So, you have decided to fast. Congratulations!
Before you begin here are some tips before fasting that can help prepare you for the process. Whatever the particular reason or terminology, detox diet, juice fast, water fast or cleansing, all of them need the same basic preparation to help make them a success. These simple detox diet tips can make the difference between appreciating and enjoying your fast and never wanting to fast again.
Fasting Preparation
These tips are for preparation for a juice fast and most other detox diet or weight loss programs in which you may participate. The steps you take before starting a fast helps your body prepare for the cleansing process and helps you reduce the withdrawal symptoms that often occur when fasting.
Adjust your diet before fasting. Changing your diet before fasting helps aid in the detoxification process. Simple changes to make to your diet include, increasing your vegetable and fruit intake, along with reducing the amount of processed foods you consume. This means chips, candy, frozen entrees and the like. If you eat lots of meat or eat out a lot, make a point to reduce significantly the amount of meat you eat before fasting and eliminate fast foods.
Drink more water before detoxing. Drinking more water before fasting helps to hydrate your body before the fasting period and flushes out toxins and mucus from your system. Therefore, when the fast is underway the body is better prepared for the more serious task.
Lower your alcohol and caffeine intake. Alcohol and sodas are very acidic and generally tax the body under normal circumstances. By eliminating the alcohol and sodas before detoxification, you greatly reduce their impact when your body cleanses itself. Additionally if you drink caffeinated beverages by gradually removing them before fasting, you reduce the chances of having headaches, experiencing tiredness or other caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
Inform yourself about yourself. If you have any pre-existing conditions or health concerns read about them and find out what people have experienced and determined about them in regards to fasting. Are you required to continue adhering to certain prescriptions? Find out. The more you know about yourself and your body, the better prepared you can become for the fast.
Think about and prepare for your cleanse and detox. Fasting is just as much mental as it is physical. Preparing for the healing process can mean taking off a few days from your employer while you fast and eliminating heavy physical labor during the process. Mentally, this means visualizing yourself completing the fast and conducting other mental activities that are helpful to you in preparation.
This is unique to you and can be anything from drawing, to singing, to visiting a beach, a lake, a river or other body of water, reading a good book, developing your faith or spending time with supportive friends.
Now you know 5 ways to prepare for detox. Let’s recap.
Preparation Before You Detox
- Adjust your diet.
- Drink more water.
- Lower your alcohol and caffeine intake.
- Educate yourself.
- Mentally prepare.
With these fasting preparation tips your detox and cleanse has a better chance of success. You can start your juice fast preparation (or any other fasting type) 3 to 5 days before fasting but you really want to implement these fasting tips at least a week ahead of your fasting time frame so you can get the most out of them.
Like most things in life, the more prepared you are the better your results.
