Cleansing is the new diet culture
Let’s talk about cleansing.
We have been a part of the wellness industry for quite some time (20 years combined, actually) and one of the major narratives of this industry is the importance of cleansing.
It’s true that cleansing does have it’s benefits. We’ve seen it and experienced it ourselves. However, this is not the narrative that is being reinforced. Like you, we’ve witnessed an industry that makes claims about cleansing that completely supports diet culture and plants fear deep in our psyche. This fear becomes embodied and tells us that unless you’re cleansing regularly, your body:
will be unwell
does not know how to heal itself
needs to be restricted in order to be well
requires a rigid diet, based on boxed thinking and rules
cannot be trusted and your intuition about your health is wrong
If this feels true for you, we want to you feel validated. We have felt this deeply and these messages have penetrated our psyche, too. You’re definitely not alone. This is the power of diet culture.
Once we acknowledge these messages, we can start to challenge their validity and truth. Again, it’s not that cleansing in and of itself is bad or wrong. It’s not. Cleansing is a tool. It’s the messages that are attached to the ideology of cleansing that are harmful.
We have done this work (and continue to do it as the messaging is very layered) and have come to some deeper understanding about the value of cleansing and how to use this tool safely.
Your intention matters. Connecting with yourself as to WHY you feel like right now is the time to cleanse. You are the expert of you.
Cleansing is beyond what we eat, it’s everything we consume (what we watch, read, the relationships we have and our thoughts). Again, being intentional and aware of this can mean sometimes we focus on the whole self and sometimes our focus is beyond food, and just our thoughts. Just remember, that you are whole and do not require fixing.
Being aware of cleansing programs that promote rigidity as this can validate and reinforce our rigid mindset. Gentle, intentional and flow - like what we created with Full to New has more power to shift us internally as it’s calling on you to be your own healer.
There are times when to absolutely not be cleansing. Like everything, there is a time and place.
It’s important to keep unpacking what we believe to be true about cleansing with empowered education.
