The idea of cleansing the body through detoxification isn’t a new concept but it’s certainly witnessed an explosion in popularity in the last two decades. When you walk into your nearest health store, you’ll be sure to see a section dedicated to cleansing and detoxing products. Some are supplement capsules while others are pre-made drinks. The cleansing of the body can be a very beneficial thing, especially if your goals are weight loss, improved energy, and better overall health.

Let’s take a look at the 3 most common mistakes that everyone makes when starting out with a cleansing or detoxing diet.

3. Taking Away, Not Replacing

One of the most common things you’ll see detox beginners do is deprive the body of all nutrients, instead of making the switch to nourishing nutrients. The best example of this is the water cleanse. Someone will stop eating completely for one to three days and only drink water. Sure, this may help to flush away toxins but you’ll also be flushing away important nutrients and compounds such as electrolytes. This can lead to an imbalance and the result may be nausea, dizziness, or fainting.

Focus on a cleanse that pushes toxins out BUT also replaces those toxins with nutrients. For example, a raw food detox pushes toxins out while amplifying micronutrients, electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals.

2. All at Once Instead of Slow and Steady

When you are thinking about making a positive change in your life, it can be tough to want to wait. All the excitement will have you wanting to jump into your cleanse all at once, wasting no time. If you’ve never tried detoxing before, this can be a huge mistake. If you have been following a less than stellar diet for most of your life, there is going to be a great deal of toxins that have found a home inside your body. Jumping into a full-on cleanse is going to release all those toxins at once and if this is your first detox, it won’t be pleasant. Try slowly making changes and embracing the detox if you’re a beginner. Once you accomplish one detox, doing another will be much easier.

1. Returning to Old Habits

Once the detox is finished, most people will jump right back into the dietary choices that made them want to go on a cleanse in the first place. The worst mistake you can make is to resume poor dietary habits after a cleanse. Instead of setting yourself up to have to go through another cleanse, try adopting new and healthier dietary habits. You don’t have to make giant leaps in order to do this. Start small and improve slowly. Just like with a detox, start by cutting out poor dietary choices and replace them with healthier ones. Don’t jump into a radical change as you are less likely to keep it up.

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