Every so often I decide to do a whole foods cleanse to get my body feeling its best. Considering most of my meals in December consisted solely of wine and chocolate, I figure now is as good as time as any.
The regimen I follow works by eliminating the foods that could be irritating your system. This is the same cleanse that helped me lose the initial 11 pounds of the 24 that I lost over the span of 18 months, not bad for someone who had very little time for the exercise portion of the weight lost equation.
During this cleanse you will steer clear of the "big six" - wheat, sugar (Stevia is allowed), alcohol (sad, but yes), corn, caffeine and dairy. If it is processed, then you can count on it not being part of this cleanse. That means avoiding those energy bars and packages of instant oatmeal.
Basically you can only consume whole foods, and to better understand this you need to think in terms of a food's origin. If what you are consuming is in almost the same form as when it was picked, then it usually is a whole food. Fruits and vegetables are whole foods. Whole grains are whole foods. Animal proteins are whole foods. Beans are whole foods. Along with this, you are going to drink lots of filtered water (sparkling water is completely acceptable so long as it does not contain sodium) and herbal teas.
You have to do this cleanse for at least five days to feel the benefits. Truth of the matter is I usually feel worse before I feel better. This is what is called a "healing crisis", in which you experience heightened symptoms while the body is riding itself of toxins. Headaches, fatigue, bad breath, or breakouts - all normal and should pass by day four. Basically this is not the cleanse to start right before you are making your grand debut on The Bachelorette in hopes of making out with Juan Pablo.
If you still have symptoms by day five, then your body is probably telling you that you need a few more days to get rid of the bad stuff you have been putting into it. Once your body adjusts to doing its job more efficiently and "eating clean", you will feel like a million bucks.
The first day of the cleanse consists of consuming a Detox Broth and loads of water and herbal teas. It is my version of a fasting day, but instead of cayenne infused lemon water, you get a healthy broth. I don't care what anyone says, putting a hot spice in water is just gross and I'd rather have nothing while fasting than that water. Sure the broth isn't going to taste like a perfectly seasoned, juicy steak, but it does beat the water phase. On a side note - be sure to buy organic veggies, because you will have to peel everything if not.
Ingredients:
6 carrots
3 large white potatoes
1 daikon (white radish) or 4 red radishes
2 turnips
1 cup parsley
4 celery stalks
1 garlic clove
1 strip of kombu (Asian food section of Whole Foods)
1 tube of wasabi paste (optional - I add it to the broth to give it flavor and an added kick)
Instructions:
1. Fill saucepan with 2.5 quarts water.
2. Pop in the veggies and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.
3. Strain veggies and save the broth.
4. Refrigerate for the next day, when you begin the cleanse.
5. The broth is good for up to three days, which you can have throughout the cleanse.
Do any of you have a detox or cleanse that work for you? Ever try a whole foods diet?
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