We have created this guide to help you through the process of cleansing. We have put together general guidelines that along with the right methods, will help you to cleanse as quickly as possible, as well as supporting your health along the way. Please have a read and if you do have any further questions, ask your health practitioner or speak to one of our team here at PCI.

What to Expect?

Although everyone has different reactions when undergoing a cleanse, you may find that your energy, skin, bowel movements, emotions and concentration, to name a few, are all affected to some degree. There is no hard and fast rule, so just be aware of your body and that you may experience some temporary changes. The more you can support your overall health, the easier it will be for you.

WHAT TO CONSIDER?

Nutrition

Chew food thoroughly. The enzymes in your saliva start the digestion process.. Try and reduce your consumption of sugary foods and foods that turn into sugar quickly (high glycemic load) in the body. Breads, pastas, sweets, fizzy drinks, chocolate and alcohol are some of the key examples. Try and stick to eating meats, fish, nuts (except peanuts and pistachios), eggs, vegetables (green is the best) and limit the amount of sweet fruit (berries, green apples and citrus are the only sources recommended). Avoid preservatives; eat food as close to the state as how it was naturally created. Try and have three main meals with two snacks in between as this will help to keep your energy levels up and decrease large fluctuations of blood sugar. Do not eat red meat or hard to digest foods at night. Digestive enzymes work best from late morning to midday. Observe healthy food combinations and maintain an alkaline balance by the end of each day.

Sleep

Sleep is highly beneficial to the body. It helps to develop your energy, which can be drained once you start to cleanse. Sleep is perhaps most important for the immune system. Generally speaking, most of us require an average of 8 hours, although there are individual differences. The more good quality and quantity of sleep you get, the more the immune system is able to do its job. We find people tend to benefit most from sleeping between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am as this is more in accordance with our natural light/dark cycle.

Hydration

Water is required for every action in the body and is essential for optimal function. Although there will be individual differences based on things like your height and weight, as an average, aim to get 8-10 cups per day. Drink liquids between meals, not during your meals. Liquids will dilute your digestive enzymes.

Mental/Emotional

You may find as you cleanse that it can cause your emotions to fluctuate. So it’s a good idea to warn those closest to you that your mood may be a little up and down. This can vary from one person to another and can depend on supporting your health through good food, water and sleep can help to protect against this.

Exercise/Movement

Embarking on a cleanse can make exercise more difficult, mainly because of the impact on your energy levels. If you feel your energy is low, rather than pushing yourself through it, aim to complete low-intensity exercise and practices that can raise your energy, not expend it further. Examples include yoga, walking, a leisurely cycle or swim. A good guide is exercising to the point where you are moving, but not enough to make you too hot or sweaty and out of breath - you should be easily able to hold a conversation! Regular movement is very beneficial and should be undertaken daily for 30 minutes.

Medication/Supplementation Protocol

Whether you have been advised to use supplementation or medication to assist with your cleanse, stick to the suggested protocol as best you can. Although life can sometimes get in the way, the protocol is designed to help you. Minimize disruptions as this can mean you may have to complete it for longer and even in some cases, start again. If you find sticking to your cleanse/protocol challenging please speak to your practitioner for further support and guidance.

Observe healthy food combinations and maintain an alkaline balance by the end of each day. See the food combination chart and acid-alkaline chart