Want to Try a Vegan Detox Cleanse? Here Are 5 Cool Benefits

Are you looking to make a big change and commit to a vegan lifestyle? Or perhaps you're just looking to dip your toe in the water and test things out with a vegan detox cleanse.

Either way, you can expect some changes in your body. But don't worry, these changes are beneficial to your overall health and include things like:

• Improved gut health
• Clearer skin
• More energy
• Better focus
• And even weight loss

What Is a Vegan Cleanse?

When you think about a vegan detox cleanse, you might envision a strict liquids-only diet where you're starving for some real food. You can go that route (hopefully, minus the starving part!) where you're limited to water, soups, and vegetable juices. However, a vegan cleanse doesn't have to be that extreme if you don't want it to be. Going on a vegan detox can simply mean cutting animal-based foods like meat, dairy, and eggs out of your diet.

There are two types of vegan cleanses to consider:

1. Short-term cleanses: You can think of this as a temporary vegan cleanse. You may just want to see what the vegan lifestyle is all about before making a full-blown commitment.
2. Long-term cleanses: When you engage in a long-term cleanse, you're basically committed to a vegan lifestyle for the long haul.

What Does Science Say About Vegan Cleanses?

You may have developed some unhealthy behaviors over the years, especially when it comes to your diet. Trying something new like a vegan detox cleanse can help your body flush out harmful toxins, reset, and restore health.

As a rule of thumb, meat bogs the body down and is harder to digest than plant-based foods. For that reason and many others, going plant-based may be the best thing you can do for your health.

Vegan diets are associated with:

• Lower risk of heart disease
• Reduced inflammation
• Improved blood sugar levels

Below, you'll find more details on the benefits of a vegan cleanse.

Vegan Detox Benefits

There are numerous benefits to trying a vegan detox cleanse. Here are some of the more noteworthy ones:

1. Improve gut health

The largest study to date on the gut microbiome is pretty clear on the benefits of a vegan diet when it comes to gut health. That study, known as the American Gut Project, found the number one driver of a healthy gut is the diversity of plant-based foods in one's diet, landing on an ideal number of 30+ plant-based foods per week. As you already know, a vegan detox cleanse will give you plenty of plant foods.

2. Clear up skin issues

If acne is an issue for you, a vegan detox cleanse may be able to help clear up your skin. Hormones found in milk and dairy products can have adverse effects on your skin, while a vegan diet has been shown to reduce inflammatory markersin the body. Inflammation is one of the root causes of acne.

3. More energy

As we talked about a little ways up, it's harder for your body to digest animal sources of food, which can leave you feeling tired and with not much energy. A vegan detox, on the other hand, provides your body with foods that make digestion and breaking down food simple. That means more energy for you.

4. Better focus

High levels of bad “LDL” cholesterol have been linked to cognitive decline and age-related disorders like Alzheimer's, while a plant-based diet has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, which can improve focus and mental bandwidth.

5. Weight loss aid

Looking to shed a few pounds? Going vegan could be your best bet. In general, a diet centered on plant-based foods has more fiber (keeps you fuller for longer so you don't overeat) and you can eat more food for fewer calories.

Foods to Eat and Avoid on a Vegan Cleanse Diet

Food options for a vegan detox cleanse include vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

Here's a more detailed list of foods to incorporate in a vegan diet:

• Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts
• Fruits like strawberries, watermelon, apples, and pears
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• Bread, rice, quinoa, and lentils
• Anti-inflammatory herbs and spices like garlic, ginger, and turmeric
• Dairy substitutes such as almond milk, coconut milk, and soy milk
• Nuts and seeds

Keep in mind just because something's vegan doesn't necessarily mean it's healthy or good for you! Here are some foods that might technically be vegan but should be eliminated from your diet:

• Proceeds foods
• Foods high in Sugar
• Sodium
• Oil (eg., coconut oil, palm oil, canola oil, peanut oil)

How to Have the Best Vegan Cleanse Possible

Your goals or reasons for a vegan detox cleanse may be different than the next person's, but these tips can serve as a baseline to follow:

• Stay hydrated — This tip doesn't just apply to going vegan. No matter the diet, water is essential for healthy living and staying hydrated flushes harmful toxins out of your body. You can spice up your H2O with the 11 digestive-boosting ingredients in this blog post!
• Limit alcohol — While fun, unfortunately, those late-night drinks and cocktails aren't good for your gut and overall health.
• Prioritize sleep — Sleep impacts so many areas of your health. When you're well-rested, it gives you the energy to take on new challenges, like starting a vegan detox.
• Make time for movement — This one goes without saying but regular physical movement is good for your health. Use exercise to sweat out harmful toxins you've accumulated in your body.

Final Thoughts

Going on a vegan cleanse and removing foods like meat, dairy, and eggs from your diet could be just the change you need to take your health to the next level. Considering the fact that the health of your gut often reflects your health overall, take a step in the right direction today and do some research on the different gut health tests out there!

Have a medical practice and looking to take things up a notch with your offerings to patients? Check out our 4-StepFloré Clinical Program for gut health and wellness.

About the Author

Chad Richardson is a freelance writer from Cincinnati, OH who also enjoys going to the gym and doing his best Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation, scrolling through Netflix trying to find a new binge-worthy show, and catching a game to root on his hometown sports teams.