How often should I do detox (colon cleanse)?

I would assume many of my blog readers wants to know how often should detox be done annually. I found one particular article on the net which I agree on. However, I've edited the contents slightly to cater the general public.

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source link of article:
http://www.colonsource.com/how_often.html

How Often Should I Cleanse My Colon?

This is best answered by listening to your body. Ultimately you are the best judge of your needs and if you intuitively feel now is the time for you to cleanse, then do so. That said, there are general minimum and maximum guidelines. What determines how often you cleanse is the state of your health and whether you have ever done any cleansing before. Those who are not in the best of health and/or have never cleansed before, will find they need to cleanse more frequently for the first 2–3 years and then return to a yearly or twice yearly maintenance program of cleansing.

Minimum

- once a year

or

- once in first half of the year (Jan to June) and once in second half of the year (July to Dec).

Maximum

- done once every 2 to 3 months, followed by alternating periods of a rebuilding diet/program. Please consult your healthcare provider if you elect to choose this more intensive path of cleansing.

For those who work as : Painters/Plasterers, Industrial Manufacturing, Beautificians, Landscapers/Farmers; they are recommended to cleanse 4 times a year due to higher levels of toxin exposure.

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How to Sustain Your Health Improvements

Colon Cleansing (Detox) can lead to many different health benefits – but remember that sustaining your benefits requires an ongoing personal commitment to improve your eating habits and lifestyles.

Five Keys to Ongoing Health
- Maintain a healthy digestive system
- Maintain regular elimination (daily!)
- Be sure to get sufficient, restful sleep
- Detox your whole body, at least once a year to reduce the effects of exposure to internal and external toxins
- Eliminate or reduce exposure to toxins

Key Diet and Lifestyle Changes That We’ve Found to be Universally Effective
- Answer nature’s call immediately – never suppress the urge for a bowel movement.
- Consume 20–25 grams of dietary fiber daily.
- Drink lots of pure, filtered water each day.
- Water is beneficial for many reasons, however it is essential to drink plenty of water when using fiber supplements to help reduce constipation and abdominal cramps.
- Choose to eat more organic, non-processed whole foods and eat leass processed food.
- Have 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil or 2 teaspoon of Psyllium Husk daily.
- Take nutritional supplement (multivitamins) daily.
- Include a small portion of cultured or fermented food (e.g yogurt, lassi) with every meal.
- Maintain good dental health – and chew your food well!
- Exercise moderately – everyday.
- Avoid or reduce consumption of common toxins (tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, sugar).
- Repeat your herbal colon cleansing 1–2 times every year.
- Keep a positive outlook…enjoy life!

How many shakes should I consume during liquid detox?

Q: hi. I'm sarah. Regarding detox, you mentioned in your blog that we have to consume shake 5 times but in your diary, you only took it 3 times. which one to follow? Thanks.~ source link

A: it depends on what u need. are u ok with just 3 shakes? if u need more.. take more than 3 shakes. u don't need to follow what i do.

the reason why i only took 3 shakes, is bcoz 3 shakes is enough to keep me full. pls adjust to ur needs.

keep in mind that..
- i did my detox after my Day 290-ish, so i am used to taking low calorie meals, so my body won't feel that hungry when doing liquid detox.
* if u're still a beginner in HL, 3 shakes might not enough for detox... feel free to take more than 3 shakes.
- my shakes is double amount.. i always put 3 to 4 scps of F1 per shakes mixed with 400 ml of liquid. so instead of a 90 cals per shakes, mine is 180 cals per shakes.

u can go as high as 1200 calories or more..

let say...
4 F1 + 2 F3 + 400 ml plain water = 220 calories
1200 / 220 = 5 to 6 shakes..

pls take note that u should not do detox more than 3 days (in 6 months). if u want to do more than 3 days, pls consult with ur doctor 1st.

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detox are done to cleanse ur intestines, not to lose weight. u shouldn't consume calories below 1200 calories in long periods of time (1-3 days is fine), as it may cause diet plateau + malnutrition + drop in body metabolism.

myfitnesspal.com explained it best :
If you were to consumed below 1200 calories, you are eating too few calories. Not only is it difficult to receive adequate nutrition at these calorie levels, but you could also be putting your body into starvation mode. Starvation mode lowers your metabolism and makes weight loss more difficult. We suggest increasing your calorie consumption to 1,200 calories per day minimum.