Wellness Detoxing in the Summer

Summer is here, and for many of us, this means a vacation from work or school, and travel. I like to think of summer as a reset time for my body, mind, and spirit, to replenish my energy for the season ahead. Each year, I make it a point to have some kind of immersive, healing experience, such as a spiritual retreat or a 10-day silent meditation. There are plenty of ways to take a wellness vacation, but one thing I always make sure to include is a detox or cleanse.

The wonders of juice cleansing in the summer

I find summer the best time to cleanse. For one thing, it already feels more natural to eat light during the hotter weather. Secondly, nature makes it easier for us with a seasonal abundance of fruits and vegetables. Whatever our lifestyle, we are more fully supported to eat healthier food and drink lots of fresh juices during the summer months.

It’s easy to lose sight of how to nurture ourselves when we’re so caught up in working hard or taking care of others. We may begin to take shortcuts with our health and develop poor eating and drinking habits that can become addictive. We all have the option to dedicate time during the summer to resetting our bodies and jumpstarting healthier habits. Ridding our systems of accumulated toxins is a great way to set ourselves up for a fresh start in the fall.

What to expect when you cleanse

When you stop eating things like processed foods, sugar, or excess animal products, your body will kick into a more naturally energized state. Depending on how unbalanced your body is, it might take days or weeks of detoxing to reach a point of equilibrium, but once you do, you’ll feel so much better. You may notice that your skin clears up and your mood and energy improve. If you go on a completely liquid diet, you will probably even lose a few pounds. All of these things are bound to help you make some positive, lasting changes for yourself.

Super detoxing recommendations

Detoxing assumes you’re doing something intense over a specific period of time. You may choose to do this on your own, with a partner or group, or at a supervised facility — there are many available options. Here are a few different things I can recommend that have worked well for me over the years:

1. Blessed Herbs Colon Cleanse – This is one of my favorite, at-home cleanses. It’s not too expensive, lasts for nine days (can be adapted for longer), and includes a mix of herbs and supplements that not only pull toxins from your system, but also help to promote regular digestion. Combine this with organic, fresh juice for extra nutrition.
2. Juice Cleanse – Even without the herbs, a juice cleanse can be a super powerful way to get a fresh start. I like Juice Press. Although primarily based in NYC, they do have locations in six other major cities, with more on the way. They even offer their own customizable daily cleanse. Fresh juices offer your body plenty of nutrients while helping to flush out toxins.
3. Wellness Retreats – If you really want to maximize the detox experience, and you have the resources to go away, a wellness retreat is a fantastic option. Some of my favorites include The Ranch Malibu in California, Optimum Health Institute (OHI) in either Austin, TX or San Diego, CA, or Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, FL. The Ranch offers massage and fitness activities like hiking, in addition to healthy food. Both OHI and Hippocrates are well suited to addressing serious health conditions — of the two, OHI is more affordable.

Maintaining the benefits of a summer cleanse

Regardless of whether you decide to do a complete juice fast or go on a plant based cleanse, use the break time to learn what your body needs, and see if you can maintain the changes for a longer period of time. If you like the way you feel when you cut out certain foods, then try staying away from them as much as possible. In any case, your body will appreciate an improved diet consisting primarily of plant based whole foods.

The main thing is to use these yearly re-set times to enhance, invigorate, and deepen your awareness of what you need in your self-care process. We all face the pressures of a culture that is obsessed with consumption. When you empty yourself periodically, it can help you to stay young, ward off illness, and have more energy overall. More importantly, it gives you an opportunity for self-reflection that can help you discover a new lease on life. And who can say no to that?