How to cleanse the Ayurvedic way: 6 reasons it’s different from other cleanses
Some people light up when they see the word “cleanse,” and others want to run the other way. Many have negative connotations with the word, or even negative experiences with cleansing. The word “cleanse” is tossed around a lot in our culture these days, and can refer to many different things. I see juice shops around Los Angeles all offering their weeklong juice cleanse packages, and every January my inbox is flooded with offers to join this or that cleanse that promises weight loss and glowing skin. Turns out, juice cleanses and New Year’s cleanses both go against the practices of Ayurveda (more on why, later)!
Suffice it to say that cleansing is a fad, a buzzword, and a hot topic these days. Some of you are drawn to the allure of being able to “cleanse” your body in a short amount of time, but I can also sense some eye rolls… “What does a cleanse even mean? Can’t my body cleanse itself naturally without me going on some weird diet? Is there any truth to the promises of these cleanses? Why do I need to ‘detox’ anyway?” I hear you.
I can’t speak for all the cleanses out there, but I can speak to Ayurvedic cleansing, why it’s unique, and why it actually works. First of all, I want to assure you that Ayurvedic cleansing is not a fad. Ayurveda is the oldest system of healing in the world, dating back 3,000 to 5,000 years, if not longer. The principles of cleansing and detoxing have always been an important part of Ayurvedic healing. In fact, one of the central concepts of Ayurveda is that all diseases are initially created by a buildup of toxic substances in the body. When we are in balance, our body can easily clear these toxins on its own. But when we are out of balance (which is the case for many of us these days), these toxic substances can accumulate and cause disease.
From this perspective, you can see why detoxification is so important in Ayurveda!
The practice of Panchakarma (meaning “five cleansing practices”) is a traditional deep detoxification process that is regularly prescribed to patients who have deeper imbalances. This process needs to be done under the supervision of an Ayurvedic practitioner, typically at a Panchakarma retreat center or facility. However, we can get some of the same benefits by doing a simple at-home cleanse on our own. This works especially well as preventative medicine. By which I mean, if you don’t have a deep imbalance or serious disease, practicing yearly at-home cleanses is a great way to support your body to clear toxins and stay healthy!
Let’s take a look at some of the ways an Ayurvedic cleanse is different from other cleanses.
1. Gentle detoxification
I’ve noticed a certain intensity that surrounds some cleanses. There is an attitude of pushing your body to the limits, or some idea that the harder it is, the better for you it must be! An Ayurvedic cleanse should be a relatively easy, gentle process. For one, your body is not going to be able to successfully detox if you are stressed. I don’t know about you, but when I am starving, I definitely get stressed!
During an Ayurvedic cleanse you continue to eat three meals a day. There is an emphasis on giving yourself plenty of downtime to relax and restore. The traditional cleansing diet you are eating will create a natural and gentle detoxification process. Things like warm baths, gentle yoga, and early bedtimes are encouraged to enhance the experience. The more you relax into the cleanse experience, the better!
2. Fats, carbs, and protein
Yes, that’s right, you get to eat fats! The basis of an Ayurvedic cleanse is kitchari, a dish made from rice, mung beans, and vegetables. Ghee (clarified butter) is an important ingredient in kitchari, and is even sometimes added to a morning tea while doing a cleanse. Last year I did a wonderfully effective cleanse where I started each day drinking ghee in hot water!
So what’s the deal? Isn’t fat the last thing we want to be eating during a cleanse? Actually, it aids in the detoxification process! Most of the toxins in our body get stored in our fat tissue. This is where our body puts everything it can’t process or doesn’t know what to do with. It turns out that eating healthy fats actually helps loosen the toxins in our fat tissues! Ghee is a wonderfully healing fat that is said to move toxins out of the tissues. Basically, it helps to lubricate you internally and loosen toxins in your system so that they can be drawn down and out of your body during the cleanse! So don’t be afraid to add some ghee, coconut oil, or even a little avocado to your meals during a cleanse.
3. No New Year’s cleanses
In Ayurveda, timing is everything! When you practice your cleanse is important, and January, the middle of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, is probably the worst time you could do a cleanse. It’s best to practice your cleanse during the change in season from winter to spring, and summer to fall. Traditionally, you would do two cleanses a year, as close as possible to the spring and autumn equinox. It’s important not to cleanse when the weather is too cold, because it adds extra stress to the body. In winter, we want to be building up our bodies, reserving our strength, and eating heavier foods to get us through the winter. A cleanse completely goes against what we want to be doing for our bodies in the winter months.
If you feel inspired to have a fresh start in the New Year, you can always do a week (or more!) of clean eating, or try cutting out a substance like sugar or alcohol that can really kickstart your health. But wait until it’s starting to get warmer to do your full cleanse! When we practice our cleanses at the right times, they can support us through seasonal transitions and prevent colds and flus that often come at these times. But when practiced in the dead of winter of the height of summer, it can add unnecessary stress to the body.
4. Let your body lead the way
How much should you eat during your cleanse? Since you will most likely be preparing your meals yourself, there are no strict guidelines to how big your meals should be. You won’t get a pre-packaged bottle of juice or scantily-portioned raw salad. When I’m leading someone through a cleanse, I tell them to eat as much as they want! I always err on the side of having them make too much food for the day, because I never want anyone to feel deprived or like they have to ration their food. During the first day, you might eat a lot! I find that most people are eating smaller servings by the end as they get used to the food and the routine.
The number one most important thing is to listen to your body. I don’t believe that anyone else can tell you how much you should eat, because your capacity is different from anyone else’s, and also changes day to day, meal to meal. I do like to share one amazing trick, and that is “the first burp!” If you eat slowly and mindfully, you may notice a small air bubble or burp as your stomach becomes full. This is usually a good sign that you are full and can stop eating. I love this practice because it has taught me to be more in tune with my own body.
5. Ease in, ease out
An Ayurvedic cleanse is unique in that there is an equal emphasis on what you do before and after the cleanse as there is on the cleanse itself. Before starting the cleanse, it’s recommended to begin with a few days of a “preparation phase.” During this time you start to phase out those things from your diet that can be harder to digest or cause inflammation, such as sugar, dairy, meat, and alcohol. If you are used to eating chocolate every day, and then try to stop during the cleanse, you might find you have some symptoms of withdrawal. Instead, using a preparation phase can give your body time to adjust more slowly, and will make your cleanse experience so much more pleasant!
After the “active cleansing” phase (where you are eating your kitchari and doing your cleansing practices), it’s equally important to have a transitional phase where you slowly begin bringing in other foods. Just like before the cleanse, we don’t want to shock the body with extreme changes. Instead of going back to eating all the things you’ve been avoiding, take some time to continue eating lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains, and slowly bring back things like meat and dairy. See how your body reacts and use this time to make any changes to your diet that feel right for you.
6. Rejuvenation
I think the number one thing that makes an Ayurvedic cleanse different from other cleanses is the emphasis on rejuvenation. The whole reason for doing a cleanse is to release toxins from the body in order to be able to rebuild stronger than you were before. That’s why cleansing is something we only do twice a year for a week or less. Ayurveda understands that frequent cleansing is depleting and can drain you of your vital life energy. After a cleanse, it is common to introduce some “building” herbs – herbs that focus on rejuvenation and restoration rather than detoxification. This is especially important after your fall cleanse, moving into winter. It’s a good time to eat some heavier foods, slow down in life, and build your internal strength.
Cleansing without rejuvenating misses the point. I see a lot of emphasis on cleanses, dieting and detoxing in the current culture, without awareness of rejuvenation. Ayurveda is all about keeping us juicy, warm and grounded so that we can maintain our health as we age. Sometimes that means eating more fat and doing less intense exercises! Cleansing is just one small part of the process, so that the rest of the year we can focus on building our bodies through good quality foods, habits and lifestyle.
Have you tried any type of cleanse in the past? I’d love to hear what worked, what didn’t, and how you feel about cleansing now.
To get started with your own cleanse, you can download my free recipe guide here!