To Cleanse or not to Cleanse?

The right veggies can help with cleansingLately I've been feeling like I've fallen off the diet wagon. Birthday celebrations, holidays, and travelling sometimes make it difficult to keep up with healthy and clean eating habits. So starting tomorrow, I will do a 7 day cleanse to get back on track, increase my energy and get my body strong for my next lecture tour in two weeks. I definitely support a “Clean Eating Program” as I like to call it, twice a year - once in the spring and again in the late summer/fall.

In keeping with all my talk about environmental toxins, stress, and the challenges of sticking to a “clean diet” lately, allowing your body to cleanse twice a year can help you reduce your inflammation, revitalize your metabolism, boost your immune system and simply increase vitality and clarity!

Here's what my “Clean Eating Program” looks like.

 

 My AVOID list:

  • Alcohol
  • Coffee
  • Sugar (fruit ok)
  • Dairy
  • Gluten
  • Egg
  • Soy
  • Red Meat/Pork
  • Shellfish
  • Peanuts
  • Oranges

 

Foods to INCLUDE:

  •  Lean, organic (whenever possible) protein, like free-range chicken and turkey, wild fish, legumes, nuts and seeds
  • Brown rice, millet, quinoa, buckwheat, gluten free oats
  • Unlimited veggies (see list below)
  • Fruit (I will try to stick to lower glycemic fruit)
  • Plenty of lemon water, herbal teas, green tea

 

The Detoxification Process

Detoxification is a process by which your body transforms toxins into harmless molecules that can be eliminated. This process takes place primarily in the LIVER and to a lesser degree in other tissues and organs (kidneys, skin, lungs).

During the cleansing process, it is important to include foods and herbs that are liver supportive as this will help your body rid itself of toxins the most effectively.

 

Cleansing Herbs to Support the Liver

  •  Garlic - A blood cleanser, lowers blood fats, natural antibiotic
  •  Cayenne pepper - A blood purifier, increases fluid elimination and sweat
  • Ginger root - Stimulates circulation and sweating
  • Parsley leaf - Diuretic, flushes kidneys

I also often use an herbal extract of milk thistle, dandelion, turmeric and artichoke daily - all of which are liver protective and supportive.

 

Foods that Assist the Liver in Detoxification

  •  Watercress, all the members of the onion family, mustard greens, collard greens, kale, turmeric, basil, cardamom, cumin, fennel, dill, mint, rosemary, lemon balm, beets, taro root, apple-cider vinegar, brown rice, grapefruit, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and asparagus.
  • Berries including strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, huckleberry, and thimbleberry contain antioxidants and phytochemicals known to regenerate liver cells.

Happy Cleansing!!!

Blog, Detoxification, Environmental toxins, NutritionDoctor Marita