How to Detox on a 3 Day Ayurvedic Cleanse
Do you ever wake up from a nice long sleep feeling slightly off and fatigued throughout the day? Do you currently suffer from digestive issues? All of these symptoms are your bodyās way of communicating to you that it needs a cleanse so your gut can heal and reset itself to provide you with optimal health and energy.
The reason I decided to attempt the ayurvedic cleanse is that I was constantly getting stomach cramps. Like most people eating is a satisfying experience for me and so to have that taken away from me because of the pain I was experiencing I had to make a change ASAP. The purpose of cleansing is to eliminate the toxins and parasites that are stored in your body. Toxins can cause disease which is why it is important to eliminate them from your body.Ā
What is the purpose of an Ayurvedic Cleanse?
An ayurvedic cleanse is not just about nourishing your body, it is also about nourishing your mind and nourishing your soul. This is why an ayurvedic cleanse is my preferred method, it is not just about the body, in Ayurveda, they treat everything as one because of the belief that everything is connected. Therefore not only do you release toxins and replenish your body but you also release negative energy and improve your mental health during the cleanse.
When you eat processed foods that cause toxins you deplete your digestive fire in Sanskrit it means Agni, your Agni influences your health and so your digestive fire needs to be balanced. While the cleanse will reset your digestive fire, knowing your Dosha will help you maintain a healthy gut by eating foods that are recommended for your Dosha. Dosha is your mind-body type that is related to your physiology, digestion, metabolism and personality. I have taken a Dosha Quiz via Eat Feel Fresh and I discover my Dosha is Vata-Kapha.
Disclaimer: If you a pregnant, breastfeeding, on your menstrual cycle, or recovering from an illness it is best to not do this cleanse.
Preparing for your 3-Day Cleanse
Before you begin your ayurvedic cleanse I recommend that you allow yourself a few days to prepare for it. You need to mentally prepare for it, the hardest part of the cleanse will be resisting your cravings, to mentally prepare for the cleanse remind yourself why you are doing it, visualise the process foods you crave as poison to do the body ( this may be extreme but it works and it is very true that is why they produce toxins) meditate the night before your cleanse to commit to the cleanse.
Before you begin the cleanse you need to simplify your diet avoid eating processed foods, avoid eating meat as it is difficult for your gut to digest. You need to be eating foods that are easy to digest such as fruit, veggies and legumes.Youāre probably wondering what does this cleanse consist of what will I be drinking. The good news is that is not a juice cleanse you can eat. You will be eating 2 meals a day, Stewed Apples or Oatmeal for breakfast and Kitchari for lunch or dinner along with herbal teas.Ā
To prepare you will need to write a grocery list:Ā
yellow mung daal (lentils)
Veggies; Carrots, Zucchini, Green Beans, Courgette, Sweet Potato, Squash
Vegan butter or coconut oil
Cumin seeds & Mustard seeds
CCF tea (cumin, coriander, fennel seeds)& Green Tea
Starting your Active Cleanse
During your morning active cleanse you need to start with a self-care routine, begin with a morning meditation or prayer the point of this is to exhale the negatives you are facing in life and inhale all the positives in your life, this practice strengthens your mental state and releases anxiety and stress. Treat emotional cleansing with compassion and love, self-care is about loving yourself and being kind to yourself.
After your meditation, you should practice an Ayurvedic dental technique called Oil Pulling you should do this before you brush your teeth. This part of the cleanse seemed weird to me at first but the way I look at it is it canāt hurt me and it beneficial to me so why not? Oil pulling involves putting a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swishing it around for 10 to 20 minutes. The vitamin E in the coconut oil has antibacterial properties and it is also an antioxidant, the process of oil pulling improves oral health and overall health.Ā
Next, the self-care cleanse is dry brushing before your shower, use a body brush and brush your skin in downwards in a circular motion. Not online does this remove dead skin cells but the point of dry brushing is that it promotes lymphatic drainage, lymphatic drainage cleanses the body by draining excess mucus in the body, it also supports natural detoxification and promotes a healthy metabolism.Ā
Now itās breakfast time! For breakfast, you can choose between spiced stewed apples or oatmeal, the links for the recipes will be down below. It is important to eat a simple diet to make digestion as easy as possible, to encouraging releasing waste and toxins faster. Make sure throughout your day that you drink 8 - 12 glasses of warm or hot fluids which keeps you hydrated and helps to flush out toxins.
Stewed Apple Recipe here.
Late lunchtime! Or dinner time it is totally up to you as long as you stop eating before 6 pm the reason for this is that your digestive system needs rest to heal itself. For lunch/dinner you will kitchari because it will feel you up and is easy for your body to digest and it tastes yummy. I found a lovely recipe for you on Radhi Delukiaās conscious cooking site here.
Rest is so important for this cleanse, it not just about resting your body it is also about resting your mind as it is just as important. While on your 3-day cleanse it is important to surround yourself by things and people who are uplifting and watch things that uplift and nourish your soul. Incorporate low-intensity exercise like Yoga which is the sister science to Ayurveda.
Once the cleanse is over donāt jump back into old habits, gently return to your normal life and keep your cleansed body protected by avoiding the junk food and foods high in sugar. How you reintroduce foods will determine the success of the cleanse.Ā
āLet food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food.ā - Hippocrates