Cranberry Cleansing Diet

The cranberry cleansing diet is a component of "The Fat Flush Plan" proposed by Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman. The program is divided into three phases and aims to naturally detoxify the body with cranberry juice. According to Dr. Gittleman, the juice acts by cleansing your lymphatic system and eliminating body fat. "The Fat Flush Plan" provides you with two recipes that contain cranberry juice as its key ingredient.

Purchase unsweetened cranberry juice for your recipes in the cleansing diet. Avoid brands that contain added corn syrup or aspartame. To prepare your cranberry-water mixture fill two 32-oz water with 4 oz of unsweetened cranberry juice and 28 oz of filtered water. Drink eight glasses of this mixture per day. The Long Life Cocktail is 8 oz of the cranberry-water mixture mixed with either one teaspoon of powdered psyllium husks or one tablespoon of ground flaxseeds. Take this upon arising and right before bed on an empty stomach.

Drink 64 oz of cranberry-water and 48 oz of plain water throughout your day. According to “The Fat Flush Plan,” this ensures that your lymphatic system and kidneys have enough fluids to work properly in removing wastes and fat. According to the Reader’s Digest Association, water helps rid the body of waste, keeps tissues lubricated and may even help burn more calories. Drink filtered and non-carbonated water to avoid consuming unwanted toxic metals such as carbon and mercury. In “The Complete Master Cleanse,” author Tom Woleshyn states that these toxins are commonly found in tap water and can affect the speed of your metabolism

The Long Life Cocktail is a blend of diluted cranberry juice and a fiber supplement such as psyllium or ground flaxseed. The fiber supplements are some of the richest sources of phytoestrogens called lignans. Lignans bind to enzymes that convert hormones to estrogen. According to Dr. Gittleman, this action may help control an over-production of estrogen which is often linked to water retention and weight gain.

Cranberry juice is a rich source of phytonutrients such as catechins, lutein, quercetin and anthocyanins. In “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” Dr. Jonny Bowden says the phytonutrients act as antioxidants and provide nutritional support during the cleansing of your body. As antioxidants they help neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals which are thought to be linked to cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Cranberry juice contains compounds called proanthocyanidins which are responsible for the juice’s positive effects on urinary tract infections. In “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” Dr. Jonny Bowden says that these compounds prevent bacteria such as E.coli from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract. Dr. Bowden states that proanthocyanidins also stop bacteria from attaching to your stomach lining which can help to prevent ulcers.