Nadine Dilong Let’s get healthy together!
It’s a tale as old as time – wellness and aesthetic practitioners spend so much time caring for their patients’ wellbeing that they forget about their own health. Long days and the never-ending juggle between work, family, friends, exercise, and oh so many chores leave little room for prioritising their own wellbeing, which is probably one of the reasons we’ve noticed a trend that we love to support lately: Healthy food or juice cleanses as a team-bonding exercise.
Sure, it’s fun to have a night out or a lavish lunch as a team, but if you’re looking for something to do in between those big team events that will not only support your team’s health, but also improve morale and offer an experience they can share, a cleanse is such a great option!
We’ve seen some teams post about starting 3-day juice cleanses together on social media, and loved seeing how supportive and encouraging they were to one another. Of course, not everyone might enjoy going on a cleanse and some people may not be suitable for one either, so make sure you check in with your team before committing to a group cleanse.
Another great benefit of a cleanse is the talking point it offers with your patients. There is no doubt that a healthy diet is important when it comes to skin health, or even getting your body ready for surgical procedures, so often talking about nutrition is crucial.
Team SPACLINIC recently tried a 3-day cleanse through Sol Cleanse, an organic cleanse program that prepares their organic meals and juices in kitchens on the Gold Coast, in Sydney, and Melbourne, and offers different options for different needs. As cleansing with juices only is not everyone’s cup of tea, Sol Cleanse also offers an organic food cleanse, which includes meals like soups, risottos and salads.
We talked to Sol Cleanse’s in-house Clinical Nutritionist to learn more about the benefits of these ‘food resets’.
Is a cleanse beneficial for everyone, even if you consider your diet healthy?
Generally speaking most people can benefit from a cleanse. However, health is not a one size fits all approach and you should investigate the reasons why you feel like you need to cleanse in the first place. For example, after periods of overindulgence or consuming unhealthy foods, it may be beneficial to undergo a short term cleanse as a way to reset poor eating habits and jumpstart healthier behaviors. Or perhaps you eat a healthy balanced diet but still experience digestive symptoms such as bloating and constipation. Some people may find relief temporarily from symptoms by undergoing a gentle cleanse focused on supporting gut health.
What exactly happens in our bodies during a cleanse and what are some positive side effects you might notice?
Detoxing has roots in many traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. Certain dietary, herbal and lifestyle practices eliminate toxins from the body and provide nutrients and nourishment to support these processes. Detoxification differs from these ancient practices as this refers to the natural removal of toxins from the body that is continuously happening in our body through the functions of the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal and lymphatic systems.
Detoxing, cleansing or a detoxification program reduces the body’s workload by lowering foods and practices that increase our toxic load whilst providing nutrients and methods that support the processes of the body’s detoxification pathways.
Are there positive mental effects?
People have reported feeling mentally clearer, more energised and experienced improvements in mood during and after a juice cleanse. This will of course vary from person to person and is dependent on how heavy their toxin burden is. The higher the toxin burden is in your body, generally the more intense your symptoms can be from the body’s natural process of detoxifying. This is normal and not to be feared! Nonetheless, finishing a cleanse can provide positive motivation for people to kickstart healthier habits and recommit to a balanced diet.
How often should you ideally do a cleanse?
Every person is different with a different body type and different lifestyle. It depends on what feels right for you. Some prefer to do one 5 day cleanse every 6 months to a year. Some prefer to cleanse at the change of the seasons while others prefer to cleanse once a month. Listen to your body, experiment and determine what works best for you.
The duration of your juice cleanse depends on your personal goals and comfort level. Beginners often start with a one or three-day cleanse to ease into the process. For those more experienced or seeking deeper detoxification and a more profound reset, a five-day cleanse might be the perfect fit. Listen to your body, and don’t hesitate to reach out during your cleanse if you’re needing any extra support from the team.
How important is it for the cleanse to use organic food and why?
We believe it’s extremely important for a number of reasons. Organic foods are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. Studies have shown that consuming organic foods can significantly reduce exposure to pesticide residues in the body, which is vital when undergoing a cleanse. Organic fruits and vegetables may also have higher levels of certain nutrients compared to conventionally grown produce. Organic crops have been found to have higher concentrations of antioxidants and lower levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, compared to conventionally grown crops.
Lastly, organic farming practices prioritise environmental sustainability by promoting soil health, biodiversity and natural resource conservation. Organic farming methods typically involve the use of composting, crop rotation and biological pest control to minimise environmental impact. By choosing organic foods during a cleanse, people are supporting these sustainable farming practices and contributing to a healthier planet.
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