"Dos & Don'ts" of the cleanse

Maximizing Your Cleanse: Essential Dos and Don'ts for a Fulfilling Cleanse Journey

Stepping into a cleanse is more than just a temporary reset, it’s a deep commitment to honoring your body’s natural healing rhythms. At Hawaii Cleanse Co., we believe that detoxification can be both a physical and spiritual journey. How you approach your cleanse determines how deeply you’ll experience its benefits.

Over the years, we’ve seen how small adjustments make all the difference, whether it’s prioritizing hydration, practicing gentle movement, or knowing when to rest. To help you get the most out of your cleanse, we’ve put together a list of helpful “dos and don’ts” that will guide you through this process with extra ease and intention.

By following these key principles, you’ll not only likely enhance your results but also cultivate a deeper connection with your body and allow for an easier cleansing journey.

The DOs: Set Yourself Up for Success!

✅ Follow the Cleanse Schedule ~ Take your cleanse shakes at the recommended times for the best results. Consistency is key!

“Wake up, breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner”

✅ Stay Hydrated ~ Drink plenty of water throughout the day to support detoxification. Yes you’re drinking the shakes and water immediately after, but you need more liquids besides those.

✅ Drink Coconut Water & Herbal Teas ~ These help replenish essential minerals, keeping you hydrated and balanced.  Also add for an added flavor profile so you don’t get too burnt out on the apple juice.

✅ Daily Gentle Movement ~ Activities like yoga, stretching, walking, or breathwork help stimulate circulation and lymphatic flow, enhancing the detox process.  Having some form of gentle movement each day is helpful to keep things moving nicely with ease.

✅ Rest & Prioritize Sleep ~ Your body detoxifies best when it's well-rested. Aim for 7-9 hours of deep, restorative sleep each night.  This will allow your body to recover more each night and work harder with more ease each day.

✅ Dry Brush or Use a Sauna ~ Dry brushing helps move toxins through the lymphatic system, while saunas support deeper detoxification. These actions will deeply help to amplify the detox of the cleanse experience.

✅ Listen to Your Body ~ If you feel fatigued or lightheaded, slow down, take deep breaths, and honor your body’s needs.

✅ Consume Bone Broth (Miso if vegetarian) ~ If you feel you need extra nourishment, homemade or high-quality bone broth is a perfect option that provides collagen, amino acids, and electrolytes. Bone broth will help keep you satiated and is perfect for when feeling hungry.

✅ Take Time for Self-Care ~ Journaling, meditation, baths, or spending time in nature can help support emotional detoxification. Cleansing isn’t just about the body, it’s about the mind and spirit too. Whatever self care may look like for you aim for just 15 minutes a day!

✅ Set Intentions for Your Cleanse ~ Take a few moments before you start to get clear on why you’re doing this. Whether it’s for healing, clarity, or a deeper reset, setting an intention can profoundly shape your experience.  This is helpful to look back on when you’re having a harder moment during the cleanse, remembering why you’re doing this and staying true to your goals.

The DON’Ts: What to Avoid for the Best Results:

🚫 Don’t Drink Citrus Water ~ While citrus is healthy, its acidity can interfere with the cleanse process and cause extreme discomfort and adverse reactions. Stick to plain STILL water, coconut water, or herbal teas.

🚫 Don’t Consume Coffee or Alcohol ~ These disrupt the detox process and can dehydrate your body. Let your system fully reset without stimulants. It’s especially nice to take a break from these if you consume regularly on a weekly/daily basis.

🚫 Don’t Eat Solid Food ~ This cleanse is designed to give your digestive system a break so it can focus on deeper healing. Avoid snacking on anything outside of the cleanse protocol.  Foods, juices, smoothies etc.

🚫 Don’t Overexert Yourself ~ High-intensity workouts can be too taxing during the first initial days of the cleanse. Instead, opt for gentle movement like stretching, yoga, or walks for the first few days while you get acclimated, then continue with your typical workout routine.

🚫 Don’t Use Artificial Sweeteners or Flavored Drinks ~ They can interfere with gut healing and disrupt your body's natural reset process. Stick to what’s recommended.  Don’t add flavors to your water or have a tea pack with added ingredients besides the herbs.

🚫 Don’t Stress About Hunger ~ Mild hunger is normal, but deep cravings could be emotional detox surfacing. Take a deep breath, drink some herbal tea or bone broth for some nourishment and flavors, and allow yourself to move through it.  Feel it, Acknowledge it, move through it.

🚫 Don’t Compare Your Experience to Others ~ Everyone detoxes differently. Some may feel energized, while others may feel more tired at first. Everyones detox symptoms Trust your own body’s process!

🚫 Don’t Rush Back Into Regular Eating ~ After the cleanse, take it slow, ease back into whole foods slowly. Start with hydrating foods like fruit, broth, and steamed vegetables before introducing heavier and harder to digest foods.

To make it even easier, here’s what an ideal cleanse day could look like:

🌅 Morning: Start your day with a warm cup of herbal tea and take your first cleanse shake while that steeps. Stretch, breathe, and set an intention for your day. Make your bag of cleanse necessities to take with you and have ready!

🌞 Midday: Move your body with a gentle walk or some light yoga. Hydrate with coconut water and take your 3rd cleanse shake.  Take 5 minutes from your routine, whether that’s work or being a parent etc., to get out of your mind and into your body, be presents and relaxed.

🌙 Evening: Wind down with dry brushing, a relaxing bath, whatever helps calm you down. Enjoy your final cleanse shake before bed then sip some warm bone broth to get you cozy and satiated for the night.

Common Cleanse Challenges & How to Overcome Them:

💡 Feeling sluggish? Try a warm herbal tea, slow down, and rest when needed. Your body is doing deep inner work!

💡 Cravings creeping in? Sip coconut water or bone broth to replenish minerals and soothe hunger signals.  Add this boost of flavor.

💡 Lightheaded or dizzy? Make sure you’re drinking enough water and all your cleanse shakes. If needed, take an extra break and rest.

💡 Mood swings or emotions coming up? Detox isn’t just physical, it’s very emotional too. Journal, meditate, or take a grounding walk in nature. Rebalance your emotions and feel them!

Your Cleanse, Your Transformation:

Your dedication to cleansing is a powerful act of self-care. By following these “dos and don’ts”  you allow your body to fully embrace the healing process and receive the deep nourishment it needs. Enduring 9 Days of some discomfort and what might not be natural for you, so that you can release, reset, and heal what you need to is very well worth it in the long run. Stay strong and determined, this is a dance of delayed gratification vs. instant gratification of snacks etc.

As you go through this journey, remember that cleansing is not only about removing toxins, it’s about resetting your system, reprogramming your connection with food, reconnecting with yourself, listening to your body, learning more about yourself, and resetting on a deeper level.

I hope this offers you some new tools, perspective, and insight for your cleanse journey.

✨ We’d love to hear about your cleanse experience! Share your journey in the comments below or tag us on Instagram @HawaiiCleanseCo to inspire others on their path.