Mondays are rough for many reasons — being a slave to your alarm clock after a weekend of sleeping in and getting back to the work grind among them. For many of us, bouncing back from a weekend of indulging is another hard transition to navigate. Especially this time of year when backyard barbecues and beach days have more sugary cocktails, burgers and ice cream on the menu.
While there is no such thing as a one-day miracle fix for overindulging, it can help to hit the reset button every once in a while — giving you a little push toward feeling better stat and making healthier long-term decisions.
Here are five tips to help you cleanse, de-bloat and set your diet and health back on the right track in just one day:
1. Start with lemon water.
Start your day by waking up with a glass of warm or cold lemon water. The pectin from the lemon aids in digestion, helping to make lemon a phenomenal detoxifying food. Water with lemon also helps curb your appetite and boosts satiety.
Energizing your digestive tract sounds like a great way to start the day, right? The bonus is the little wedge of lemon bobbing in your cup, which reminds your brain, “Hey, I’m making healthy choices today!”
2. De-bloat with breakfast.
After water, fuel yourself with food!
It will benefit your metabolism after a night of sleep. When doing a mini-cleanse, the advice I give to clients is to skip the bread, cereal or any version of them at breakfast as they will cause your body to retain more water, and instead focus your attention on protein, which will provide satiety. An egg-and-salmon scramble is a perfect combo of protein and metabolism-boosting omega-3s to start the day. Or if you’re on the go, opt instead for an easy gut-healthy smoothie.
3. Clean up your diet.
Make sure to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and at least one snack (absolutely no skipping meals!) and ensure they consist of whole, real foods only. Eating consistently throughout the day will help you lay the foundation for ongoing healthy eating. I’m talking loads of veggies, lean protein such as grass-fed steak, chicken, fish, eggs and healthy fats from nuts, seeds or olives, avocado or coconut.
Ditch the packaged, processed foods today (even the “healthy” versions). This will ensure you are taking out excess sodium, artificial ingredients and sugar from your diet. Also, ditch the salt shaker and instead use only herbs and spices to flavor your food. You’ll find this can help make a big difference in how you look and feel. Even after one day!
4. Have an afternoon tea.
Drink a cup of dandelion root tea with your afternoon snack. Trust me, this one is important. Dandelion can help improve digestion, and being properly hydrated is linked to everything from a healthy metabolism to energy and good skin health. If dandelion isn’t your thing, go for green tea for an antioxidant and metabolic boost.
5. Get moving!
Increasing your heart rate will mean an increase in blood flow. This, in turn, will help your body to flush out toxins all on its own. You don’t even need to hit a gym to get your sweat sesh in, here’s a quickie workout I do just about anywhere. The takeaway here is to rev your heart rate, break a sweat and get in a better mindset to kick it up a notch again tomorrow.
If you're feeling sluggish, run-down, or dealing with frequent colds, it may be a sign that your body could use a boost from the best detox cleanse. We’re exposed to toxins on a near-constant basis—everything from pesticides and chemicals in or on our foods, chemicals in our body products and home cleaning products, pollution in our air, and even off-gassing from furniture and carpets. Because of this daily exposure to toxins, our bodies are in a perpetual state of detoxification. The liver, gallbladder, kidneys, colon, skin, and lungs all work in concert to filter and remove these toxins on a daily basis.
But these detox organs and tissues can become overloaded, fatigued, or clogged, leaving you feeling like you don't have the energy to complete your daily run or fight off that cold. To help you learn how to properly cleanse your system, we did a deep dive into what makes detox cleanse products tick and rounded up our 6 favorite options. So if you’re interested in supporting the detox process and improving your well-being, keep reading.
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The Best Detox Cleanses - Our Top Picks
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- Detox Pure
- RenewLife Cleanse Smart Advanced Total Body Program
- Designs for Health PaleoCleanse Plus
- Preventive Nutrition Body Cleansing Program
- Metagenics AdvaClear - Daily Support for Detoxification
Detox Pure
SPECS
- Form: Capsules
- Active ingredients: Acai berry, spirulina, kelp, chlorella, alfalfa
- Recommended doses: 2 capsules daily (ongoing)
Detox Pure is designed as an ongoing (i.e., daily) maintenance product which is great because detoxing requires constant upkeep and is not as simple as a magic, 1-time use formula. It contains antioxidant-rich acai berry to support the detoxification process, plus superfoods like kelp, spirulina, and chlorella that supply important minerals, fatty acids, and natural fiber to support digestive and immune health. And because it comes in the form of small capsules, it’s easy and quick to take (unlike a detox smoothie or mixture you have to make every day).
What We Like
- Daily formula for ongoing support
- Algae superfoods for trace minerals, fatty acids, natural fiber, and detox benefits
- Alfalfa to replenish supportive vitamins and minerals for the liver
What We Don't Like
- A bit pricey for ongoing use
- Limited ingredients
BUY: Detox Pure
RenewLife Cleanse Smart Advanced Total Body Program
SPECS
- Form: Capsules
- Active ingredients: Artichoke leaf extract, dandelion root extract, milk thistle seed extract, Cape Aloe leaf, LAG (larch arabinogalactan), and more.
- Recommended doses: 1-2 Morning formula capsules + 1-2 Evening formula capsules
RenewLife Advanced Total Body is a 30-day cleanse designed to promote regularity and work in harmony with your body's natural detoxification pathways to promote better well-being. The product contains two parts, a morning capsule, and an evening capsule, for around-the-clock support. The ingredient list contains herbs that support the liver and other detox organs, including milk thistle and chlorella. It also includes LAG (larch arabinogalactan), a prebiotic to support digestion.
What We Like
- 30-day program for more complete detoxing
- Clean ingredient list, free from any artificial additives or preservatives
- Complete body detox support
What We Don't Like
- Pills are larger and may be harder to swallow for some
- 30-day program may be too long for some people to follow
BUY: RenewLife Cleanse Smart Advanced Total Body Program
Designs for Health PaleoCleanse Plus
SPECS
- Form: Powder (add to water)
- Active ingredients: Bone Broth protein, antioxidants, herbs (milk thistle & more), fiber, fruit, and vegetable blend
- Recommended doses: 1 scoop (36g) mixed with 10oz water, daily
This cleansing formula is unlike others on the market because it contains 18 grams of protein which comes from bone broth—bone broth also has a variety of health benefits thanks to its gut-healing potential. And the amino acids you get from the protein are essential to phase II detoxing; without them, released toxins can get "stuck" in the body. This formula also contains an array of nutrients, fiber, herbs, antioxidants, and more to support the complete detoxification process.
What We Like
- Contains amino acids and sulfur to help toxins "escape"
- Herbs to support liver cleansing
- Supplies essential vitamins and minerals
What We Don't Like
- Pricey
- Taste isn’t for everyone
BUY: Designs for Health PaleoCleanse Plus
GNC Preventive Nutrition Complete Body Cleansing Program
SPECS
- Form: Liquid
- Active ingredients: Antioxidant Blend, Fiber blend, Japanese Seaweed blend
- Recommended doses: Drink 4 oz. of concentrate 4 times per day for 2 days
GNC has created a robust formula with a proprietary antioxidant blend that combines nearly 40 ingredients, including aloe vera gel, milk thistle seed extract, and various plant foods rich with antioxidant and cleansing properties. They've also added a fiber blend to assist in digestive movement and various sea algae and plants, such as chlorella and wakame, to provide essential minerals to support the detox system.
The catch? There is no such thing as a one- or two-day complete cleanse. Toxins accumulate over the years and it takes time to remove them safely. However, if you follow a clean diet and lifestyle, "quick fix" products such as this may offer some benefits to help your system reboot.
What We Like
- Antioxidant-rich; antioxidants are key during detox
- Some natural fibers to support digestion
- No artificial flavors
What We Don't Like
- Contains sucralose
- Contains preservatives such as potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate
- Detoxing may take much longer than 2 days
BUY: GNC Preventive Nutrition Complete Body Cleansing Program
Metagenics AdvaClear - Daily Support for Detoxification
SPECS
- Form: Capsule
- Active ingredients: Artichoke leaf extract, watercress, Taurine, Sodium Sulfate, Pomegranate, Green Tea, milk thistle
- Recommended doses: 2 capsules daily (ongoing)
If you're looking to provide ongoing support to your body, Metagenics AdvaClear is a good option. It provides many essential vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, amino acids from taurine to support phase II detox, and herbs to support the liver, like milk thistle. And because this is a daily pill you take like any other vitamin, it's like constant background support for detoxification.
What We Like
- Amino acids to support phase II detox
- Green tea is decaffeinated
- Milk thistle for liver support
What We Don't Like
- Risk of overdosing on vitamins and minerals if you're also taking a multivitamin, so check the labels
- Does not contain any fiber
BUY: Metagenics AdvaClear - Daily Support for Detoxification
What is a Detox Cleanse?
A detox cleanse is a method to assist the body's detoxification organs and tissues in removing toxins. By boosting liver function (our main detoxifier), improving digestion, and supplying key nutrients essential for the process, a good detox cleanse can help open the detoxification pathways, supporting the removal of toxins.
FAQs About Detox Cleanses
How long does it take to fully cleanse your body?
There is no magic number for a detox length. The amount of time it takes to detox depends on the number of toxins stored in your body and how well your body's detox pathways are functioning. Remember—there is no such thing as a one- or two-day complete cleanse. Toxins accumulate over the years so it takes time to remove them safely.
How often should you detox your body?
Detox frequency is individually-based on your diet and lifestyle. Rather than following strict guidelines, listen to your body and look for signals that it needs help, such as unnatural fatigue, frequent colds or illness, or new or worsening skin conditions.
The best way to reduce your need to cleanse is by avoiding as many toxins as possible through better food choices, body products, home cleaning products, and other sources of possible toxin exposure.
What foods should I avoid while detoxing?
It is imperative to eat clean while detoxing. Above all, that means no processed foods. Instead, choose whole foods and organic, wild or pasture-raised whenever possible. Be sure to include a full dose of healthy fats (think avocados, seeds, nuts, fatty fish like salmon, and olive oil) daily because fats are necessary in the detoxing process. It’s also important to try to maintain healthy eating post-detox if you want to maintain a toxin-free body.
Can I have coffee while detoxing?
Coffee is a diuretic, meaning it pulls water out of the body. Unfortunately, this is exactly the opposite of what you want during a cleanse. So skip that cup of morning joe and spring for herbal tea which supports your detoxing goals while also giving you a nice caffeine-like boost.These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.