Hooray! I am now officially finished with the 30-day cleanse, how are you coming along? Some have reported a nice amount of weight loss, new energy and a break of food or caffeine addiction – I’m thrilled!!
An important phase of cleansing is the “breaking the cleanse” period. Hopefully by now you have been accustomed to eating in a healthier way, have broken addictions to sugar and caffeine and your system is rejoicing – but you are probably wondering, “Can I resume eating dairy, gluten and sugar immediately following the cleanse?”
Immediately following the cleanse, you want to continue drinking ample amounts of pure water and eating many of the same healthy veggies and fruits found on the cleansing program (see blog entry Shopping List). One of the reasons I enjoy the longer cleanse is that the period of time being free of sugar, gluten and dairy helps break the cycle of food addiction. This is a great opportunity to practice the “elimination” diet, but in reverse. In other words, after a few days of breaking the cran-water protocol, you may introduce one of the forbidden food groups, i.e. dairy, into your diet – slowly. Only adding one of the forbidden foods at a time will allow you to notice what affect that food has on your body. If, after a week or so, you seem to be adjusting to dairy well, enjoy it moderately and then add one of the other food groups like gluten. In doing this, you should notice right away any allergies or affects from each group. Give it time and be aware. After reintroducing dairy, are you getting headaches? Do you feel stuffed up or notice sinus problems? How are your bowels and/or energy levels? Ask these questions after slowly reintroducing the foods. Some people (myself included) have opted to go with a gluten-free/low gluten diet as my stomach and elimination organs seem to operate at a higher level without all that gluten!
Exit the cleanse as you started – with great awareness, commitment and desire for a healthy and rejuvenated body! There’s only positive to be had with a diet full of healthy fats, proteins and natural carbs from veggies and fruits with a few clean grains “on-the-side”!