Spiritual cleansing is the result of being aware of what you put into your body.  Alcohol, drugs, smoke, coffee, tea, chocolates, milk, milk products; all these harm you, so it is not surprising that spiritual growth is difficult. To physically cleanse yourself, you MUST initially reduce the consumption of those substances that release HARMFUL ACIDS. Gradually, as cleansing progresses, the consumption of these will be left out altogether as a very natural process and the body brought into an ALKALINE state. When you consume foods which encourage the body to release greater amount of acids, these acids work upon you physically in two ways(1) They very effectively CLOSE the channels through which spiritual energy flows and (2) they take you to levels of consciousness that are low.
Which foods would HELP you?  All foods of the plant kingdom.  The plant kingdom evolved first so that all other species take sustenance from it; humans came much later. Initially, sustenance was derived only from plants - fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, leaves. These were the main source of nourishment and were eaten in the form in which they give you the largest nutritive value - UNCOOKED.  Then there came a desire in humans to kill and eat animals.  It was with this change that humans left behind their realm of the spiritual and moved into the realm of the material. 
Foods which you crave for should not be stopped all at once, only very gradually, as deliberate suppression of craving encourages it and does not dispel it. The best way to leave such foods is when the physical body itself feels no desire for them at all. When the spiritual path is chosen as a deliberate, free will option exercised by you, the physical will soon follow the dictates of this path, and you will not need to force yourself to do anything.
Physical cleansing makes 'emotional cleansing much easier, but, no cleansing is of any effect, if first the inner core, the essence of the truth that "you are God" is not accepted at the soul level. All cleansing rises from this acceptance:  ‘only I can cause pain to me. Only I can bring joy within me. Only I am responsible for only me.” Once this has been accepted completely, you will never look outside of yourself to blame or judge others, nor will you take upon yourself the unnecessary burden of guilt.
There are also external aids to physical, emotional and spiritual cleansing: (1) diet (2) meditation exercises and (3) Prayers & chants.  While you observe your diet, you can start on emotional, spiritual cleansing by turning ‘inwards’ to find out the origin of your anger (which is often fear, or pain that is externalised). Instead of blame and judgement, take responsibility for your own behaviour, by admitting, that although there was an external stimulus, a catalyst, YOU reacted from YOUR inner conditioning.
Food plays an important part in raising your energy fields. When your vibrations rise, they will draw towards you only positive healing energy and you will be released from the burdens that weigh you down. The finer vibrations of plants, when taken in, without destroying them by the process of cooking, result in your own dense vibrations leaving you, and making you ready and eager to undertake the path of cleansing.