{"id":2560,"date":"2025-02-18T19:18:04","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T08:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/detox-and-cleanse-understanding-the-differences-and-benefits.html"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:18:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T08:18:05","slug":"detox-and-cleanse-understanding-the-differences-and-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/detox-and-cleanse-understanding-the-differences-and-benefits.html","title":{"rendered":"Detox and Cleanse: Understanding the Differences and Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re looking to break through a weight-loss plateau, beat the bloat, or get back on track after a calorie bender, someone has probably suggested trying a detox or a cleanse\u2026 or a detox cleanse.<\/p>\n

Confusing, right? People tend to use the terms \u201ccleanse\u201d and \u201cdetox\u201d interchangeably, but it\u2019s important to understand the difference. Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n

What Is a \u201cDetox Cleanse\u201d or \u201cDetox Diet\u201d?<\/h2>\n

Detox diets (or detox cleanses) are short-term, highly restrictive diets that consist of a small number of foods claimed to have \u201cdetoxifying properties.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of these diets sound like straight-up torture. Do you\u00a0really\u00a0want to drink lemonade mixed with cayenne pepper for 10 days straight or eat cabbage soup at every meal?<\/p>\n

But more importantly, those foods won\u2019t actually flush your system.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Detox diet\u2019 is kind of a misnomer, because food is not going to detox you,\u201d says Denis Faye, M.S. It\u2019s your liver and kidneys that help flush toxins from your body \u2014 not the food itself.<\/p>\n

Plus, if your diet is too restrictive, your body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to carry out its natural processes.<\/p>\n

How Does a Full-Body Detox Cleanse Work?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Detox cleanses are purported to support the immune system, digestive system, heart function, kidney function, and healthy blood pressure by ridding the body of toxins, waste products, and\/or other potentially harmful substances you come into contact with every day.<\/p>\n

These substances can include pesticides on your produce, pollutants in the air, unpronounceable ingredients in ultra-processed food, and heavy metals like mercury and arsenic in the soil, to name a few. Some diets also claim that foods like gluten, dairy, and refined sugar are \u201ctoxic.\u201d<\/p>\n

But unless you have an allergy or intolerance, there\u2019s no reason to swear off these foods completely. Because, while anything can be toxic if you consume too much of it, your body is equipped to deal with most toxins.<\/p>\n

So there\u2019s no need to follow a buzzy \u201cdetox diet\u201d; your body already does a top-notch job of detoxifying itself, as long as you support it with good nutrition.<\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019re constantly skimping on nutrients and proper hydration, your body\u2019s natural detoxification system can\u00a0be inhibited \u2014 and that\u2019s where a cleanse or reset can be beneficial.<\/p>\n

What Is a Cleanse?<\/h2>\n

Unlike a detox diet, which is meant to be short-term, a well-designed cleanse can help you form new eating habits that support your overall health and help you stay healthy for the long haul.<\/p>\n

One way of looking at a cleanse vs. detox: Detox diets focus on \u201cout with the old,\u201d while cleanses also address the \u201cin with the new\u201d aspect.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll enjoy\u00a0nutrient-dense recipes that help you kickstart \u2014 or restart \u2014 healthier eating habits. And you can apply the principles of a cleanse to just about\u00a0any\u00a0aspect of your life \u2014 like stepping back from a toxic friendship or\u00a0taking a social media break.<\/p>\n

Potential Benefits of a Cleanse<\/h2>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re considering a cleanse, BODi offers two: 3-Day Refresh\u00a0and the 21-day\u00a0Ultimate Reset.<\/p>\n

These programs don\u2019t just eliminate junk from your diet \u2014 they also focus on\u00a0fueling your body with nutrient-rich foods\u00a0and reshaping the way you think about nutrition.<\/p>\n