Jennifer

Gentle CleanseWhy? The body can do a great job of detoxing itself with just a few elliminations from the diet. I do not think that most extreme cleanses are safe OR should be done by most people. Those who should not do intense cleanse, should be very careful and should seek the help of a certified professional when wanting to make changes and become healthier: the malnourished or who have a poor diet, those who have a severe dysbiosis or candidiasis, those who are hypoglycemic, have syndrome X or are diabetic, the pregnant, those with ulcers, those who are sick, have a fever, those who are very stressed, very thin, very obese or those who have cancer.   Of course with the guidance of a professional, individual tweaking can be done to make it more appropriate. We are all unique.  But I had to present this warning as changes in diet can be both good and bad sometimes. Life is never simple, this is for sure.

I have not done the ReCleanse detox in years, but the menu plan is just smart and a great way to cleanse with out herbs/pills or dare I say, some of the crap that people are pushing on the general public that should not be pushed/advertised. http://www.recleanse.com/fe-d.html

I start with something like….warm filtered water, juice of at least 1/2 a lemon, little fresh ginger (Stimulates stomach acid and is good for me who needs that)  or unsweetened concentrated cranberry juice w/ filtered water

Some kind of a vegetable and/or fruit blended drink (today: beet, spinach and cranberry concentrated juice, water) or salad (spinach, 1/2 orange, few walnut halves)

Then eat normal balanced meals: breakfast, lunch, snack, supper

Whole foods, smaller portions puts less stress on the digestive system and allows for good cleansing.  Any concerns with a slowing of the metabolism, do you own research.  This is a way to assist the organs of the body and it can last as long or as short as you like.  One should not be hungry.

Protein: beans, lentils, chickpeas, almond butter, walnuts, fish, shrimp, salmon, sardines, yogurt (must make this though, have not done this yet), eggs

Carbohydrates: vegetables, fruit, brown rice, quinoa, anything else whole in my cupboard, little almond or brown rice milk (not sweetened)  

Good fat: FLAX SEEDS, nuts, other seeds, olive oil, coconut oil (the body likes a little saturated fat), avocado

Eating like this provides good fiber !!!  Fiber, fiber, fiber…..

Flavor add-ons: herbs, spices (kind of avoiding hot spicey stuff though), Bragg soy sauce, fresh lemon juice

I am avoiding: sugar, most dairy, vinegar (this is tough for me, but I crave it…makes me feel not so good to consume it. Might think about apple cider vinegar…maybe), all caffeine, alcohol, wheat, all gluten foods, corn

I will be aiming for only organic animal products in the future. I really am beginning to understand the negative impact of the junk that is in our food. Hormones, pesticides, herbicided, xenoestrogens (in plastics and household chemicals.) If you do your own research and find anything interesting, please let me know if you could. Thanks. No chemicals or preservatives (especially tartrazine and all other food colorings)

I salt my food lightly with sea salt as the body needs sodium and sea salt offers other minerals too. With out salt I get too light headed and shakey. PLUS, salt and zinc are needed to help the stomach produce hydrochloric acid which is needed for protein digestion. Without adequate stomach acid, PROBLEMS.  

Fluids: filtered water, cranberry juice, herbal teas and one advanced cleansing herb/tea and one herbal extract for the detoxing of microbes like yeast (these last two are only for one week), CafLib as a treat beverage if I feel like it  Chorella and my vitaminsWHY DO I HAVE TO BE SO INTENSE WITH MY DIET WHERE IT SEEMS OTHERS DO NOT?