With summer almost here, you’re probably starting to pull out your bathing suits and other warm-weather gear (if you haven’t already). And you’re probably also starting to think about the goals you have in the next few weeks to get your body (and health habits) where you want them to be… just in time for beaches, fun and sun.
The bottom line is, it’s the perfect time for a full-body detox cleanse – to reset your system, boost your metabolism and kick nasty toxins to the curb. A good natural detox cleanse can leave you feeling totally rejuvenated and energized. Which is exactly how you want to feel at the kick off of the summer season!
Not to mention, it can even help you get a head start on your weight loss goals. That’s because a detox cleanse and weight loss go hand-in-hand. The cleanse helps put your body into fat-burning mode, which can also help prevent future gain.
4 Proven Tools to Kick Off Your Summer Detox Cleanse
Meal Replacement Shakes
The best meal replacement shakes are your golden ticket to delicious nutrition on-the-go. Many of these shakes are also completely plant-based, helping you reach daily protein goals while keeping your saturated fat content low. Meal replacement shakes can be used with many different types of dietary plans but are also the perfect sidekick for a long-term healthy lifestyle.
How to Use Shakes as Part of a Detox Cleanse Diet: Cleaning up your diet to get rid of processed foods and sugar is one of the most effective ways to detox your body. Many meal replacement shakes contain little to no sugar, and are meant to be consumed in place of a meal. This helps you avoid all the unhealthy foods you would normally choose instead!
Have a meal replacement shake in place of 1-2 of your regular meals. Since many are low in calories, feel free to blend up healthy smoothies including lots of fresh veggies. You can also include antioxidant-packed fruits like berries, along with other nutritious ingredients.
Detox Teas
Though detox cleanse drinks like detox teas are very popular right now, you have to be very careful with the type you choose. The bottom line is, you want a healthy lifestyle tea that’s safe to use continuously. What you don’t want is a detox weight loss tea that you can only use for a predetermined amount of time. This is because these “diet teas” usually contain harsh laxatives or force you to skip meals. Instead, you want naturally energizing ingredients.
How to Use Detox Teas as Part of a Detox Cleanse: Look for a detox tea that contains naturally detoxifying herbs, like green tea, oolong tea, and guarana. These can help to boost your metabolism and flush impurities out of your system. In addition, herbs like rooibos and yerba mate help to suppress appetite and enhance satiety.
Enjoy a hot or cold cup of detox tea in between meals or in place of a snack 1-3 times per day. While premeasured tea bags are best for busy schedules and taking on-the-go, loose leaf detox teas provide a richer, more dense flavor.
Green Juices
Two of the most important aspects of a detox cleanse are an abundance of nutrients and extra fiber – two things you’ll get easily in a green superfood juice. The best part about these juices is that your body receives the nutrients immediately, since they don’t have to be broken down in the digestive system like regular foods. This means a rush of natural energy for you, and the elimination of toxins as they’re flushed out of your system.
How to Use Green Juices as Part of a Natural Detox Cleanse: Save time and money with a green juice powder that you can easily mix into water or another beverage. Look for a juice that’s low in calories, with no sugar. It should also contain a wide variety of fruits, veggies, digestive enzymes, probiotics and more.
Add 1 scoop of green juice powder into a beverage of your choice 1-3 times per day. Or, add the juice powder to a blender with more healthy ingredients to create a delicious smoothie.
Apple Cider Vinegar
One of the hottest health products available right now to use as part of a weight loss detox cleanse and more is apple cider vinegar (ACV). The vinegar naturally promotes fullness, helping you stay away from toxin-filled processed foods and make healthier eating choices. It also helps eliminate bad bacteria in your gut and nourish good, healthy bacteria that promotes good digestion.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar on a Detox Cleanse Diet: While many people take shots or drinks of ACV straight, this can actually burn your digestive tract – plus it tastes horrible. Instead, a smarter way is to add apple cider vinegar to your meals, like in a salad dressing. Another option is to take apple cider vinegar pills, for convenience and no side effects.
Take 1 apple cider vinegar capsule 1-2 times per day with food/water. Or, add apple cider vinegar to your meals. You can also dilute 1-2 tablespoons of ACV in a glass of water.
What Else Should You Do While You’re Detoxing
While utilizing the above detox cleanse tools during your 7-day summer cleanse, there are also additional steps you can take to maximize your success:
- Clean up your diet – Food can truly be used as medicine. And it can also be used to help effectively detox your system. Stay away from saturated fats, processed foods, sugar and refined carbs. Instead, eat fresh organic fruits and veggies liberally. Also focus on fatty fish like salmon for omega 3s, and lean protein to help rev up your metabolism and fat-burning processes.
- Hydrate and purify – You don’t have to drink just water, but you do have to consume lots of hydrating beverages throughout the day. Other options include infused waters with fruits and herbs, healthy sugar-free lemonades and more. You can also consider caffeine free detox teas and green juices as part of your daily hydration. And this will help to flush out toxins and keep your digestive system going strong.
- Move, daily! – If you don’t have time for weekly workouts, the best place to start is just to do something daily – anything that gets you to move. Take the stairs at work, go for a walk during your lunch break, or run around with your children at home. Gradually, increase the amount of time you spend doing these things to help increase your daily movement.
Catch your zzz’s – You can only go so far for so long before you’re ready to crash. Instead of waiting until you reach the end of your rope, plan set bedtimes and wake times and stick to them. By setting a schedule, you’ll likely fall asleep easier and wake up feeling refreshed.
Ready… Set… Detox!
Ready to start your summer detox cleanse?! With some simple tools and healthy lifestyle practices, you’ll be well on your way to a thoroughly detoxified body for summer! But don’t just stop there. By using the solutions above all summer long, you can stay strong and healthy in the face of temptation (like poolside cocktails and backyard BBQs).
For help finding the best meal replacement shake for you, check out our in-depth reviews on some of the best brands available right now!
