(Photo courtesy of rawforbeauty.com)
I recently had a conversation with someone about cleansing
and detoxing. She was asking me, as a
health coach, what I recommend. Afterwards
I pondered over the trends of juice cleanses, detoxing, fasting, etc. It is the beginning of a new year, people are
carrying some extra weight from the Holidays indulgences, and they want a way
to “jump start” a healthier way of life.
Some people are even looking for a “quick fix.” While I am not a fan or supporter of gorging
yourself then doing a juice cleanse/fast and repeating the cycle, there are
some healthy steps that one can take to get their health and nutrition back on
track.
So what should one eat and avoid when trying to kick start
their healthy lifestyle? Let’s begin
with the good stuff…what you want to put into your body. I like the quote “Every time you eat you are
either feeding disease or fighting it.”
Remember this when you eat. Fill
your diet with organic real/whole foods, lean meats, fish, foods that are grown
not made or manufactured. Avoid sugar, gluten,
dairy, alcohol, caffeine, coffee (even decaf), deli meat, pork, and processed/packaged
foods. Limit your red meat to none or
only lean cuts that are from 100% grass fed organic cows. For example, a flank steak from a grass fed
pasture raised cow every now and again is okay, especially if you are an “O”
blood type and need red meat. Also
remember to graze throughout the day by eating 5-6 small meals rather than 3
large ones.
I recommend beginning with a “detox” by strictly altering
your diet. After 30 days you can slowly
start to add some foods back into your diet.
However, it is best to keep overall healthy nutrition. In other words, some goat cheese or a
naturally sweetened gluten-free treat every now and again is okay, but keep the
sodas, bread and refined sugar out for good.
I know we all indulge every now and again, but generally we need to keep
a consistent healthy diet rather than a roller coaster of binge – cleanse,
binge – cleanse, binge - cleanse.
What does this detox look like? Begin your day with a glass of lemon water,
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) with water or a combo of the above. In the winter I love a glass of warm water
with lemon, ACV and a tiny bit of raw honey.
Enjoy a glass of Green Juice
(LINK) for breakfast. Homemade cereal
(LINK) is a great option for
a mid morning snack. Lunch can consist
of a salad filled with delicious vegetables and a lean protein. An apple with almond butter makes a yummy
afternoon snack. Dinner can be Quinoa, a
lean protein (like a fish low in Mercury) and a vegetable. Drink lemon water throughout the day. It helps alkaline your system, detox your
body and boost your metabolism.
(photo of my son enjoying green juice this morning. This picture is simply to show how delicious it is not to promote a detox or cleanse of a child. He eats what we eat, which is an overall healthy diet, not the standard American diet (SAD)).
Remember to talk to your health care provider before making
any drastic changes to your lifestyle. It
is important to remain healthy and happy with the guidance of a professional
that knows your medical conditions.
Healthy regards,
THRIVE: Natural Family Living
