Can You Flush Fat With a Cranberry Cleanse?

The cranberry cleanse Fat Flush Diet plan isn't as new as most people think - it was actually invented many years ago. However, it is seeing a resurgence today in the diet and fitness world. Like any juice cleanse, closed-minded skeptics are decrying the plan as useless and ineffective. But is there more to it than that? Can you actually lose weight and keep it off with a cranberry cleanse fat flush? We wanted answers to this question, too. And, believe it or not, we found them.

What Is the Cranberry Cleanse Diet?

About 25 years ago, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman came up with the Fat Flush Diet. Ever-so-humbly referring to herself as the First Lady of Nutrition, Dr. Gittleman insists that there are other, overlooked, and insidious causes of weight loss resistance which modern day diets simply cannot alleviate. Dr. Gittleman has written many books on the subject of diet and weight loss, including cookbooks, shopping guides, and of course, the original Fat Flush Plan.

On her website, you can choose from either the New Fat Flush Plan, the Smoothie Shakedown Plan, or the Fat Flush for Life Plan. However, all of these programs range anywhere from $86 to $134 full retail price. Alternatively, if you're here looking for an affordable, quick, easy way to utilize one of the cornerstone principles of the Fat Flush Diet - namely, the cranberry juice cleanse - you're in luck. There are many different simple, cost-effective ways that you can reproduce the successful results of the fat flush plan without spending hundreds of dollars on books and supplements.

Here is how the diet claims to work: over a two-week period, you are supposed to detox and cleanse your liver of poisons, chemicals, and excess fats by drinking lots of regular water along with "fat flush water". The fat flush water, if you haven't already guessed, is the cranberry juice cocktail. The antioxidants, polyphenols, and phytonutrients and cranberries are supposed to be exceptionally good for helping your body detox and improving your metabolism. Of course, you probably have to try it out for yourself in order to know whether or not this particular diet is truly effective.

So, What's the Recipe?

If you believe that sticking with the source material is the best way to get the results you want from a cranberry cleanse, then purchasing one of Dr. Gittleman's $100+ books is the only way to get the secrets of the true recipe. However, other cost-cutting conscientious individuals have come up with their own variations (with varying degrees of success).

It all starts with the base liquid: a cranberry juice/purified water mixture ranging anywhere from 1 part cranberry juice/4 parts water to 1 part cranberry juice/7 parts water. Obviously, the more pure the concentration, the more healthful benefits you will get from the nutrients in the cranberries. However, you have to be careful when purchasing the cranberry juice concentrate. It must be pure, without any added sugars, other juices, or synthetic chemicals meant to reduce its tart flavor. People who can tolerate the natural tartness of real cranberry juice may want to go with a 4:1 ratio. People who are less tolerant of the taste, however, may want something closer to a 1:6 or 1:7 ratio.

From there, it seems as though most people take the liberty to mix, match, and add various ingredients to their liking. Obviously, you want the juice to be as low calorie as possible and you want to avoid added sugars. Don't forget that packing your juice full of other fruits and/or veggies can really spike the sugar count - so be careful!

Some people also like to experiment with adding thermogenic spices to their juice. These are great for adding flavor and speeding up your metabolism without adding a single calorie to the count. But there can be side effects, especially for people who did not tolerate spicy food well in the first place. Symptoms include GI distress, skin flushing, sweating, and runny nose. Long term use of high doses can even cause damage to your liver and kidneys. So if you want to add any of these spices to your cranberry cleanse, do so sparingly.

One popular trend happening in the cranberry juice cleanse world right now is to add apple cider vinegar into the mix. Granted, this isn't a terrible idea; scientists and researchers have discovered many healthful benefits associated with taking small doses of apple cider vinegar on a daily basis. But be careful: dentists warn that too much apple cider vinegar can contribute to tooth decay. And for people with heartburn problems, apple cider vinegar can exacerbate those, too.

Lastly, even though you want to keep your calories low and your solid food intake to a minimum while doing a two-week cranberry cleanse, most people recommend a high dose of healthy fiber at least once a day. The healthiest suggestions involve either chia seeds, or flaxseed. Whole flax seeds are best because they contain the highest concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids. They also have a heart healthy omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio. This is important because too much omega-6 and two little omega-3 fatty acids can cause inflammation and other health problems. But if you keep your omega-6 low in your omega-3 high, it's actually quite good for your health. Similarly, chia seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as protein.

Regardless of which one you choose, they will both add bulk to your digestive system and keep your colon healthy while on the cleanse. However, they should be eaten separately and washed down with the juice. Adding them into your cranberry juice mixture can quickly turn your fat flush cocktail into a thick pudding due to how the seeds react with liquid.

Is the Cranberry Cleanse the Only Way to Lose Weight?

No, no it is not. There are other ways to lose weight which don't involve starving yourself and drinking a tart juice for two weeks straight. Granted, if you find a cranberry cleanse recipe you like and you want to incorporate it with other weight loss methods, don't let us stop you! But we think that the better option is to consider the health benefits of a simple, once-a-day diet pill. And we have plenty of information about the best ones available. Learn more.