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10 tips for your 7 DAYS OF ME Cleanse week
- Include a range of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables such as capsicum, carrots, tomatoes, beetroot, watercress, berries, papaya and melon. These contain high quantities of beneficial anti-oxidants such as vitamin c, e, beta-carotene and phytonutrients to protect and support your liver.
- Your liver needs adequate levels of b vitamins, selenium, zinc and glutathione (an important anti-oxidant). Brown rice is a good source of b vitamins and zinc, while garlic, watermelon, papaya, avocado and mushrooms all increase levels of glutathione.
- Garlic, onions, eggs and watercress all contain sulphur, which assist liver function.
- Members of the brassica family, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale, are very helpful for cleansing.
- Ensure you get enough rest during the detoxification period. Rest and relaxation help the liver by eliminating the need to detoxify stress hormones.
- Don’t do any taxing exercises that promote the secretion of stress hormones. Instead, it’s a great time to replace high impact exercise with rebalancing, breath-based exercises, like yoga or pilates. Gentle walking is also a good option to stimulate the lymphatic system but not overtax your body.
- Don’t burn the candle at both ends! And importantly, try to be in bed asleep by 10pm. Your liver begins its daily washing cycle between 10pm and 2am (a bit like a cleaner that comes in every evening), so it’s the best time to let your body rest
and recover. - Don’t drink fluids with meals to avoid diluting your digestive juices.
- Don’t skip your morning or afternoon tea or go hungry. Eating regularly helps keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout the day and avoids cravings.
- During your cleanse week these are the foods that should be avoided: Bread, wheat-based cereals, pasta, flour, noodles, couscous, cakes and biscuits, fizzy drinks, red meat, fried foods, caffeine, coffee, cakes, biscuits and confectionery, alcohol, processed foods with artificial additives, nuts (these can be hard to digest).
