If you know me, you know I don’t believe in cleansing and detoxing in the Detox watertraditional sense. Just the mention of a cleanse or detox makes me cringe. These products and systems can be very harmful to your body and cause you to overeat directly after completing one. Sure, they may help you lose weight fast, but if you start overeating after completion, you will gain weight. Not worth it in my book. However, there are a few exceptions.

Natural Detox

Detoxing seems to have become all the rage. Increasingly over the past couple of years, I have seen products claiming to “naturally detox” or “cleanse your body of impurities.” Here’s the thing: our body naturally does this for us.

How do kidneys function by Nagaraju Tadakaluri
Credit: Nagaraju Tadakaluri

The amazing thing about our bodies is that they are built to protect us. Our kidneys and liver work to remove waste from our blood, balance bodily fluids, metabolize drugs, and detoxify chemicals. Much of this is excreted through our urine and poop, thus ridding our bodies of the things it cannot process and could become harmful. Pretty amazing stuff, right?

I think so.

This is why I cringe when I see claims that “our bodies could be carrying 10 lbs of waste.” It’s a scare tactic that I simply do not agree with. Why? Because those same scare tactics are often used to force people to become vegetarian or vegan.

Yes, our bodies take in waste. Yes, we do need to get rid of it. No, it’s not

Liver finction by livertransplantpune.org
Credit: livertransplantpune.org

necessary to chug disgusting often vinegar based blends for a week to do this. In fact, those vinegar cleanses, even homemade, can actually increase your potential for stomach or throat cancer.

BUT

Our bodies must have the proper nutrients to work efficiently.

Taking Care of Business

If you’re putting the right things in your body, it will naturally cleanse and detox itself. Drink plenty of water. Drink beneficial teas. Avoid chemically based no calorie sweeteners. Boost your meals with beneficial herbs and spices. These things will keep your body working at top performance at all times, without having to do a monthly cleanse. However, as humans, we all have a tendency to fall short on the job. Honestly, that’s okay, as long as you make sure to reset and reboot when you slack a little along your food journey.

Proper Cleansing

Label Overload
Credit: Nathan Albritton 2014

It may seem daunting to read every label on what you’re about to put in your body. Sometimes we don’t have time, and other times we simply don’t know what the heck we’re even reading. For me though, I find this exciting. Maybe it’s just the scientist in me.

All products that say “detox” or “cleanse” are not the same. Most are there just to make you poop and pee like crazy for 72 hours, so you see some fast results and feel like you did the right thing for your body. Others won’t send you to the bathroom at all, but are actually doing your body some much needed good. That’s what the three products I recommend below will do for you. They are packed with nutrients that will indeed reset your body and return it to peak performance. So what are they?

I’m glad you asked.

Top 3 Reboot Products

The following are three tried and trusted products I’ve used time and time again. I recommend them because they include ingredients I use frequently in my own cooking and tea blends, have researched, and have benefited from their effects. The products themselves simply combine the best of the best for your body’s waste and defense systems, thus providing the restart your system may need, if you’re feeling sluggish, groggy, weighed down, or even consistently ill.

All three of these products are “white pants approved,” meaning they won’t keep you on the in the loo for hours on end. Rather, you can enjoy them during the day and reap the benefits almost immediately.

Pick #1: Yogi Roasted Dandelion Spice Tea 

Yogi’s Roasted Dandelion Spice Tea is one of my favorite teas for both it’s flavor and its benefits. It is best drank hot, as it has a subtle flavor that can be easily lost when chilled of poured over ice. The flavor is similar to that of Chai, but without the milk or the intensity. Each bag can be steeped at least two times.

 

It Works CleansePick #2: It Works! Cleanse®

The It Works! Cleanse® is a two day (four bottles) blend of herbs, fruits, Blue Agave extract, and Aloe Vera gel. The flavor is a bit fruity, as expected and best enjoyed chilled. As per the instructions, you enjoy one bottle in the morning and one at night for two days.

 

Pick #3: Yogi Cinnamon Berry Probiotic Balance Tea

Admittedly, flavor wise this is my least favorite of the three listed here. However, I may not be the best judge of that, considering I don’t often enjoy berry flavored things. Nonetheless, the benefits are amazing. I typically drink this tea when I’m experiencing stomach upset or bloating issues. I prefer it hot and can typically get one large 12 to 18 oz steep from each bag.

Which pick is best for weight loss? It depends.

Cleansing and detoxing for weight loss

The whole point of cleansing and detoxing is for weight loss, right? Well, kind of. Remember what I said about our bodies working efficiently? That comes into play here.

Chocolate cakeWhen our bodies are working at their best, they have a tendency to crave less sweets and salty snacks, and we tend not to overeat. If you find yourself doing either of these things, it may be time to incorporate one or more of the cleanses above. The one that’s best depends on your current issues and your goals.

If your goal is to digest foods better, reduce bloating, and feel less weighed down, I strongly suggest the Yogi Cinnamon Berry Probiotic Tea.

If you want to lose weight and reduce the appearance of your midsection, I strongly advise the It Works! Cleanse®.

If you want to feel more energized and less groggy, I recommend the Yogi Roasted Dandelion Spice Tea.

None of these products are aimed at weight loss, though I and others, Weight loss journeyincluding my fiance, have dropped pounds when incorporating these products.

Weight loss using the Probiotic Tea averaged 1 to 2 lbs, the Roasted Dandelion averaged 3 to 5 lbs and the Cleanse® 7 to 10 lbs and a slimmer midsection. All of these were results in two to three days.

As I said, these products are not intended to be used to lose weight per se, but rather to get your body working more efficiently.

When your body is working well, the pounds come off.

I’d love to hear how any of the products above are or have worked for you. Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave any questions or suggestions you may have. Until next time!

10 Comments

  • Danielle Ketcher

    Wow I’ve learnt a bit from this post, thanks. I have been thinking about the whole vinegar drink detox and this has made me rethink as what’s the point in the short term if in the long term its not good for me.
    I also never knew that when your craving less sweet and salty things your body is better. I used to crave sweet all the time and since having my girls I have been eating better as I make healthy meals for them which we have as well and I no longer eat loads of sweets like I used to. I now understand why, thanks 🙂

    • JaemiO

      Hi Danielle,

      Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m glad you gained something from my article. Whenever considering any type of cleanse or detox, be sure to do a good bit of research. Vinegar itself is not harmful, but consuming it on an empty stomach and/or for a prolonged amount of time can cause serious issues.

      Food cravings are typically one of two things: either your body isn’t working properly or you’re experiencing an emotional stressor. I plan to do an article on this in the very near future to help folks understand when they may be experiencing each problem and how to handle it. I hope you’ll stop back by to read it.

      It’s good to hear your body is working better and that you’re getting the nutrients you need! Providing your body with the things it needs to work well is key in gaining the results you’re seeing.

      Keep up the good work!

      JaemiO

  • Linda

    Very interesting. So basically, we should digest and detox ourselves? So there can be tons and tons of weight loss due to not digesting the food; am I correct? If not, elaborate please. Or the detox has nothing to do with that? Does our digestive system even have to do with that?

    • JaemiO

      Hi Linda,

      Thanks so much for stopping by! You are kind of correct.

      Basically, we should provide our bodies with the things it needs, so that it can work the way it is designed to. Making sure you take in enough water, are providing it with the proper nutrients, are avoiding harmful things, and not being excessive in any action, good or bad, will help to keep it working at peak performance.

      Think of it this way: your body is like a car. You wouldn’t drive your car with no oil, no gas, and without changing its filters. The same should be true for your body. Your filters (i.e. your kidneys and liver) can only work their best when you provide them with the things they need to work properly. Once you do, your body will work more efficiently, thus causing fewer food cravings, less calories to feel full or satisfied, and as a result many people see weight loss because of this.

      Our bodies hold on to things when they aren’t getting the proper nutrients, so as not to be without nutrients. It’s kind of like a saving account for your body. When it knows it will be safe, it cycles through the nutrients. When it doesn’t it holds on to old ones.

      Using the car analogy again, your car slows down and becomes sluggish when it’s using the “same old oil.” When it gets fresh oil, it starts to run much smoother and more efficiently, keeping debris (in this case fat, poop, and fluid) from recycling through the system.

      Digestion is a big topic, that has as much to do with the stomach and intestines as it does the things I mentioned in the article above. I will be writing an article on this soon. In the meantime, note that while a detox isn’t for weight loss or to cure digestive issues, the right type of detox or cleanse can help your body to work better, thus aiding in digestion.

      I hope this clears things up a bit for you, Linda. If not, please let me know and I will do my best to answer any additional questions you may have.

      Thanks again for stopping by,

      JaemiO

  • asmithxu

    Really fantastic suggestions. I actually have the Yogi Roasted Dandelion Tea tea at home. My mom recommended it as a natural cleanse and it is perfect for me because I am more focused on maintaining my energy than anything else.

    When you are doing the cleanse, what foods do you eat?

    • JaemiO

      Hi Asmithxu,

      That’s awesome! How are you enjoying the tea so far? Personally, I find myself drinking it casually because I love the flavor. Luckily, it’s safe to drink this way.

      I don’t make any big changes to my diet (here meaning the way I generally eat, not a temporary adjustment to lose weight) during the cleanse. That’s one of the major differences between the three cleanses I shared above and a typical, potentially harmful cleanse. You can continue to eat the way you want without any issues. I do try to stay away from things like greasy and fast foods during the cleanse, though, that’s not exactly unusual for me.

      My general diet consists of at least 25 grams of fiber per day from veggies, fruits, and whole grains. I eat a decent amount of seafood, and eat yogurt almost daily. I try to stay away from huge changes in the way I eat, so as to encourage healthy, consistent habits. This will keep you healthier in the long run.

      Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you here again,

      JaemiO

  • lilywong

    This is such an interesting article. Very well-composed to include many important points 🙂 It’s really interesting that you highlighted the reboot products – #2 really interest me as I like using Aloe Vera gel. I am definitely getting a bottle to try it out. Thanks for this eye opening piece!

    • JaemiO

      Hi Lily,

      Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m glad you found the article interesting and helpful. I look forward to hearing your feelings about and results from #2. If you like, you can easily follow the link to it above, to get 40% off your order. Simply add the bottle to your cart, proceed to checkout, and the 40% off option will pop right up.

      Looking forward to your review,

      JaemiO

  • Bobby

    This is something my wife and I were just talking about trying to find something to use for gaining more energy and lose of weight.’
    Do you use all three together or just one at a time? I think the It Works, Cleanse is what I want to try.
    Thanks for the site, so glad I found it.
    I will check back later for more information.

    • JaemiO

      Hi Bobby,

      While you could use all three together, I would not suggest it, as you would definitely become close friends with your toilet. If you and your wife are looking to gain energy and lose some weight, definitely go with the It Works Cleanse. It is gentle and does everything both the Yogi teas do and more, plus you can use far less of it to get the results you want. You can do this cleanse up to once a month, if you like, for added results. Be sure to click on the picture of it above to get 40% off your order.

      The Yogi teas are great as well, but more so for maintenance. The Probiotic tea is good for a digestion reboot and the Dandelion is food for ridding toxins, which aids in feeling more energy. Unfortunately, you won’t see the weight loss results with these that you would with the It Works Cleanse.

      Personally, I like to drink the Dandelion tea when I’ve been glutinous, the Probiotic as needed (which is way less these days), and the Cleanse once a month or as needed for a reboot. I got a few of my friends on the sane regimen and they love it. I hope you and your wife have similar results.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and hope to see you again, 

      JaemiO

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