How to Detox Safely & Properly

Hopefully you are reading this because you are finally ready to take that plunge and try your first cleanse. Or maybe you tried one once before and had such a great experience, you want to do it again. Or maybe you are still not convinced of the benefits of a cleanse and want some more information. Either way, I am so happy as all of you reading this recognize the importance of your health and how sometimes a little work is required to keep our bodies functioning properly and disease-free.

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.

Please join me as I will be starting my 1 month detox on Monday, April 4. Whether you do 2 weeks or just 1, please join me and follow my blog as I will be writing daily posts about my experience. I will be able to answer any questions you have and help you feel supported through your journey to great health!
For those of you who are ready to feel great, The Green Blossoms Detox Program is a full a 7-day meal plan complete with all recipes including snacks and even a few treats. This program will guide you through a healthy detox with such yummy foods; you won’t even feel like you are depriving yourself! Sign up today and get ready to blossom!! www.greenblossoms.ca

Love Your Liver

 If asked what the most important organ of the human body is, usually the brain or heart are first to come to mind. No doubt we could not survive without either of these, however today I nominate the liver as the most important organ of the body.

The liver is responsible for over five hundred different functions in the body. Yes, I said hundred.  The liver is the body’s major metabolic organ and plays a vital role in digestion. In digestion, the liver synthesizes bile which is the primary product required for digesting fats. Bile output, which is stimulated by the hormone secretin, is necessary for the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). During absorption, nutrients travel in the blood first to the liver via the hepatic portal vein, so that liver can have “first pick” of the nutrients. Being that it is the liver that processes the many vital substances responsible for the body’s overall health and well-being, amino acids, fatty acids and glucose are removed and stored or processed in various ways.

Although the largest, this modest organ is often overlooked, probably much due to its association with being called ‘the filtration plant of the body’. None of us really want to know what goes on at a filtration plant, however we all recognize that we cannot live without one. The liver is similar to this. As mentioned above, the liver is responsible for so many vital functions that determine our survival, however it is the detoxification process that is most impressive. Everything that enters the body must pass through the liver via the hepatic portal vein. It is the liver cells that remove all nutrients from the blood, as well as any bacteria, microbes or pathogens that have entered the blood stream. If you stop to think about how many toxins we are exposed to everyday, we then realize the importance of our liver. From the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the products we use daily, it is no wonder why our liver is probably the most over worked organ in our body. The reason why the human body can withstand such dangerous exposure is due to the liver’s evolved neutralizing abilities. Within the bile that it secretes, the liver contains enzymes that chemically modify the toxins and then properly dispose of them. If the liver is at all compromised, the detoxification process therefore is also compromised. Many studies have shown strong connections between a malfunctioning liver and cancer. It is well known that environmental pollutants (cigarette smoke, herbicides, pesticides, car fumes etc.) are precursors to cancer as well as other illnesses. A body that is unable to protect itself against exposure to these toxins is therefore at greater risk for these diseases.

         Fortunately, for those with compromised livers, proper dietary measures, special supplements and herbs along with bi-annual detoxing, the liver can repair itself. Because of the many vital roles that the liver does, nature has provided a surplus of liver tissue. If ever the liver experiences damage or must undergo surgery to have part of it removed, this miraculous organ is actually capable of regenerated itself to where it can function again at 100%!!! This is not to say we can do what we please and not worry about the consequences; quite the opposite. Now knowing the importance of our liver and all it does to protect us from illness, the answer seems pretty obvious. Love your liver and it will love you!!!

References:

Michael Murray, N.D and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D, Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, 2^nd Edition, Three Rivers Press, 1998

Elson M. Haas, M.D, Staying Healthy with Nutrition, 21^st Century Edition, Celestial Arts, 2006

April = My Month

It's rounding the end of March and all I can think about is how great April is going to make me feel. Not just because the snow will be gone, the flowers will start blooming and the sun will start shining brighter. April will be great because I have declared it 'My Month'.

I am celebrating 'My Month' with a spring detox, something I do every spring. I am a full advocate of detox's as it is that time of year where you give your body that much needed break for all its hard work all year long and give it thanks for keeping you healthy. Everyday we burden our body with toxins coming at us from every angle. From the air we breath, the food we eat, the products we use and even the water we drink, our body's defenses are bombarded daily.

Twice a year I challenge myself and try to eat the cleanest diet possible. The will power required to withstand my many vices is quite intense, but the confidence I gain in the end is worth it. This spring I want to push myself further and not only concentrate on my physical health, but my mental health as well. My brain can probably use the biggest clean up of all, therefore I will be adding daily meditations to my routine.

Many people feel they don't have the will power to be without their daily vices, or they don't have the time to commit. A two week cleanse is recommend and considering what we do to our bodies the other 50 weeks of the year, two weeks is nothing. If you absolutely can't commit to two weeks, then start with one. You'll surprise yourself with how strong you actually are. It is also wise to stop thinking of detox as  a punishment. A detox is actually a gift to your hard working body. A detox says "Thank you body for taking care of me. I love you".

I will be starting my 1-month detox on Monday April 4. I will soon post details on how to detox properly and safely so please stay tuned. I will also have my 7-day meal plan complete with recipes for sale as of Monday March 28th. I will blog everyday about the cleanse and how I am feeling so you can all follow and I can answer any questions you may have.

So let's do this! Make April 'Your Month'!!!

Grumpy or Grateful?

Today is one of those days where the complaining flowed effortlessly. This is not a common occurrence for me, however it's March 23rd and there is about 10cm of fresh fluffy sss.... sn...sno.. see, I'm not even capable of saying the word after March 21st!

Because of this tragic event when it's officially spring. Because I just took out my favorite spring jacket. Because I just put my big, clunky winter boots away. Because I was fully immersed in my garden planning. Because it was a white knuckle drive to work. Because everyone around me was irritable too. Because I hit a pine tree branch when walking the dog and all the snow fell down the back of my coat. Because walking down the street felt like climbing a mountain. Because of all of this, there seemed like much reason to complain. And justifiably so. However, it was only worth complaining because I sought it to be so.

My cottage on the most beautiful winter night

Because it is March after all, the most unpredictable month of this amazing climate that I live in. Because I have a cool spring jacket. Actually, I have 3. Because I am lucky enough to have boots that kept my feet warm all winter. Because I have a garden to plan for. Because I own a car that I can drive to work. Because I'm lucky enough to be surrounded my amazing people daily, even if they were irritable. Because although in the city, I still have beautiful trees all around me. Because I have a healthy body and unlike many, can actually walk. Because of all these reasons, I have so much to be grateful for.

For those bad days, where nothing seems to go your way remember, it's not that there's nothing to be grateful for. It's because you are choosing not to see it.

MEGA OMEGA!!!

Although I am a passionate vegetarian, I am really not a true vegetarian. I do eat fish.  Only about twice/month, however real avid vegetarians would kick me out of their club based on this information. However, I am a proud fish-eating–vegetarian as this amazing creature provides one with so many healthy nutrients. However, healthy fish choices are becoming increasingly difficult to find as our waters become more and more polluted. Although avoiding many of the toxins, farmed fish is not necessarily the better option as farmed fish are often given antibiotics and quality of life is questionable at these farms. I continue to do research on this subject because as of so far I am not completely satisfied with what I have found.

Recently, I was recommended Basa fish from a colleague. Most likely farmed from the Mekong river and Vietnam, this fish is supposed to contain lower mercury levels compared to other fish. Although, this Basa may still not be the best choice, it sure is tasty!!

This is a healthy version of fish n’chips with added omega 3’s from the flax seeds makes a great wholesome meal that the whole family can enjoy.

Ingredients

2 Basa fish fillets

1 cup organic gluten-free cereal flakes (millet, corn, buckwheat), crushed

2 Tbsp ground flax seed

¼ tsp celery salt

¼ tsp paprika

¼ tsp oregano

pinch of cayenne

1 egg

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.    In a bowl, mix crushed cereal flakes, ground flax seeds and spices. Set aside.

3.    Beat the egg in a separate bowl.

4.    Brush Basa filets on both sides with egg. Coat well.

  5.    Dip egg covered filets in flake/flax seed mixture. Make sure all filet is covered in mixture.

    6.    Put filets into oven dish and bake for 30-35 minutes
  7.    Serve with sweet potato fries and veggies with a wedge of lemon. Mmmmm!!