr. Anderson claimed that autopsies revealed cases of 40 pounds of mucoid plaque in the intestines.
From his book:

Mucoid plaque autopsy

“Some intestines, when autopsied, have weighed up to 40 pounds and were distended to a diameter of 12 inches with only a pencil-thin channel through which the feces could move…That 40 pounds was due to caked layers of encrusted mucus mixed with fecal matter, bizarrely resembling hardened blackish-green truck tire rubber or an old piece of dried rawhide.”

Mucoid plaque case studies

Dr. Anderson also reported case studies of patients that passed a single
length of mucoid plaque 15 feet long; and 11 pounds of mucoid plaque during a cleanse. According to Dr. Anderson: “It is not unusual to pass a total of 35 to 45 feet of plaque, often in the last week.”

References

  1. The influence of antibiotics and dietary components on gut microbiota.
  2. Tissue cleansing through bowel management, Dr. Bernard Jensen, DC, ND, Ph.D.
  3. NIDDK, Digestive Diseases Statistics for the United States.
  4. Burden of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the United States: Results of a Nationally Representative Survey of Over 71,000 Americans.
  5. Therapeutic efficacy of Artemisia absinthium against Hymenolepis nana: in vitro and in vivo studies in comparison with the anthelmintic praziquantel.
  6. Antioxidant potential of Juglans nigra, black walnut, husks extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide with an ethanol modifier.
  7. Human anaerobic intestinal “rope” parasites.
  8. Cleanse And Purify Thyself, Dr. Richard Anderson, N.D., N.M.D.
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How to Get Rid of Parasites: Natural, Evidence-Based Parasite Cleanse

How to Get Rid of Parasites
Cleanse Joy Research TeamResearch analysis:
CleanseJoy Editorial Team
Products reviewed:
Dr. Edward Group, DC, NP
Dr. Emek Blair, Ph.D

A step by step how to get rid of parasites guide.

Guide | Aunt Mary’s Recipe | Symptoms | Research | References

Parasite Cleanse Protocol, Summary

  • Eliminate parasites naturally with parasite cleanse home remedies, herbs that kill parasites, antiparasitic foods and diet.
  • Protocol creates an environment in your body that disrupt the life cycle of parasites and fungus so they can’t survive or reproduce.
  • Due to the combination of antiparasitic herbs used, the parasite cleanse may work against a large number of parasites in humans including: intestinal worms, tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and candida.

Below are the entire steps of the program to naturally and safely eliminate parasites. Use it as a reference. To learn more, read the relevant protocols so you understand the logic behind the steps you do, and the different options you may have.

How to Get Rid of Parasites

  1. Cleanse your intestines. (5 days, and when needed).
    Oxy-powder: 4 capsules before bedtime.
    Oxy-powder releases oxygen in the intestines to remove waste buildup and undigested food particles that can feed parasites.
    Cleansing your intestines from waste buildup can also help the body to eliminate the dead parasites and their toxins quicker. This is a very effective natural and safe way that may prevent parasite cleanse side effects, & die-offs during the parasite cleanse.
  2. Take herbs that kill parasites. (6 weeks).
    Paratrex: 3 capsules twice a day, before your biggest meals.
    Paratrex is a blend of organic and wild grown antiparasitic herbs known for their ability to kill different types of worms, parasites, bacteria and fungus.
    The formula also helps to eliminate parasite eggs and larvae in the body, which is essential to stop the reproduction and the parasite life cycle.[1,2]
  3. Support your gut with antiparasitic probiotics. (6 weeks)
    Floratrex: 2 capsules daily, 20 minutes before your first meal.
    Floratrex is a 75 billion CFUs professional strength 25-Strain Probiotic & Prebiotic complex. Promoting healthy bacteria in the gut is essential to control parasites, balance candida-yeast and support the immune system to fight future infections.[3,4]
  4. Start the parasite cleanse diet. (6 weeks)
    Parasite cleanse diet:  Starve the parasites, avoid foods known to feed parasites, eat antiparasitic foods that kill parasites. Intermittent fasting and a lower carb approach may help to augment your results.
  5. Continue the parasite cleanse protocol for 6 weeks.
    Then stop all antiparasitic herbs.
  6. Take natural home remedies for parasites. (Optional)
    Oregatrex, (Mediterranean organic oregano oil, 80% carvacrol).
    The Mediterranean variety of oregano oil demonstrated potent antiviral and antimicrobial effects in multiple studies against many different pathogens. These benefits were contributed to its active ingredient, Carvacrol.[5]

Recent Update on Oregano Oil

To clarify a common question we get. The oregano oil we use in our parasite cleanse protocol is very different from the oregano oil you see at your local stores. This oil is so concentrated and strong you have to put it in capsules before you swallow. The capsules are provided with Oregatrex.
Do not put the oil directly in your mouth.

Directions: place 6 drops in a vegetarian capsule.
Take at beginning of meal, 2-3 times daily

Specific Concerns During & After the Parasite Cleanse

Specific Concerns During & After the Parasite Cleanse

Digestive issues during the parasite cleanse

Veganzyme: 2 capsules a day with your biggest meal.
Veganzyme is a blend of full spectrum digestive enzyme designed to support the digestion of most common foods and meals.
Important: if you have digestive issues, you may end up with undigested food particles in your digestive tract. These can feed parasites and weaken your immune system. So while it may take you time to figure out which foods in your diet may cause these issues, digestive enzymes may be very helpful with this transition.

Immune Support during the parasite cleanse

This is especially important if you find that you easily catch viral infections such as the cold or the flu.

Risk factors for low immune function may include: nutritional deficiencies, chronic stress, lack of sleep, and certain medical conditions.
Always consult with your doctor if you are concerned about your immune system.

With that said, here are the best natural ways to support your immune system:

  • Avoid the most common nutritional deficiencies.
    All play a major rule in our immune system: Vitamin D, Zinc, Iodine.
  • Support with extra vitamin C.
    Vitamin C deficiency has been linked to a reduced resistance against certain pathogens. Liposomal delivery system offers higher absorption compared to traditional vitamin C supplements.[6,7].
    Dr. Blair’s Valimenta Liposomal C: A good clean source of liposomal C supplements that was clinically tested, made from non GMO European sunflower seed lecithin.
  • Take probiotics daily. 80% of the immune system resides in the gut.
    Floratrex: 2 capsules daily, 20 minutes before your first meal.
  • Avoid processed foods and simple sugars.

Candida Cleanse

Many people with parasitic infections also suffer from chronic candida overgrowth. Women may experience reoccuring yeast infections. Men can have candida issues too.

If you have candida yeast concerns:

  • Mycozil: 3 capsules twice a day before your meals for six weeks.
    Mycozil is a blend of wildcrafted and organic antifungal herbs known for their ability to kill candida yeast, natural systemic enzymes that break down candida cell wall, and soil-based probiotics to help balance the candida yeast imbalance in the gut.[8,9,10]
  • Floratrex: 2 capsules daily, 20 minutes before your first meal.
    75 billion CFUs professional strength 25-Strain Probiotic & Prebiotic.
    Promote healthy bacteria in the gut is essential to control parasites, balance candida-yeast
  • Candida diet: switch to the candida diet or limit the carbs in your parasite cleanse diet. intermittent fasting may help to augment the results.

For the complete protocol: candida cleanse.

Oxidative Stress & Organ Support

If you are over 40 or experience high level of stress and fatigue:

  • Cell-Fuzion: 2 capsules two times daily during the cleanse.
    A blend of patented natural antioxidants extracts shown in studies to protect the cells, organs and mitochondria from oxidative stress and free radicals damage. Taking cell-fuzion during your parasite cleanse may help to control the effect the released toxins may have on your immune system and organs.
  • Liposomal Glutathione: 4 ml a day, during the cleanse.
    Glutathione is one of the most potent antioxidants and cellular detoxifiers found in every cell in the body. Glutathione has the ability to neutralize and bind to water-soluble toxins, so they are marked or targeted to be removed by the body and in the liver. Liposomal delivery system offers higher absorption compared to traditional supplements.[11,12]

Liver & Kidneys

  • Livatrex: 1 dropper full with water or juice, 2-3 times a day for 4 weeks.
    Livatrex is a blend of organic and wild grown herbs and medicinal mushrooms known for their ability to detoxify and cleanse the liver, dissolve and soften liver and gallbladder stones and support the repair and regeneration of the liver.[13,14,15,16,17] For the complete protocol: liver cleanse.
  • Renaltrex: 1 dropper full with water or juice, 2-3 times a day for 4 weeks.
    Renaltrex is a  blend of organic herbs known for their ability to detox and cleanse the kidneys, enhance waste removal, dissolve kidney stones, relieve and soothe inflammation from the entire urinary tract and promote kidney health.[18,19,20].
    For the complete protocol: Kidney cleanse.

Parasite Cleanse Home Remedy

The parasite cleanse home remedy below is inspired by Aunt Mary’s famous detox salad recipe. The recipe that ran in her family for generations offers a simple, yet effective  support for the parasite cleanse diet.

Despite the “salad”, it is actually a complete meal with around 500 calories per serving. Very satisfying, very nourishing.

Estimated values for the recipe (2 servings):

  • 30 grams protein
  • Over 50% of your daily values of fiber, zinc, potassium, and vitamin B1, B2 and B6.
  • Over 100% of your daily values of: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, copper, iron, magnesium, and manganese.

The parasite cleanse home remedy includes:

  • Antiparasitic foods & herbs. Long traditional use, backed up by modern science to work against a large number of parasites in humans.
  • Gut health fiber. Think about insoluble fiber as rough brooms inside your intestines that grabs accumulated waste buildup and toxins on their way out.

Parasite Cleanse Home Remedy

Parasite Cleanse Home Remedy Aunt Mary's
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Parasite Cleanse Home Remedy

Parasite Cleanse Home Remedy
Prep Time15 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Raw Vegan
Keyword: Parasite Cleanse Home Remedy
Servings: 2
Author: Aunt Mary & Cleanse Joy Team

Ingredients

  • 2 oz raw pumpkin seeds
  • 2 cloves minced raw garlic
  • 1 medium head raw purple cabbage
  • 4 medium raw carrots
  • 1 small beet root

Parasite Cleanse Dressing

  • ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  • 4 tbsp olive oil extra virgin cold pressed
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar raw, unpasteurized
  • 1 medium lemon
  • Pink himalayan salt  to taste
  • black pepper to taste (optional)
  • cayenne pepper powder for spicy food lovers (optional)

Antiparasitic Herbs Complex (before you eat)

  • 3 caspules Paratrex Black walnut, epazote, diatomaceous earth, organic neem, wormwood, clove, fulvic Acid

Instructions

  • Soak the pumpkin seeds overnight (or 8 hours). If you prefer the pumpkin seeds "crunch", you can skip this step.
  • Peel the beetroot.
  • Shred or chop the cabbage, carrots and beets.
  • Place in a large bowl.
  • Add the minced garlic.
  • Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon and add to the bowl.
  • Shake the apple cider vinegar bottle to mix the cloudy part at the bottom (the mother).
  • Add the apple cider vinegar.
  • Add the olive oil and mix well.
  • Add the turmeric, pepper and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
  • Add the salt to taste.
  • Add the pumpkin seeds.

What are the Symptoms of Having a Parasite?

Parasite symptoms in humans are very common and can affect your entire body. They are often overlooked, however. As a result, symptoms may be treated individually where the source of the parasitic infection is left untreated. Common examples: chronic skin rashes and digestive issues that always come back.

Become aware of these signs of parasites and share them with your doctor.
Please note, do not use the list below to self-diagnose. There are other underlying causes that may lead to these symptoms.

The key takeaway when it comes to symptoms of parasites: educate yourself about the possible signs. Especially if you have multiple chronic signs you can’t explain. Then share all these with a qualified medical professional.

  • Digestive issues. Gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.
  • Abdominal pain. Upset stomach, stomach cramps, stomach pain, tenderness.
  • Unusual stool appearance. Greasy loose stool, worms, parasites, mucus, eggs or candida yeast in stool.
  • Cravings for sweets. Constantly hungry, increased or loss of appetite.
  • Low energy. Feeling tired, fatigue, exhaustion.
  • Mood swings. Anxiety, depression.
  • Muscle and joint pain. Body aches.
  • Skin issues. Skin rashes and skin issues such as eczema, hives, rosacea.
  • Poor sleep. Insomnia, nightmares, night sweats, teeth grinding in sleep, anus itching at night.
  • Genitals issues. Vaginal itching around the vulva, anal itching, rash, vaginal infections.
  • Unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
  • Nutritional deficiencies. 

Why Doing a Parasite Cleanse?

“Parasites are more common in the US than people realize. We need more research to learn more about these infections and action to better prevent and treat them.”

-Dr. Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H, US centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) Director.

Just to give you a few examples:

  • More than 60 million people in the United States are chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii alone.[21]
  • Almost 1 billion people worldwide, and up to 42 million Americans may be affected by pinworm infection.[22]

According to research, there may be a simple reason for these high numbers. Parasites are designed by nature to use our body as their host. To help them in the process, parasites have developed unique mechanisms to take advantage of our body[23]:

  • Attach the intestinal walls using suction cups or hooks.
  • Disrupt our immune system’s ability to recognize them as invaders and fight them.
  • Release chemicals to influence and manipulate the way the host behave.

Parasite Cleanse References

  1. Therapeutic efficacy of Artemisia absinthium against Hymenolepis nana: in vitro and in vivo studies in comparison with the anthelmintic praziquantel.
  2. Antioxidant potential of Juglans nigra, black walnut, husks extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide with an ethanol modifier.
  3. Probiotics for the Control of Parasites: An Overview.
  4. “Good” Bacteria Keep Immune System Primed to Fight Future Infections, According to Penn Study.
  5. Antiviral efficacy and mechanisms of action of oregano essential oil and its primary component carvacrol against murine norovirus.
  6. Liposomal-encapsulated Ascorbic Acid: Influence on Vitamin C Bioavailability and Capacity to Protect Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury.
  7. Vitamin C and immune function.
  8. Antimicrobial potential of some plant extracts against Candida species.
  9. Leaves Antimicrobial Activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.
  10. Antifungal and cytotoxicity activities of the fresh xylem sap of Hymenaea courbaril L. and its major constituent fisetin.
  11. Glutathione! Joseph Pizzorno, ND, Editor in Chief.
  12. Liposomal-encapsulated Ascorbic Acid: Influence on Vitamin C Bioavailability and Capacity to Protect Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury.
  13. Liver immunology and herbal treatment.
  14. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for the therapy of liver disease.
  15. The use of silymarin in the treatment of liver diseases.
  16. Milk Thistle Extract and Silymarin Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide Induced Lamellar Separation of Hoof Explants in Vitro.
  17. Phyllanthus Niruri Standardized Extract Alleviates the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Decreases Atherosclerotic Risk in Sprague–Dawley Rats.
  18. Phyllanthus niruri inhibits calcium oxalate endocytosis by renal tubular cells: its role in urolithiasis.
  19. Total Coumarins from Hydrangea paniculata Protect against Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Damage in Mice by Suppressing Renal Inflammation and Apoptosis.
  20. Wound healing potential of Althaea officinalis flower mucilage in rabbit full thickness wounds.
  21. Parasitic Infections also occur in the United States.
  22. Epidemiology and control of enterobiasis in a developmental center.
  23. Immune defence, parasite evasion strategies and their relevance for ‘macroscopic phenomena’ such as virulence.