5 Easy Detoxes To Try

Detoxes. They certainly cause quite a stir, with the jury still out on whether they’re actually necessary or very helpful. But if you’re like us, you still crave one every now and then after an indulgent holiday, long weekend or just a particularly busy month at work packed with too much desk time!

If you need some new ideas to try out, here are 5 of the easiest detox approaches we know for you to experiment with, ranging from 10 days to 12 weeks. Happy cleansing!

The 1, 2, 3 Detox

Duration: 4 weeks or more

We love this detox because it has a focus on what you’re putting in, rather than what you’re taking out of your diet. It’s the simplest concept, but actually quite tough to stick to! All the 1-2-3 requires is that you eat one serve of colourful vegetables at breakfast time, two at lunch and three at dinner. One serve is roughly the size of your closed fist. It’s so simple but when you’re putting so many vegetables in, with a little protein and wholegrain carb alongside it, it’s tough to make room for too much else, which is of course the whole point!

 

The Booze Free Weekdays Detox

Duration: 1-3 months

All you have to do is commit to no booze at all between Sunday and Thursday, or Monday and Friday – your choice! And on the few days you do indulge, stick to just one glass of your favourite. Keep this one up for three months in a row and you’ll feel fresh as a daisy! Too hard? Start with just one month, you can definitely handle that 😉

 

The Greens Before Caffeine Cleanse

Duration: 10 days

There’s nothing wrong with caffeine, in fact it can be a downright healthy drink in moderation. But when coffee becomes a crutch and you get to the point where a large/strong mug full barely gives you a buzz anymore, a shake-up is in order! The idea of this simple cleanse is that for 10 days straight, you switch your morning caffeine hit for a supergreens supplement, green juice, serve of green vegetables, or low sugar green smoothie. It’s an extra serve of vegetables, vitamins, antioxidants and micronutrients, while giving your adrenals a bit of a break.

 

Eat, Stop, Eat

Duration: Up to you!

Intermittent fasting is worth experimenting with, but make sure you get professional advice before you dive into this one, as IF doesn’t work for everyone and there are a few rules you need to follow. For some people, short bouts of fasting can be a good strategy to lighten the load on your digestive system and give your body a chance to burn stored fat. We love the 16:8 method best, where you simply eat all your meals within an 8-hour window and fast for the other 16, for example you might eat your last meal at 6pm and then have breakfast the next day at 10am. Try starting with just 1-2 days per week, or if 16 hours just seems way too long, step number one is simply leaving 12 hours between dinner and breakfast, which should literally ‘break’ your ‘fast’.

 

21 Days Gluten, Dairy, Sugar & Red Meat Free

Duration: 21 days

Taking a short break from these foods can be helpful in reducing inflammation, easing bloating and clearing up your skin. It’s a simple little detox that leaves plenty of foods on the menu and is short enough to stick to like glue! Once your 21 days are up, you can slowly reintroduce each item on the list.

 

Always make sure you reach out to a health professional before starting a detox, particularly if you have any health concerns. Enjoy experimenting with different strategies and take note of what makes you feel good!