Dr. Oz is promoting a new two-day “Wonder Cleanse,” but it’s not like the popular cleanses you’ve heard of before. Instead of drinking nothing but water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper, you eat foods that naturally rid your body of toxins. That’s where the “cleanse” comes in.
So think of it as more of a hiatus from ice cream and Funyuns and a shift toward pure foods.
And why should we cleanse? According to Dr. Oz, our bodies are constantly being exposed to harmful substances in the environment and in our diet, and it’s important to flush those out so our bodies can get back to operating more efficiently. Think of it as a ‘spring cleaning’ of sorts for the body.
Over the course of a 48-hour period, Dr. Oz encourages participants to eat six meals and eight snacks made from naturally-purifying, delicious ingredients. And the key? Enzymes.
“Enzymes throughout the body are continuously breaking [toxins] down and helping to flush them out,” says Dr. Oz. “My 48-hour detox works by optimizing that system…eating foods that are packed with nutrients believed to boost the activity of the enzymes and nourish the body’s most important detoxifying organs – the liver, the lungs, the kidneys, and the colon – so they can do their jobs better and more efficiently.”
And the benefits, says Dr. Oz, are two-fold: physical and spiritual.
“I believe there is a spiritual aspect [to cleansing] as well. Afterward I felt a sense of peace that I didn’t have before…I promise it will rejuvenate you from the inside out.”
And per usual, Dr. Oz doesn’t leave you guessing what foods you can and can’t eat. He’s devised a specially-designed menu and snack plan that you can use as a guide over the course of your cleanse.
Breakfast is quinoa with prunes: quinoa providing fiber, phosphorous and the ever-important nine essential amino acids. Lunch is a fruit smoothie with blueberries for antioxidants, bananas for vitamin B6, and flax or chia seeds for additional fiber. Dinner is vegetable broth with a side of sauerkraut and sliced apples, which is loaded with fiber, probiotics, and enzymes to support liver function and break down toxins. And a snack is pineapple and kale juice for even more digestive enzymes.
In addition to a menu, Dr. Oz provides pointers to “make the most” of your cleanse, including tips like drinking plenty of water, not eating after 7 p.m., and getting 8 hours of sleep a night.
If there was ever a cleanse to try, this may be it. But do so with caution. And as always, consult a doctor before starting if you have any special medical conditions.
Also Read:
How to Safely Start a Juice Cleanse at Home
Jillian Michaels Detox and Cleanse