Whether you're a cleanse queen or are new to the world of cleansing - this time of year makes us think about incorporating this into our routine! This month's Something You Should Know focuses on questions we have about doing your next cleanse. We enjoyed Raw Generation's range of flavors and sat down with Jessica Rosen to find out about their brand as well as what we need to know.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about the brand Raw Generation.

JESSICA ROSEN: When I completed graduate school and was starting my career a little over a decade ago, I was exhausted, sick all the time, and overweight. In 2010, I lost both of my grandmothers to cancer within six months of each other. The abruptness of this loss changed my outlook on what it means to truly be healthy.

I vowed to educate myself on nutrition so that I could help my loved ones lead long and healthy lives from then on. I began researching the role foods play in a person’s health, including how what you eat affects your weight, and I enrolled at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become a Certified Holistic Health Coach. While enrolled, I personally tested different ways of eating and found that a diet emphasizing raw foods, and more specifically raw juice, was the key to a healthier body, including weight loss. Weight loss is a major component, not only of how you feel about yourself, but how healthy you are.

My father and I started developing Raw Generation early in 2012 because we saw a need for convenient foods that are truly healthy. We believe lack of time, money, or convenience, shouldn't be an excuse not to feed your body what it needs to thrive. My initial goal was only to help myself and my family, but since the beginning of 2012, I've expanded my goals to helping everyone.

Raw Generation's cleanses, juices, soups, and smoothies were designed for people who want to lose weight in a healthy way without counting calories, keeping track of points, or spending hours in the kitchen. Using whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and spices, without any preservatives, chemicals, and artificial ingredients Raw Generation is creating the highest quality products to help anyone lose weight, have more energy, feel better, and be healthier.-

AM: How important is including a cleanse in your diet?

JR: At a minimum, I aim to cleanse once every three months. From time to time it is good to give your body a rest from the stresses of everyday life. Juice cleansing is a good way to:

Give your digestive system a break so your body can heal and repair itself quickly

Feed yourself pure nutrition that your body can absorb immediately

Help your liver and kidneys detoxify your body

Give your body what it needs to slim down and have more energy

AM: What happens during a cleanse and why should you do it?

JR: Toxic build-up is often the cause of weight gain and disease in our bodies. Dietary cleansing draws out these toxins, allowing for inner healing and a healthier, slimmer you. Cleansing approaches the body from a fundamentally different perspective than calorie-restricted diets. Instead of counting calories and eating less, a proper cleanse is comprised of eating nutritionally abundant foods so that the body can purge toxins and wastes that accumulate in organs and weigh us down.

Cleansing is a prime way to jump-start a healthy program or a tremendous way to boost an existing healthy program. No matter which type you choose, you will see very real benefits in your body, from weight loss to clearer skin to more energy to better sleep.

AM: How can someone cleanse in a healthy way?

JR: Ideally, cleanses should be done at a time when there is minimal stress and physical demands. Your body will be hard at work detoxifying, and so it’s best if you are able to rest and take it easy throughout. However, if you have an athletic, active lifestyle, you can still do a cleanse! The key is, you should be sure that your daily caloric intake is adequate and that your cleanse contains a source of plant-based protein to support your body’s demands.

It’s also essential that you ease into a cleanse so that it is not a shock to your system (and you avoid unpleasant detox symptoms). In the days prior, you should eat lots of whole, plant-based foods, avoid dairy, grains, fried or processed foods, sweets, artificial creamers & sweeteners, soda, & alcohol, and drink LOTS of water.

Cleansing is NOT fasting.

An ideal cleanse should involve adequate caloric intake to sustain regular daily functioning, while at the same time, encouraging the body to eliminate toxic waste. This can be done in three different ways, each with varying levels of difficulty - juice cleansing, smoothie cleansing, or an all raw food cleanse (that also includes the juices and the smoothies).

Various Ways to Cleanse Your Body:

Juice cleansing is traditionally done for a shorter duration of time and promotes fuller cleansing at a quicker rate, while still being nutritionally sound if juice from leafy greens are a significant portion of the cleanse.

Smoothie cleansing is usually easier to sustain for a longer period of time, and also promotes full cleansing, just at a slightly slower rate. As long as dark, leafy greens are included in a good portion of the smoothies, this is also nutritionally sound for longer lengths of time.

Raw Food cleansing would include juices, green smoothies, and a wide variety of fruits, veggies, raw nuts and seeds to ensure adequate nutrient intake. This can also include healthy teas and other superfoods. This type of cleanse can be the most satisfying because there are a lot more options.

AM: What are the various cleanse options that Raw Generation has available and how do you know which one is right for you?

JR: Skinny Cleanse - Our most popular cleanse option, providing 6 cold-pressed juices a day. It’s perfect for everyone who wants to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle and shed a few pounds fast. However, if you select the Skinny Cleanse you should be sure to do it at a time when you have minimal physical demands.

Protein Cleanse - A great option for those who want to detoxify without giving up their everyday level of physical activity. This cleanse has 3 cold-pressed juices and 3 protein shakes for each day, so you can stay energized and build muscle throughout.

Skinny System - Both a cleanse AND a long-term meal plan. It’s perfect for anyone who has a larger appetite and needs something to fight off savory cravings, providing 3 cold-pressed juices, 2 savory soups, and 1 protein shake for each day. The addition of fiber will help sustain your appetite and fight junk cravings.

Soup Cleanse - Our lowest sugar, highest fiber cleanse option. Great for anyone who is watching their sugar intake and prefers savory flavors to sweet. This cleanse gives you 3 soups and 3 cold-pressed green juices each day.

Keto Cleanse - Our newest product was designed for people who are already on a keto diet and want to detoxify, OR want to kick off state of ketosis. This cleanse is high in healthy fats with minimal carbohydrates. This is a great way to neutralize the unhealthy acidity that occurs if you are eating a diet that is particularly rich in meat and dairy while still maintaining ketosis.

PHOTOS COURTESY | RAW GENERATION