Wintertime leaves a lot of us feeling blah and washed out. Our skin gets dry and pale, our eyes can seem dull and lifeless - and let's not even get started with the foods we eat. Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas parties and New Year's Eve - all came with plenty of rich, decadent dishes and calorie-laden cocktails. It's no wonder that by the time spring arrives, we could really use a pick-me-up.

And those are just a few of the things a quick cleanse can remedy. Have you been plagued by chronic constipation, allergies, sinusitis, or any other chronic aches and pains? If you're tired of relying on over-the-counter medications to make it through day to day life, there might just be an unexpected culprit - blockage(s) in your body's elimination system.

Basically, what this means is that you might be suffering from mucus and other wastes building up in your body's major routes of elimination:

- Your lungs

- Your pores

- Your kidneys, and

- Your bowels.

Getting rid of this waste build-up will better allow your body to get the most out of your regular diet - a bit like the performance difference you see between low- and high-octane fuel.

Important Things to Consider Before You Begin...

Of course, the three day cleansing diet isn't for everyone. Some people may be too weak or may suffer from conditions that make the cleansing diet too dangerous to undertake. For this reason, it's important to stress how vital it is to first consult with your doctor before you begin a new dietary regiment.

Also, I can't stress enough that this is a diet to help you cleanse your system out, not too help you lose weight. Misuse could be extremely hazardous to your health!

Now that we've covered the basics, let's delve on into the specifics of the cleansing diet.

The Diet in a Nutshell...

While you may come across several different variations of the 3 day cleansing diet, here are some of the things they'll all have in common:

- You'll have to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day

- When it comes to foods, be ready to restrict your diet to 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, preferably raw or steamed.

- In case you didn't get the hint, that means NO meat.

- If you do opt for breads or cereals (and you probably shouldn't), it's important that you only chose whole grains

- During this 72 hour period, it's important to avoid sugars, coffees, and sodas. If you're afraid you'll suffer from headaches from caffeine withdrawals, you might want to begin slowly reducing your coffee intake prior to the "fast."

The Cleansing Diet in Action...

While there are many different variations of the cleansing diet being touted by various different experts, most of them follow a pattern that looks something like this:

Day 1 - A complete food fast, water only

Day 2 - 5 or 6 servings of fruit and fruit juice only (water is still a must)

Day 3 - 5 or 6 servings of vegetables and veggie juice only (water is still a must)

Day 4 - Go back to your regular diet

Of course, variations do exist, and with a little research, you should have no trouble finding one suitable for your own unique needs. Three days later, a whole new, detoxified woman will be looking back at you in the mirror!