Everything gets dumped into the colon. If the colon cannot keep up with your toxic load, or it is not functioning properly it can become overloaded. If toxins can’t get out through the colon, they will back pedal and go out through the secondary detoxifiers of the lungs and skin. If the lungs and skin become overloaded with toxins, it can manifest into inflammatory issues such as asthma, psoriasis, eczema, acne, etc. Inflammation in the gut can also result in issues like inflammatory bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, a compromised immune system, even hormonal imbalance (with all the symptoms that go along with that!). If the body cannot keep up with the toxic load, it will start to store the toxins in different parts of the body, oftentimes being the joints and muscles causing arthritis or unexplained achiness. Even having overly greasy hair can be from fat-soluble toxins being reabsorbed and sent out through the hair follicle. Clearly gut health is important for total-body wellness.

Doing a NUTRITIVE colon cleanse every 9-12 months is a great maintenance routine to keep the colon sludge-free. It’s a good idea to do a cleanse after being sick or taking medication. Doing a 5-Day Cleanse protocol before starting a diet is also a great way to reduce sugar cravings, and jump start your motivation with instant results.

The 5-Day Cleanse Protocol helps reduce cravings in this way: You crave simple carbs because they enter the blood quickly and are burned immediately.  Then, a surplus of insulin is produced which causes more hunger.  In response to hunger, you eat more causing more body fat to accumulate and activating more insulin.  This roller coaster of insulin spikes leaves you tired, hungry and unfocused. When you feed the body the good stuff in this 5-Day Cleanse Protocol, you are giving it a balance of complex carbs and other nutrient tools to keep that blood sugar in balance, leveling out that roller-coaster effect.

 Typically people lose between 5-10 pounds in the 5 days.

Young Living's 5-Day Cleanse protocol is a gentle way to achieve all this without disrupting your day-to-day activity. It will NOT leave you glued to the bathroom like those chemical laxatives.

The protocol calls for the use of 3 main products over the course of 5 days.

Those products are Balance Complete™, Digest+Cleanse™, and NingXia Red™, which can be purchased together as a bundle or individually.

Ningxia Red™ levels out the roller coaster I mentioned above, by sending the excess sugar directly into the urine and out the body instead of allowing it to enter into the blood stream, and replaces it with good, natural sugars from the fruits that make it, which keeps your blood sugar from dropping too low. Ningxia Red™ also supports the nutritional needs during this cleanse protocol, leaving you with a good store of energy to get through your day.

There are 2 phases of a cleanse.

Phase 1: toxins are broken down and made water soluble.

Phase 2: toxins are removed from the body through waste.

The antioxidants found in Ningxia Red™ are needed to support the detox process for the protection against damage caused by the free radical toxins that the body is releasing. The antioxidants that come from fruits and berries are water soluble, which don’t actually make it to the cell structure where the free radicals are causing the damage. It takes the fat-soluble antioxidants found in essential oils to reach the cell. This is one of the MANY features that sets Ningxia Red™ above even the best competitive nutritional drinks on the market. No one else has the power of pure therapeutic-grade essential oils infused into their products like Young Living®.

Balance Complete™  improves toxin and fat elimination, enhances nutrient absorption, supports healthy cholesterol levels, helps maintain normal blood sugar levels, reduces inflammation, supports colon health, and curbs food cravings.

It contains 11 g of fiber per serving.  The recommended daily value for fiber is 25g for women 35 for men. Studies have shown a direct correlation to weight loss and getting ample amounts of fiber in your diet.

Commercial fiber products only have one form of fiber, most are insoluble fiber that passes through your body in its whole form.  Balance Complete™ is formulated with a special V-fiber complex, which has 5 different soluble and insoluble fibers, each with their own specific job.  Some fibers are broken down by the body to be used for nutrition, some fibers absorb extra liquids and toxins to be passed through our waste and other fibers act as scrubbers to clean bad bacteria and fermenting food from the intestinal walls, hence its role in the 5-Day Cleanse. 

The V-fiber complex of Balance Complete™ is the powerhouse of the cleanse, scrubbing the intestinal walls to loosen the garbage that gets stuck there. This garbage is responsible for causing gas, bloat, leaky gut, and disease like diverticulitis. Balance Complete™ also provides you with the nutrition you need to function while you fast, as it is a complete meal replacement shake.

A sluggish digestive system allows food to sit in your gut and ferment causing excessive and smelly gas, belching, and bloating, and is the cause of conditions such as diverticulitis and IBS.  If you are NOT having a bowel movement every 19 hours, there is an extremely good chance you have parasites.  This also gives the bad bacteria and yeast a chance to take over the good bacteria, leading to issues such as yeast infections, diarrhea and compromised immunity. 90% of chronic diseases are traced back to an unclean or unhealthy gut. 

Digest+Cleanse™ is an essential oil supplement specifically formulated with essential oils that have been scientifically proven to soothe gastrointestinal upset and support healthy digestion. The oils in Digest+Cleanse™ are soothing or stimulating to the digestive tract, which is needed when consuming extra fiber like in the 5-Day Cleanse protocol. Digest+Cleanse™’s formulation also stimulates perisalstis  or the contraction and movement that moves food stuffs along in the intestines. This will help move those toxins on out of the body.

The coconut oil base of Digest+Cleanse™ is a medium-chain triglyceride that has been shown to help burn fat and reduce hunger, among many other benefits.

So how do you do the 5-Day Cleanse Protocol?

It’s pretty simple. Replace all 3 meals with a Balance Complete™ smoothie and 2 oz of NingXia Red™, along with a Digest+Cleanse™ capsule. Drink lots of water in-between. Here is an overview of what the 5-Day Cleanse is and a list of cleanse-friendly snacks:

Day 1:  You may experience mild discomfort,headaches or cravings.  Balance Complete™ and lots of water will help alleviate hunger.

Breakfast: Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz Ningxia Red™, 8-12 oz extra water.

Snack: If you need it, but don't let yourself get hungry. 1 apple or orange. 8-12 oz water.

Lunch: 1 Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red™, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: 1 cup raw broccoli or other non-starchy vegetable, Steeped Vitality™ Spiced  Turmeric tea, or other herbal tea of choice, NO caffeine. 

Dinner: 1 Digest+Cleanse capsule, Balance Complete Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: Half cup fresh or frozen organic blueberries.

Day 2: Your experience will depend on your level of toxicity.  High toxicity = more symptoms. Mild toxicty = symptoms subside and you will begin to feel an increase in energy.  Add Essentialzyme™ for gas and bloating.

Breakfast: Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz Ningxia Red™, 8-12 oz extra water.

Snack:  1 pear or plum, 2 Tbsp raw sunflower seeds or almonds, 8-12 oz water.

Lunch: 1 Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red™, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: Raw celery, 1 Tbsp almond butter, Steeped Vitality™ Spiced  Turmeric tea, or other herbal tea of choice, NO caffeine. 

Dinner: 1 Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red™, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: Half cup fresh or frozen organic blueberries or 1 peach, 8-12 oz water.

Day 3: Your detox symptoms subside. You begin to feel more energetic. Your body is adjusting to the extra fiber and water. Cravings are milder.

Breakfast: Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz Ningxia Red™, 8-12 oz extra water.

Snack:  1/2 a cantaloupe, peppermint tea , 8-12 oz water.

Lunch: 1 Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red™, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: Plain rice cake with raw nut butter. 8-12 oz water.

Dinner: 1 Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red™, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: Half cup fresh or frozen organic blueberries or 1 apple, 8-12 oz water.

Day 4: Your body feels the cleansing benefits. Energy level is increasing. Cravings are gone.

Breakfast: Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz Ningxia Red™, 8-12 oz extra water.

Snack:  1 apple or pear , 8-12 oz water.

Lunch: 1 Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red™, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: 2 Tbsp raw almonds and chamomile tea.

Dinner: 1 Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red™, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: 1 medium bunch of grapes, 8-12 oz water.

Day 5: Your cravings are gone. You feel great!

Breakfast: Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz Ningxia Red™, 8-12 oz extra water.

Snack: 1 pear or plum, 2 Tbsp raw sunflower seeds or almonds, 8-12 oz water.

Lunch: 1 Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red™, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: 1 cup raw sauerkraut or other active good bacteria source such as kefir or unsweetened yogurt.

Dinner: 1 Digest+Cleanse™ capsule, Balance Complete™ Smoothie, 2 oz. NingXia Red™, 8-12 oz water.

Snack: 1 cup miso soup or vegetable broth.

Balance Complete™ smoothies are made bare bones with no added sugary stuff. Stick to cleanse-friendly vegetables like spinach that are not starches. Anything listed in the above chart is fair game as well.

Use the snacks IF NEEDED, but don't let yourself get hungry.

If you experience any detox symptoms such as headache, Take some Sulfurzyme™. You can totally use the Red Drink in this cleanse to count towards your water and NingXia Red™ intake, as well as get that Sulfurzyme™ in there to bind to any heavy metals that may be releasing, among other things you can learn about here.

If gas and bloat are an issue, incorporate some enzymes into your day. Essentialzyme™ is great for gobbling up the garbage, but any of Young Living’s enzymes will work. This article can tell you a little more about the role of a digestive enzyme supplement.

Also, see my tips and trick to cleansing blog to increase your chances for a successful cleanse, as well as my journal of what I experienced during one of my 5-Day Cleanse Protocols.  

The 5-Day Cleanse is one of the easiest cleanses I have gone through. All your nutritional needs are met, so you won’t feel tired and starved, and it won’t leave you afraid to leave your bathroom. In fact, you probably won’t notice much difference in your bathroom habits besides more frequent urination with all the water, and easier, more pleasant (but probably stinky) bowel movements.

Add a drop of peppermint to your toilet bowl before you go poo if stink is a problem.

If you’d like more great tips like this, join my Swap It Savvy Community group for easy ways to savvy living!

Be well my friends!