Cleansing or detoxing is a great way to boost your health and restore balance to your body. It gives your body an opportunity to reset and heal itself. Even if you lead a healthy lifestyle, you will still be exposed to toxic substances in your everyday life, such as pollution, chemicals, and stress. Juice or water fasting can help your body to flush out these toxins and it also cleanses the liver.

A detox can boost your energy levels, reduce free radical damage, and improve health conditions. It can also give you the motivation you need to make other positive changes for your health such as increasing your exercise or giving up alcohol or smoking.

Here are some handy hints to support you through your detox:

• Prepare your body – if you’ve been engaging in unhealthy lifestyle choices, it can be difficult to go straight into a fast and your body may experience severe side effects. Ease your body into it by increasing your water intake and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables in the week leading up to your fast.
• Make a plan – pick a date for your detox and schedule it in. Organise everything you need before you begin. This could include preparing some juice recipes if you’re doing a juice fast or removing unhealthy snacks from your pantry. Ensure you have someone who can care for you through the fast. We recommend consulting a naturopath who can support and guide you through the process.
• Drink lots of water – it’s so important to stay hydrated during a detox. Your body will need more fluids as it cleanses itself. Drinking water can also help you overcome your hunger.
• Be kind to yourself – listen to your body and take care of yourself. Reducing your stress levels can make for a more pleasant and effective fast. Do things to nurture yourself, such as meditation and gentle movement. People often find they are quite tired in the first few days of a fast so allow yourself to rest and take a nap if you need to.