Time to clean house, internally that is!
I want to help everyone ring in the New Year with some clearing out the old, and making way for the new, in 2014! Cleansing is such a great way to give our body a break, and allow it to clear out toxins and waste, as well as having our organs and glandular systems functioning better.
I began thinking more about the 5-6 week cleanse that I did last year, and realized that there are many readers out there that have never attempted a cleanse before in their life, let alone following a program with the dietary limitations over 5-6 weeks. So, I decided to give a couple options on cleanses, and let people take on something that they have a better chance of completing.
FYI, whether you decide to do this for one week or more than that, you will benefit!
First, I would suggest getting rid of all the “bad” temptations, and then make sure that your refrigerator is filled with a lot of healthy vegetables and fruits. Organic produce is best, so if you have it available, please spend the additional money. At least then your body won’t be trying to clear these pesticides too; instead it can concentrate on getting rid of the old toxins that are hanging out internally.
Second, I suggest eating smaller portions more often throughout the day. This way your digestion is not being overloaded with a big meal; your blood sugar will be more stabilized; so your energy will be more sustained, and you won’t be as hungry.
The idea behind this cleanse, is to take away the things that may be stressing your system and making it more difficult to function optimally. By giving yourself a week or more away from the “avoidance” list, and focusing more on the “plenty of” list, you’ll be able to reset your system to repair. The longer you maintain this type of diet, the more cellular repair you will have, and the better you will feel!
I’ll start off with what you can eat and should a lot of so there’s PLENTY to choose from:
Leafy greens (spinach, kale, endive, radicchio, green and red leaf lettuce, butter leaf, watercress, etc) are all great ones to choose from.
Cruciferous veggies: broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, bok choy, kale, squash.
Other veggies: carrots, celery, beets, turnips, mushrooms, asparagus, artichoke, onions, garlic, avocado, radishes, cucumbers, leeks.
Starchy veggies: yams, sweet potatoes
Fruits: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, pears, kiwi, grapes, coconut, lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, tangerines, banana, melons.
Fermented foods: Kim chi, sauerkraut or pickles (naturally fermented)
Grains: rice, buckwheat, quinoa, millet, and oats
Proteins: chicken, red meat, fish, lamb, turkey, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds (if you’re vegetarian, or vegan, you’ll of course avoid the first six listed.)
Herbs: Cilantro, basil, tarragon, rosemary, parsley, mint, oregano, thyme,
Spices: Cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, curry, dill, fennel, ginger, nutmeg, turmeric, black pepper, sea salt
Other: olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, herbal tea, green tea, water, coconut water
Sweetener: Stevia
What you will avoid during this cleanse:
Liquid: Coffee, black tea, soda, alcohol, milk and all dairy products
Sugars: all sugar containing products, all high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, honey,
Grains: Wheat, spelt, rye, barley (gliadin containing grains, and their pasta counterparts.)
Proteins: Sausage, pork, bacon, processed meats
Other: soy products (tofu, tempeh, soy milk, edamame, and soy milk, soybean oil) Canned foods, refined oils
Night shades family (especially if you have joint problems or notice skin reactions, etc.) The nightshades are: tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant.
*Any foods that you know irritate your system or that you have known allergies to, you’ll want to avoid. Soy, dairy and wheat products are all found to cause inflammation, that’s why they’re avoided here.
Preparation: You can steam or sauté your vegetables, have salads, and/or a protein drink (if it’s pea protein, pea and rice protein, or egg protein.)I advise putting together your daily meals ahead of time so that you already know what you’ll have to eat every couple hours. This pre-prep will keep you from eating off the avoidance list.
*Make sure that you keep your protein levels up and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Keep fruit juices to a minimum as they will hike your blood sugar, due to their high concentration of sugar.
You’ll still have many choices for making your meals interesting and tasty so try playing a little with the different spices and herbs listed. You can always go on-line and see what Paleo or Mediterranean type recipes are available. I’ve still included some grains here, as well as sweet potatoes and yams, so you should still become satisfied, especially if you have another small meal in a couple hours.
Your options:
1. Start off easier by just eliminating all sugar, alcohol, and caffeine from your diet, and stop fried foods and do this for 1-2 weeks
2. Follow this plan, as listed above, for 1-2 weeks
3. Follow the above plan, plus contact me for specifics, to cleanse for 5 weeks to really clear things out.
Option 3 is for those wanting help in the process by adding key supplements: to aid in digestion, eliminate intestinal toxins, as well as supporting the livers detox. If you’d like to do that, call me, and we can go over some options. (760)419-6863
Good luck and stay strong!
Shelly
