Posted: February 6, 2014 | Author: arrowone | Filed under: Health | Tags: Clean, Gnosis chocolate, green juice, juice cleanse, Winter detox week 3 |
An interesting thing happened this week. As my husband and I started to discuss how we’d like to continue the “Clean” lifestyle after this 3 week cleanse I found myself starting to cheat. I’m not talking coffee and french fries but maybe an organic brown rice cake smothered in almond butter and covered with blueberries after I’ve had a very filling lunch. While all those foods are “on program”, my purpose for this cleanse is to give my body a break, to abstain from the special little something after my lunch, this is a detox not an all you can eat buffet.
I am happy to explore the 1,001 clean chocolate-y dessert options out there, in fact I just ordered this Gnosis chocolate. But AFTER this three week experiment is over – in the meantime, my husband and I are discussing our strong finish to this 21 day food journey.
We’ve agreed for our last day to juice all day – no food, just green juice. My husband is pushing to juice for day 20 AND 21, he’s so hard core! I am not hard core and I’m not very nice when I’m hungry, so I countered with smoothies AND juices for days 20 and 21. Stay tuned to see how we decided to glowingly glide across our finish line.
Posted: February 4, 2013 | Author: arrowone | Filed under: blog referrals, Health, Me, Tips | Tags: Detox, green juice, juice cleanse, Juicing, nutrition, Vim and Vigor |
photo via VIM + VIGOR
I’ve been thinking about about going back to school for nutrition, but the timing is not quite right…..yet. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to put my interests on hold, instead the internet, books, blogs and as I recently found out, regular old websites can provide a wealth of super helpful information (and it’s free). I was researching the latest juice place to come to town and was really impressed by the information on their site. Ready class, this information brought to you by Vim + Vigor:
First, a short explanation on how juicing can help clean things up:
What is a juice cleanse?
A juice cleanse is the effective removal of waste in the body that has been accumulated over the years due to improper diet, pharmaceuticals, and internal pollutants in the human body. Our goal in juice cleansing and a clean diet is to alkalize the system. Our green vegetable juices are completely alkaline, balancing acidity in the body.
Why is there a lack of fruit juice in your cleanses?
Fruit and its juices are ideal human food and some of the cleanest food on the planet. That being said, the modern human has been eating a mainstream diet laden with improper foods, chemicals, alcohol, drugs, etc. which has caused most human bodies to be systemically yeasted. Yeast in the body is fed by sugar in any form such as fruit, fruit juices, maple syrup and agave nectar (which are used in programs like the “Master Cleanse”). By eliminating the fruit sugar from the green juices you begin to “starve the yeast” which can lead to the most success in your cleanse. In fact, the addition of fruit juices in a cleanse are one reason why most cleanses fail because they actually “feed” already overwhelming colonies of yeast in the body. Yeast lives on sugar and fruit juices and maple syrup in lemon juice water will cause the proliferation of yeast and further putrefaction and fermentation of waste matter in the body.
Why do the majority of your juices for cleansing contain greens?
The alkalinity and chlorophyll in green plants give the body all it needs to make healthy blood and thus creating a healthy body. The greens act as “soap” in the body and help clean the system as a whole while providing the most optimal and assimilated form of nutrition. The green juices contribute alkaline minerals and are the MOST important ingredient in the juice. The greens are the cleaners!
Now the juicing/blending/snacking ingredient cheat sheet:
Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, which have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease due to cholesterol lowering effects. High in magnesium, almonds improve the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
Contains:
Manganese, Vitamin E, Magnesium
Apples are a fantastic addition to nearly all juices due to their high mineral content. Benefits of daily apple consumption include healthy hair, skin, nails and digestion, as well as overall immune support.
Contains:
Vitamin C, Vitamin A, B-Complex, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Silicon, Sodium, Sulfur
Beets are an excellent diuretic, blood toner and builder, which makes them fantastic for detoxification and cleanse protocols.
Contains:
Rich in Betaine (helps reduce inflammation), Folates, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Carotenoids, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium.
Carrot juice provides the enzymes and nutrients to assist in the production of energy, has the necessary essential minerals to help regulate digestion and promotes healthy skin, teeth, tissue and eyes.
Contains:
Beta Carotene (precursor to vitamin A), Thiamin, Niacin, B6, Folate, Manganese, Vitamin C, K and Potassium, Dietary Fiber
Celery has been used extensively as a mild laxative and diuretic, to heal wounds, to sooth irritated nerves and to break up gallstones. It’s also now being used as a treatment in the chemical imbalance of arthritis.
Contains:
Complex B Vitamins, Fiber, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Potassium, Manganese
Cucumbers are very similar to beets in many ways as it’s one of nature’s best diuretics promoting cleansing throughout the body. Being that it also has such a high sulphur and silicon content it’s extremely beneficial for increasing the health of the hair and nails.
Contains:
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Manganese, Potassium
Ginger is a very special root. Used in ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for thousands of years it effect on digestive function and as an anti-inflammatory are well documented. It is also known to be anti-bacterial as well as anti-pyretic.
Contains:
Antioxidants, Essential Oils, Potassium, Manganese, Copper, Magnesium
Grapefruit is high in enzymes that burn fats, contains high water content and is low in sodium. These three characteristics make grapefruit the ideal food for increasing metabolism and reducing cholesterol levels. The immune boosting fruit also contains Pectin, a dietary fiber that promotes better digestion and liver function.
Contains:
Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Lycopene
Kale is the king of juicing as it has benefits as it is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. Loaded with rich sources of antioxidants as well as anti cancer/tumor compounds it’s can be used as a great daily tonic to your morning routine.
Contains:
Calcium, Chlorophyll, Vitamin A, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Beta Carotene, Vitamin K, B-Complex
Lemons are quite possibly one of the most versatile foods available, including it’s ability to alkalize, detoxify and improve overall digestive function. Since free radicals can damage blood vessels and can change cholesterol to make it more likely to build up in artery walls, vitamin C can be helpful for preventing the development and progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease.
Contains:
Vitamin C and its Bioflavonoids, Vitamin A, Folic Acid, Potassium, Iron, Magnesium, Trace Elements
Limes are quite possibly one of the most versatile foods available, including it’s ability to alkalize, detoxify and improve overall digestive function. Since free radicals can damage blood vessels and can change cholesterol to make it more likely to build up in artery walls, vitamin C can be helpful for preventing the development and progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease.
Contains:
Vitamin C and its Bioflavonoids, Vitamin A, Folic Acid, Potassium, Iron, Magnesium, Trace Elements
Oranges are known for their supportive action within the immune system by giving the body much needed antioxidants to counter the harmful effects of free radicals.
Contains:
Vitamin C and its Bioflavonoids, Vitamin A, Zeaxanthin, Lutein, B-Complex Vitamins, Potassium, Calcium
Pears are one of the highest sources of flavonols among all fruits and vegetables. As a very good source of dietary fiber, pears might logically be expected to help protect from development of type 2 diabetes as well heart disease due to the combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber in this fruit.
Contains:
Phytonutrients, Fiber, Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the body’s primary water-soluble antioxidant, defending all aqueous areas of the body against free radicals that attack and damage normal cells. Excessive inflammation, excessive coagulation of the blood, and certain types of tumor growth may all be reduced by therapeutic doses of bromelain in the diet.
Contains:
Vitamin C, Bromelain
The vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber found in romaine lettuce are especially good for the prevention or alleviation of many common health complaints. High in water context and low in calories. Hearth-healthy green.
Contains:
Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, Dietary Fiber
Spinach truly is one of nature’s super foods. Loaded with rich phyto chemicals and large amounts of the bone building vitamin K it’s a great added benefit to any cleanse or detoxification protocol.
Contains:
Iron, B-Complex Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Beta Carotene, Vitamin K, Zinc, Manganese, Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Turmeric is widely known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. A daily dose or shot of this vital root can help offer protection from many common modern ailments.
Contains:
Curcumin, B-Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Potassium, Iron, Manganese, Zinc
Watercress is a source of phytochemicals and antioxidants, a diuretic, an expectorant, and a digestive aid. It also believed to have antiangiogenic cancer-suppressing properties. Watercress is a superfood – high in calcium, vitamin c and potassium. Natural antibiotic.
Contains:
Iron, Calcium, Iodine, Folic Acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Posted: September 17, 2012 | Author: arrowone | Filed under: Health, Shake, Tips | Tags: Clean, cleanse, Detox, Dr. Junger, dry brushing, green juice, green smoothie, meditation, olive oil, organic, raw, raw garlic, smoothie, sugar addiction |
Week 1 into our cleanse and holy cow I feel so clean and so happy! Like dancing on the ceiling happy…and light, I feel light. This summer I wrote about my tendency to overindulge, especially in sweets and fats….I don’t think I was really overeating my salads if you know what I mean. An intervention was in order, so my husband and I broke out the Clean cleanse. We’ve done it before but this round we’re really following all the “extras” laid out in the book including daily meditation, banishing snacks whenever possible, dry brushing, and a nightly dose of olive oil to just name a few. The basics are for 21 days we do two liquid meals, one at breakfast and one for dinner, lunch is a meal from their list of acceptable foods with the idea being as raw as possible and as organic as possible.
Changing up our food has already yielded huge benefits, we are sleeping better, my husband is so glow-y with his bright eyes – he looks 5 years younger, he says I too am sporting a youthful glow, I’ve mentioned the spike in happiness we are both experiencing – all of these things are wonderful BUT they are not my favorite part of my experience so far.
My favorite part is identifying that food and eating out had become a sort of hobby!
“Let’s grab a bite, have some coffee/tea, take the kids for an ice cream, etc., etc.”
So, during these three weeks (and I’m hoping for longer) we will get out and DO something instead of go out and EAT something. One caveat, the “detox date”, my husband and I went out for a green juice at one of the few NEW juicing places that have opened after dropping the kids at school. $15 bucks for two green drinks – DAMN, thank goodness it counts as breakfast. But it was a really nice break from cleaning the juicer.
Not completely unlike traveling, this cleanse experience has changed up our daily routine, offering some awesome insights.
I should mention that neither my favorite part of the experience, nor all the benefits we are outwardly experiencing thus far are the point of our cleanse. We are giving our bodies a break so they can clean themselves up and heal as needed……also to break my crack, I mean SUGAR addiction. Has to be said, just in one week, I feel like the spell has been broken on that front!
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