The word cleanse has become somewhat synonymous with restriction, juice- drinking and unhappiness. There’s no denying that food gives us pleasure, meal times are something we really look forward to, and that indulging can be a fun part of life. The idea of limiting your eating choices for a few days can sound really intimidating, but the focus should not be placed on limiting everything.
Our lives are completely inundated with sugar. It plagues the advertisements that are marketed to us, it’s hidden in unexpected food products like sauces, yoghurts and bread, and we regularly crave it because we know it gives us an instant energy lift.
What kind of sugar are we talking about?
Refined and processed white sugar that is;
– used in baking (cakes, cookies, brownies, etc)
– hidden in foods like sauces, dairy products, cereals, breads and hot drinks, muesli bars and other packaged snacks
– soft drinks
– lollies and chocolates
It’s not uncommon for somebody following the standard Western diet to consume up to 28 teaspoons of sugar daily. This number, in contrast to the World Health Organisation’s recommended 6 to 9 teaspoon limit, highlights the sugar disparity that’s compromising the health of people throughout the Western world.
Three sugar-cleanse commandments
1. Have an open mind
Bringing a positive mind-set to a cleanse is crucial for success! Approach this cleanse with a sense of curiosity; if you have a headache, instead of thinking “how annoying, I wish this would go away, I really don’t need this right now” consider the reasons why this is occurring.
2. Don’t take something out, without putting something else in
Following on from the above point, if you’re used to having a particular form of sugar every day, don’t expect to get away with cutting it out cold turkey!
3. It’s just three days 🙂
Remember that this cleanse is just three days in the grand scheme of your long and exciting life! It’s not forever, and you might find you feel really different in a positive way. Most of us don’t know how great we’re supposed to feel.
What can I eat?
No need to worry! We’ve put together a three-day recipe plan you can make in advance, which has been approved by a qualified nutritionist. At no point on this sugar cleanse should you feel hungry as the meals are balanced, filling and there are plenty of snack options. In fact, we’ve designed the recipes so so that you shouldn’t feel like you are missing out on anything at all.
It’s not uncommon for somebody following the standard Western diet to consume up to 28 teaspoons of sugar daily.
Bonus tips for cleanse success
Chew your food
Indigestion, reflux and malabsorption are incredibly common complaints, yet they can all be solved just by chewing food a little more consciously!
Sip water between meals
Not only does this boost hydration and improve digestion, but drinking between mealtimes ensures our digestive system has the best opportunity to break down complex starches, proteins and fats from within food, and prevents us from mindlessly snacking when we’re potentially just thirsty!
Eat your meal mindfully
When we are truly present with our food, we taste its flavours more clearly, it’s more enjoyable and we recognize the body’s natural cues for fullness and satiation.
Additional cleansing practices
Massage
An excuse to get a massage… need I say more? A massage is a great way to boost the lymphatic and circulatory system and encourages lymph and blood flow to help flush out toxins.
Dry body brushing
This is a great way to stimulate the lymphatic system and remove dead skin cells. It also results in smoother and brighter skin texture and appearance.
Yoga
Is the perfect form of movement alongside a cleanse– forget the fancy poses you’ve seen on the internet, at its core, yoga is all about unison of breath and movement.
Post-cleanse suggestions
This cleanse has been purposely designed to be really achievable and approachable – so much so, we’re hoping you’ll become a low sugar convert after trying our recipes.
Balance is key here; it can be difficult to avoid sugar entirely and is fun to treat yourself every now and then. Becoming aware of where sugar is hiding and how much you’re personally eating daily might be the main benefit for you as a result of partaking in this cleanse. There would be absolutely no harm in continuing with this pattern of eating, and taking further inspiration from the additional recipes at Nuvia products
Refined sugar-free life can still taste pretty sweet!
