Spring Cleanse!!

Tomorrow is the first day of April. I love the month of April with buds sprouting, birds singing and snow melting. But over the past few years I have developed a bit of a love/hate relationship with April. Love it for all the reasons mentioned above but also because it is the month I cleanse, which in it self is filled with love and hate. I love the way a cleanse makes me feel. I love the challenge of a cleanse and the empowerment it brings. But I hate of course depriving myself of many of the things I love and the continuous, conscious effort that is entailed in a cleanse. However, the pros always out weigh the cons and that is why I continue to cleanse twice/year and that is why I am starting tomorrow.

If you have never cleansed before, I suggest taking the next few days to get yourself prepared. The number one rule that will define cleanse success is to be prepared. Eating whole foods often requires a little more effort as you cannot just heat and serve. And eating out is a rare occasion on a cleanse as 'cleanse-friendly' restaurants are unfortunately far & few between. So take the next few days to shop, pick recipes and prepare meals. Doing these few steps will make following a cleanse much easier.

I have a complete cleanse-kit for sale which includes a full meal-plan with recipes and detoxing techniques. Please contact me at kimberly@greenblossoms.ca

Here are the guidelines to a cleanse to help you get started. 

Getting Started

·      Because a detox consists of a break down diet, it is very cooling on the body. Therefore, you want to detox when it starts getting warmer out. That is why spring and fall are the best times.

·      Pick a time that is convenient and realistic for you. Don’t pick the 2 weeks where you have major events planned (i.e. weddings, parties). It will only make sticking to the detox program more difficult. Also, this program involves quite a bit of food preparation time. Don’t do it when you are scheduled to work over time all week.

·      Get rid of any temptations (i.e. chocolate, cookies etc.). This detox will be a real test on your will power so the easier you can make it on yourself the better.

Foods to Avoid

·      Sugar: all foods containing white sugar, brown sugar, glucose, fructose, corn syrup, cane sugar/juice/syrup, honey, agave nectar, rice syrup, maple syrup and definitely no artificial sweeteners (sucralose, saccharine, aspartame, neotame). Stevia can be used but only if really necessary – which I don’t think ever really is!

·      Coffee: it would be a good idea to slowly start cutting out the coffee as soon as possible to avoid headaches and coffee withdrawal. The only form of caffeine allowed is green tea.

·      Animal products: A purely vegan diet is recommended for a detox. This includes no eggs, fish, dairy products and honey.

·      Processed foods: pretty much anything that comes in a can or box is not allowed!! This includes tofu for vegetarians and almond, rice or soy milk. Some exceptions are organic Tamari sauce (make sure it is wheat free), olive oil, organic coconut milk and canned organic beans  (Eden). The better option would be to soak and cook all your beans but I do realize how time consuming that can be.

·      Gluten: follow a gluten-free meal plan. A detox should also be free from most grains with the exception of brown rice and quinoa.

·      Alcohol: sorry, no exceptions. Hey, the good thing is your friends will appreciate having a DD for the next 2 weeks!!

What to Eat:

Veggies, veggies and more veggies!! There is no limit except for potatoes as they are a starch.

1-2 grains /day consisting of brown rice or quinoa.

Fruits.Limit high sugar content fruits such as tropical  (banana, pineapple,mango) and eat fruits after lunch only to help balance blood sugar levels. Avoid dried fruit.

1-2 servings/day of beans or lentils.

 Nuts and seeds with the exception of soy and peanuts.

            Diet Guidelines

·      Drink water: first thing into your body every morning should be an 8 oz. glass of pure water with ¼ of a freshly squeezed lemon. Water should be drunk consistently throughout the day. The minimum requirement should be your body weight divided in half and that would equal the amount in ounces you should drink per day (i.e. weight=130lbs/2 = 65. 65oz of pure water per day minimum). Drink 6 oz. (177 ml) before meals. Water should never be ice cold. Warm or room temperature is best.

·      To break-the-fast, it is recommended you start each day of the cleanse with vegetables. 750ml – 1L of freshly juiced juice is recommended for breakfast everyday and to be drunk within an hour of making, as nutrients are lost. Carrot and beet juice, along with leafy greens are best.

·      Eat every two to two and half hours to balance blood sugar and energy levels (this is will help avoid the afternoon crash as well as night time munchies).

·      Eat organic. As we are trying to limit our exposure to toxins, we should avoid all pesticide-sprayed foods.

·      Finish meals and snacks by 9 p.m. Your liver detoxifies overnight and this time line helps its efforts.

·      Try not to overeat. To conserve time, you can make big batches of food to eat throughout the week. However, as fresh is best, try to add a fresh salad or veggies as a side to any leftovers.

·      As stress and anxiety can produce toxins internally, one should incorporate a program that will detox the mind as well. Balance and harmony is only achieved when there is a balance between mind and body. Incorporating Yoga, Reiki, Tai Chi and/or meditation are great ways to improve mental health.

·      Supplementation: Liver support during a detox is essential. Milk thistle or Hepato DR by St.Francis is recommended. Dandelion and parsley leaf is recommended for kidney support as toxins are flushed out of the body.

·      Enemas. Yes, you heard me correctly. As our livers begin to release existing toxins, we should assist to eliminate these toxins from the body and enemas are a great way to do this. Please feel free to contact me on how to preform an enema safely and properly.

What you might feel during the Detox

A detox is a break-down diet designed to not only eliminate the toxins you ingest but release the toxins that already exist in your tissues. As this process occurs, it is possible to feel worse before you feel better. Some possible symptoms can be headaches, fatigue, gas, dizziness, feeling cold, irritable and/or emotional. Those with more toxins will most probably experience more symptoms.

 *Anyone pregnant, breast feeding or diabetic should not participate in this program. Those suffering from any other medical conditions please consult your physician prior to starting this program.

Marvelous Me March – The Infectious Smile

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I don’t know about you but March is a tough month. I actually read somewhere that it is considered to be the most depressing month of the year for Canadians. And I can clearly see why. We are well into our fourth month of cold, frigid weather. The days are short and for many of us, our only contact with the sun is breifly on the weekends. If we are lucky, Easter may fall in March but otherwise our next vacation day is miles away (unless you’re a teacher or student and are lucky enough to get a mood-saving spring break).  Our vitamin D deficiancies are taking effect and just the sight of another snow flake may be enough to send us over the edge

Reunite friends of 27 years and just see how many laughs can be had!

We need something to get us through these last few weeks of winter and The Marvelous Me March challenge has just the solution. This months challenge has nothing to do with exercise or nutrition, however it is proven to have better healing effects than both combined. Something that has proven to greatly reduce stress, boost the immune system, reduce heart disease, provide instant pain-relief, release fears, cure depression, create relaxation and build relationships, just to name a few. This is no magic a pill and does not require any fancy gadgets or cost any money. This magic medicine is laughter.

Science still cannot fully explain the healing powers of laughter as they stretch far beyond the lab. There are cases beyond cases of people being completely freed  from illnesses that were once diagnosed as incurable. Fortunately today, doctors recognize the healing powers of laughter and have started to incorporate it in their practices (often known as Humor Therapy). And its about time as the benefits of laughter have been known for ions. Lincoln said to his cabinet “laugh gentlemen laugh, or you will go mad.” And Aristotle believed that when a baby laughs for the first time, it is only then that they gain a soul.

So we are cracking this miracle medicine bottle and taking a big chug to chase these March blues away. This months Marvelous Me challenge – The Infectious Smile, is to make it a point to laugh each and everyday. Rent a funny movie, got to a comedy club, call up your funniest friend, or have a tickle fight with your kids. Whatever you choose, make sure it gets your laughing. Not just a ‘tee hee’ giggle either. I’m talking a full-out, belly-aching laugh. But our challenge doesn’t stop there folks. One of the best qualities about laughter is that is is completely contagious. You thought catching a cold was easy, just try not to laugh when every one around is in hysterics – its impossible! So it is your duty to pass these feel-good exercises on to others. It could be your spouse or it could be a complete stranger that you simply smile at on the subway. Whoever it is, you must make someone smile or better yet, laugh each day.

Please share with me your funny stories of what made you laugh or how you brightened someone else’s day.

To brighten your day, I thought I’d share with you this funny video that is sure to cause a belly ache!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRJcjy-d8w0

Happy laughing!!