Time to reboot your body after Thanksgiving

Time to reboot your body after Thanksgiving

 November 20th, 2012

Thanksgiving is a time to eat foods that we normally don’t everyday. The day is spent eating delicious comfort foods that  are packed with sugar, fats, calories,  rich gravies and then we find ourselves  overeating.  Enjoy the day and follow a few tips  eat small portions, chew slowly and try to go for a walk after cleaning up the kitchen. After your black Friday shopping workout running from store to store getting your great deals plan your holiday cleanse. It is a simple way to detoxifying your body. A  cleanse can yield several benefits, acting as a “reset” for your whole body and mind.

Drink Plenty of water.

Focus on veggies. Build your meals and snacks today around vegetables, steamed or raw if you can.  A salad would be a great choice for lunch.  Lean heavy on the veggies today to make sure your digestive system keeps functioning optimally.

According to Dr. Alejandro Junger* , there are a few more “basic principles of detoxification” that should be kept in mind while following our detox menus.

• Do deep breathing or gentle yoga.
• Take a couple of spoonfuls of extra virgin olive oil at night to help stimulate your liver to eliminate bile and keep its circulation flowing.
• If your bowel movements get sluggish, you can accelerate things by drinking half a shot glass of castor oil followed by a glass of water or using a mild herbal laxative. Bowel elimination is paramount for correct detoxification.
• The skin gets rid of many toxins so it is important to sweat, either by exercising or taking a sauna.
• Finally, make sure you eat whole organic foods, which have the best chance of having all the nutrients needed for liver and general detoxification.

*This is an excerpt from Dr. Junger’s upcoming book Clean, which will be published in May.

Remember that there can be no dairy, grains with gluten, meat, shellfish, anything processed (including all soy products), fatty nuts, nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant), condiments, sugar and obviously no alcohol, caffeine or soda.

It’s time to cleanse a little … to wipe the slate clean and start over with a healthy reboot.  You will be ready for the next holiday party.

Here is an example of a three day cleanse.

Day One

• 7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
• 8am: Herbal tea
• 10am (breakfast): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
• 11:30am: Coconut water*
• 1:30pm (lunch): Salad with Carrot and Ginger Dressing
• 4pm (snack): A handful of mixed pumpkin and sunflower seeds
• 6pm (dinner): Broccoli and Arugula Soup
• *Make sure that the coconut water has no added sugar. Fresh is ideal but the brands Zico or Vita Coco are readily available.

Day Two

• 7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
• 8am: Herbal tea
• 10am (breakfast): Raspberry and Rice Milk Smoothie (follow method for Blueberry and Almond Smoothie)
• 11:30am: Coconut water
• 1:30pm (lunch): Detox Teriyaki Chicken and Steamed Greens
• 4pm (snack): Miso Soup with Watercress
• 6pm (dinner): Pea and Basil Soup (follow method for Broccoli and Arugula Soup)

Day Three

• 7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
• 8am: Herbal tea
• 10am (breakfast): Oatmeal (make with rice or almond milk instead of water so it’s a bit more substantial)
• 11:30am: Coconut water
• 1:30pm (lunch): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
• 4pm (snack): Cucumber, Lime and Basil Juice
• 6pm (dinner): Super Greens Juice / Miso Soup with Watercress

Salad With Carrot And Ginger Dressing

This dressing is the jam! Great on salad and also as a dip for vegetables. This recipe makes enough dressing for two salads, so be sure to save the extra. Serves: 1 Time: 5 minutes For dressing: 1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped 1 large shallot, peeled and roughly chopped 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh ginger 1 tablespoon sweet white miso 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon roasted sesame seed oil 1/4 cup grapeseed oil 2 tablespoons water For salad: 1 head of baby gem lettuce (or any greens), roughly cut 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced 1/4 avocado, diced 1.Pulse the carrot, shallot and ginger in a blender until finely chopped. Scrape down the sides, add the miso, vinegar and sesame seed oil and whiz together. While the blender is going, slowly drizzle in the grapeseed oil and the water. 2.Combine the lettuce, onion and avocado in a bowl, drizzle with plenty of dressing and serve.

This is from Gwyneth Paltrow 7 Day Detox.  For more information go to  http://goop.com/journal/make/15/detox

There is a full 7 day menu and recipes.

As with any diet consult your doctor first.  This is a low calorie diet

A Smoothie for Great Health

A Smoothie for Great Health

 November 15th, 2012 

Makes 2 servings
Place all ingredients in in the blender and blend till smooth

• 3 cups water
• 1/2 cup spinach leaves
• 2 swiss chard leaves
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1/2 lime
• 1 avacado
• 1 handful of parsley
•  1 small yellow beet
• 1 carrot
• 2 fresh basil
• 1 inch slice of ginger root
• 1 tablespoon honey
• few ice cubes

Natural Flea Repellent

Natural Flea Repellent

 November 14th, 2012

Fleas  hate citrus, so you can cut up a lemon, lime, or orange, put it into a jar, cover it with boiling water and let it steep, then use that solution in a spray bottle on your pet a couple times a day for a few weeks. You can also dip the animal’s collar into essential oils of eucalyptus, tea tree, citronella, lavender, or geranium. Rope collars or soft cotton collars work best for this technique.

Thanks for the tip Renegade Health

Food that help reduce stress and anxiety

Food that help reduce stress and anxiety

 November 13th, 2012 

The holidays are quickly approaching so that mean the stress level is rising.

Here are some great foods to eat to reduce your anxiety.

For on the go or before a stressful meeting  make your own granola mix and that will make a great snack and it includes a lot of the stress reducing foods.

Asparagus
Avocados
Blueberries, Peaches Acacia berries

Oranges

Salmon, Almonds Omega 3 fats,  Flaxseed, Nuts, Olive oil
Spinach Dark greens, Sea vegetables, Kelp
Turkey Poultry
Oatmeal Complex Carb fruit, vegetables, and whole grains
Milk
Bananas
Nuts

GREAT GRANOLA MIX

1 cup honey 1 cup apple juice mix and set aside, 10 cups oatmeal (uncooked) 1 cup  Flaxseed cereal 1/2 cup sunflower seeds (unsalted) 1/2 cup almonds, sliced or slivered 1/2 cup sesame seeds 1/2 cup brown sugar 4 teaspoons cinnamon 3 Tablespoons Chia seeds Mix dry ingredients, then add liquid and mix well. Spread on cookie sheets and toast for 25-50 minutes at 375°F, stirring often.Can add dry fruit.

Store in an airtight container. Enjoy.

Variation: Add dried cranberries and dried bananas,  dried blueberries, Acacia berries – delicious!

Foods to Eat to Help Relieve Constipation

Foods to Eat to Help Relieve Constipation

 November 9th, 2012 

Aloe Vera Juice
Pineapple Juice
Baked Potato with Skin
Raw Carrots ( for fiber)
Flaxseed
Figs
Raw peaches plums, pears, apples, berries and broccoli
Dried fruits
Beans
Popcorn
Nuts
Drink Plenty of Water

Eat a High Alkaline Diet

Eat a High Alkaline Diet

 November 8th, 2012 

Your body works constantly to keep your acid/alkaline blood levels in balance. Unless you have an underlying medical issue, the pH level of your blood is generally between 7.35 and 7.45. When your body is more acidic, it is more susceptible to disease. You may be able to help your body keep your pH in balance more easily by eating certain foods that have a higher pH than others.

Inflammation

Inflammation is where it all starts. When your body goes into an inflammatory process, your defenses are weakened, which wears on your resources, leaving you susceptible to other diseases.

Heart Disease

Consuming foods that are alkaline is doubly important for your heart. Not only can you reduce low-grade inflammation, but because alkaline foods consist of vegetables, fruits, and certain proteins that are all heart healthy anyway, you are getting twice the benefit. This is not to say that eating high-alkaline foods will prevent or cure heart disease, but assisting your body in staying healthy and in balance, instead of forcing it to work harder, can only benefit you in the long run.

Type II Diabetes

Another benefit of eating high alkaline foods is that it may help with your type II diabetes. Again, the list of foods high in alkaline, includes vegetables and fruits. Acidic choices are processed foods and foods high in simple sugars. Vegetables and fruits may not only help reduce low-grade inflammation, but they will release glucose slowly from the liver, keeping your blood sugar levels within a tighter control.

Source

Livestrong

Fresh Cranberry Relish with a zing

Fresh Cranberry Relish with a zing

 November 7th, 2012 

The Fresh mint and ginger give the relish a very refreshing taste. Great Autumnal antioxidants
1 medium apple, cored and chopped
1 inch piece of ginger root, peeled and minced
Zest of 1 medium lemon ( about 2 teaspoons)
4 cups fresh cranberries, or two 8-ounce bags frozen unsweetened, thawed and rinsed
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
add 1/4 cup of sugar to make sweeter ( optional) or 2/3 cup agave nectar or honey, or more or less to taste

Place all ingredient in a food processor pulse until it is shredded.

Prep Time: Less than 5 minutes
Cook Time: None, but the flavors will develop if left to sit for a couple of hours before serving