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Natural Cleanse vs. Detox: Benefits of High Fiber and Water

Here’s someone you probably know: a friend, or a friend of a friend, who has gone on some kind of “detox” plan – maybe a 3-day juice cleanse or a 7-day restricted diet, or even a 1-day detox.

Here’s something you definitely know: You should drink water. And eat fiber.

Here’s something it might be good to know: While the evidence behind the effectiveness of detox diets is spotty or non-existent, the benefits of good hydration, coupled with a high-fiber diet, are well-established.

While many juice cleanses or “detox” plans preach the value of juicing as a way of cleansing the body, those plans most often miss out on including two of the most important natural cleaners your body can get: water and fiber.

When fruits and vegetables are peeled and blended to make juice, much of their natural fiber is lost in the process – and a whole lot of sugar and calories remain. As a result, juice cleanses can mess with your digestion and cause gastrointestinal discomfort or malnutrition.

Juice cleanses that deprive you of the nutrients and carbohydrates you need can also cause cravings that make you overeat once the cleanse is done.

On the other hand, drinking water and eating fiber every day is not only a great way to keep your digestion clean and regular, but may also help you to keep from overindulging in less-healthy foods. When you drink water along with soluble fiber, the fiber absorbs water in your stomach and expands, helping you to feel full. While soluble fiber helps you feel full, insoluble fiber moves food waste through your digestive tract so you can rid your body of the stuff it doesn’t need. [Learn more about the two types of fiber here]. And when you feel full, you’re less likely to crave sweets or other less-than-healthy foods.

Fiber d’Lish is the only non-GMO Fiber bar with both soluble and insoluble fiber. Fiber d’Lish tastes like a soft baked delicious cookie.  This is very different than the commercial big company fiber brands that have a hard consistency with artificial ingredients and no insoluble fiber.

In addition to fiber, you need to stay hydrated.  This means bathing your cells in clean water, which they can use to perform their vital functions. Water an essential element in allowing your body to absorb the nutrients it needs, and works hand-in-hand with fiber to eliminate waste.

When it comes to drinking water, the old rule of drinking 8 glasses per day tends to be a good one. Relying on your level of thirst as a guide may be a simpler way to know when to drink water, and how much you should drink. For fiber intake, women should usually aim for 21-25 grams per day, while men should try to eat 30-38 daily grams.

Try one of our 10 Fiber d’Lish flavors to get 12 grams of healthy fiber, both soluble and insoluble (with no added sugar), per bar. And make sure to enjoy your bar with a glass of water!