The Cleanse Queen

My Go-To Reset for Healthy Living

We were at a family function a while back and began to jokingly discuss each person’s “most basic” trait. The conversation became incredibly comical and perhaps a bit offensive at times. My sister-in-law dubbed cleansing as my “most basic” attribute. We all laughed, as it is well known among my family and friends that I love a good cleanse. In fact, I recently joked with a friend that cleansing is my “sport.” I grew up in a very competitive family. Weekends revolved around sporting games, and the simplest activity at home was turned into a competition between my brothers and sister. I avoided any sporting activity, as competition gave me a stomach ache. However, I love a friendly cleanse challenge. My hidden competitive spirit comes alive when I am determined to outlast or out-fast others on the cleanse.  

I enjoy reading about new cleanses and gain total satisfaction from pushing my body in ways I haven’t done before. People cleanse for various reasons: weight loss being at the top of the list. Although cleansing has helped me get back on track after the holidays, I never cleanse to lose weight. I tried my first cleanse almost 11 years ago to help detox my body in an effort to get pregnant. I’ve done other cleanses to rid my body of infection and help with stress or fatigue. Still, I usually cleanse to reset my body and get back on track with healthy eating habits. 

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you do not need to spend money on products, mixes, shakes, supplements, etc., to cleanse your body or get the desired results. This might sound simplistic, but cleansing companies make millions from people desperately trying to lose weight or feel better. Keep it simple! A solid cleanse will require a cookbook or recipes to get you through the cleanse duration. Aside from this small purchase, you should only have to buy groceries to get through the process.  

 

My Two Go-To Cleanses: The Clarity Cleanse and Intuitive Fasting

 

The Clarity Cleanse is a book and cleanse written by my doctor, Dr. Habib Sadeghi. He gave me this book because I was experiencing some gut health issues caused by stress and inflammation. The book is an easy read, and you can always skip to the cleanse section and go from there. There is a 5 and 10-day version of the cleanse. I have done both. I would definitely start with the 10-day cleanse and then use the 5-day version every few months to reset your system.

 

What I Love About The Clarity Cleanse:

1. Food! You’re eating real food, and the recommended recipes taste good (for the most part). The recipes are designed in Goop’s kitchen (think Gwyneth Paltrow), so most recipes are pretty tasty! 
2. Simplicity! The permitted foods are limited, making grocery shopping and meal prep super simple! The recipes are easy and quick!  
3. Results! The results are undeniable! I felt less bloated and more centered by day 5. I had more energy by day 10 and felt more focused as I finished the cleanse. The results were long-lasting (including flatter abs due to the decreased bloating). I continued eating pretty healthy, and the results lasted for months.   

 

What is Intimidating About The Clarity Cleanse:

1. Reading. Some people don’t like to read, so this cleanse may be unappealing. Personally, I would read the entire book. It gives you ways to physically AND mentally cleanse. However, don’t be intimidated by the book. Again, you can skip the other content and only read the pages dedicated to the cleanse.  The cleanse is thoroughly explained and is very easy to follow.   
2. Sardines! Yes, sardines are highly recommended in this cleanse. This was almost a deal-breaker for me.  I’m glad I went through with it because I’ve repeated this cleanse multiple times and gotten excellent results. Dr. Sadeghi explains the benefits of sardines (one being eye health, which is something I was struggling with as I continued getting styes every 4-6 weeks). The sardines are fishy, but you can barely taste them when mixed with rice, tamari, and other veggies. It is worth a try!
3. 24-Hour Fast. One full day is spent fasting. You drink a lot of lemon water, and that’s it. This certainly wasn’t easy. I made a significant rookie error the first time I did this cleanse. My fasting day fell on Super Bowl Sunday. I was pretty hungry by the evening and was surrounded by temptation. I made it through the day, and it wasn’t too bad. I was happy to wake up the following day and eat breakfast. I found the 24-hour fast increased my energy and mental clarity.    

Intuitive Fasting by Will Cole is a phenomenal book and an incredible cleanse. My sister-in-law recommended it to me last year. I read the book, which gives the cleanser a backstory about why you are fasting for a set amount of time each week. You are getting an in-depth medical perspective on what certain foods do to our bodies. He then provides you with a comprehensive meal plan (with recipes) for the entire 28-day cleanse. This particular cleanse is the best reset I’ve ever done. I’ve continued incorporating countless aspects of the cleanse into my daily routine for the last 18 months.  

 

What I Love about Intuitive Fasting:

1. The Recipes! I still use these recipes each week when cooking for my family because they are all fantastic! The recipes are listed for each meal, so there is absolutely no guesswork along the way. The recipes are interchangeable, so you don’t have to make any unappealing items. Simply choose which recipes you want to make, and you’ll likely discover several new weeknight favorites!
2. Energy! I take supplements for my vitamin D and iron, as I am always low in both. This results in afternoon fatigue. My energy went through the roof during week 3. I felt like a toddler! My energy levels stayed high for several months.  
3. Sleep! I was sleeping better by week 2. I was not as restless during the night and typically slept through the night and woke up feeling well-rested. This alone was worth the sacrifice!
4. The physical results were a huge bonus as well. My stomach was flatter because I was no longer bloated. I felt more toned and had more energy during my workouts. 
5. My mood improved significantly. I noticed a shift in my mood by the end of week two. I had more patience, felt calmer during stressful situations, and felt my bandwidth expanded significantly during the cleanse.  
6. Long-lasting results are undeniable. Yes, reintroducing alcohol and sugary foods will interfere with long-term results. However, my results lasted for months. I continue to see improvements in my mood, sleep, and energy levels when I stick to these recipes for long periods. The lessons learned during this cleanse are simple to incorporate into your daily life, which is why this is my favorite cleanse!

What is Intimidating About Intuitive Fasting:

1. Time! The Cleanse lasts for 28 days. This can be a challenging selling point if you’re like me and enjoy wine or a cocktail on the weekends! The first weekend is rough. I miss my wine every time I do a cleanse, but it really does get easier. The cravings subside by week two, and four weeks pass by quicker than you think! The results are worth the sacrifice!
2. Reading (again)! I recommend listening to this book rather than reading it. However, you will want the hard copy to take notes and for the recipes/guidelines. I listened to the book in a week’s time. I processed the information better this way. This cleanse is different because you gain an overwhelming amount of knowledge about your body, foods, medicine, and longevity. This cleanse provides life-changing results. Therefore, I wouldn’t let a little reading stand in the way of reaching goals.
3. Fasting! I was new to fasting and had no interest in the trendy intermittent fasting fads all over the internet. This is another reason why reading this book is so important. Dr. Will Cole talks about the dangerous trends and the right/wrong ways to fast. You eat many different foods during this cleanse, and you don’t feel hungry. In fact, I usually ate more than was “recommended” after more intense workouts. I wasn’t interested in losing weight or being unhealthy, so I ate until I was content. I still incorporate fasting into my weekly schedule. I fast anywhere from 12-20 hours, depending on the day of the week. I have found this increases my energy and focus.  

Cleanses I’ve Tried and Don’t Love: Owl Venice and Arbonne’s 30 Days to Healthy Living

 

Owl Venice is a cleanse I had wanted to do for a long time. I talked Andrew into trying it with me in January to reset our minds and bodies after the Holidays. This cleanse can be done as a 4, 6, or 8-day cleanse. We chose the 6-day cleanse and it felt like the longest 6 days of our lives!  

 

What We Didn’t Love About Owl Venice:

• The Taste! The shakes taste pretty awful! I have eaten sardines and other crazy foods while cleansing. I am willing to sacrifice taste, but this seemed to go too far. They have great reviews, and a lot of people love this cleanse. I am not one of them! The shakes were unpleasant, and I never felt full. You were allowed to eat certain foods, but I felt as if I was relying too much on the foods and not enough on the shakes for my nutrition.

• Pricey! It was very expensive. We opted for the Organic package and paid almost $400 per person. That’s over $20 per shake or bone broth beverage. A smoothie or fresh juice from Erewhon Market or our local organic juicer is a more appealing option and is far more cost-effective.  

• Lacking Results! The results were limiting. I did notice less bloating, but that was it. Perhaps 6 days isn’t long enough. I did not see a difference in my energy or mood. We couldn’t point to any amazing results that would encourage us to do this again. 

 

It’s Not All Bad:

1. The broths were decent. I think homemade broth or broth from an organic grocer tastes better, but the broths were doable and a pleasant way to start my morning.  
2. The matcha shake was an excellent caffeine replacement. Andrew is a coffee drinker. He experienced withdrawals while on the cleanse. He had headaches and felt sick each day. I drink caffeinated tea each morning, and I did not experience any symptoms while on the cleanse.  

Arbonne’s 30 Days to Healthy Living:  This will be wildly unpopular, as I have several awesome friends who sell Arbonne. To be fair, Arbonne’s cleanse was the very first cleanse I tried just over 11 years ago, and the results were fantastic. I have two simple reasons why I refuse to do the Arbonne cleanse: cost and conventional ingredients.

 

What I Don’t Love About Arbonne’s 30 Days to Healthy Living:

• Products! The cleanse is built on fantastic principles of healthy living. The food plan is spot on for weight loss or regulation and will likely lead to several wonderful benefits. However, the products are unnecessary to achieve those results. Now, I’m not a doctor or nutritionist. I’m simply speaking in practical terms and from the perspective of a woman who has tried multiple cleanses (most under a doctor’s supervision). Your body cleanses on its own when you eat specific foods, or better yet…when you avoid certain foods/drinks. Arbonne sells fiber powder, detox tea, protein powder, superfood greens, etc. You will spend over $500 on the products alone. I take issue with the overall cost. I don’t care to argue the importance of each product. Doctors or nutritionists can recommend a probiotic for you to take daily. You can find higher-quality detox teas at an organic grocer. You can use these products while eating healthy and save yourself hundreds of dollars. 

• Ingredients!  Although many Arbonne representatives will tell you their products are non-GMO and Organic, they are not. Some products are non-GMO, but not all. Perhaps they have some organic ingredients, but their cleanse products are not 100% Organic. Maybe this isn’t a deal-breaker for you, but it is definitely a deal-breaker for me! I try to purchase all organic and non-GMO products, especially when on a cleanse. It is essential to pay attention to what you are putting in your body if cleaning is your intention.

• Too Much! Too many products can be overwhelming. I prefer to keep it simple. Give me a book, some recipes, and guidelines. Everyone is different, but I don’t want to take multiple supplements, teas, fizz sticks, and protein powders throughout my day. I prefer to eat three healthy meals each day and take vitamins when necessary.  

 

It’s Not All Bad

• Foods! The food plan is ideal for cleansing. You avoid foods often listed as “off-limits” during a cleanse: gluten, dairy, soy, alcohol, coffee, etc. Anyone who avoids these foods for 30 days will get results. I tried the Arbonne cleanse and used all their recommended products many years ago. I’ve repeated this cleanse over a dozen times. However, I never used their products while repeating the cleanse. I simply avoided those foods and got the same results. You can save yourself over $500 by simply cleaning up your diet!

• Results! You will get results. Suppose you stick to their 30-day plan (with or without the products). You will likely have increased energy because you aren’t drinking alcohol and cut out sugar.  You may experience less brain fog, and lose weight if needed because you ate clean for 30 days. 

 

I’ve tried other quick cleanses and experimented with juice cleanses (not a fan!). A cleanse is the perfect way to start anew. Again, it doesn’t need to be about weight loss. It could be about cravings, unhealthy choices, or overwhelming exhaustion. There are countless reasons to try a cleanse. However, a cleanse should not cost hundreds of dollars.  The most effective cleanses are often the ones that require a book and groceries. I like to chat with my doctor before starting something that will last more than a week. My doctor thinks outside the box and encourages a healthy, organic lifestyle. 

I encourage my friends and family members to try the Clarity Cleanse and Intuitive Fasting. The fantastic results are worth the sacrifice. Challenging friends, family members, or partners to join the cleanse will help with accountability and create a support system. This can also turn the cleanse into a friendly competition, which inevitably leads to optimal results!