Spring Cleaning for your Body

By Kimberly Davidson CNP

Hopefully you are reading this because you are finally ready to take that plunge and try your first cleanse. Or maybe you tried one once before and had such a great experience, you want to do it again. Or maybe you are still not convinced of the benefits of a cleanse and want some more information. Either way, I am so happy as all of you reading this recognize the importance of your health and how sometimes a little work is required to keep our bodies functioning properly and disease-free.

Getting Started

·        Because a detox consists of a break down diet, it is very cooling on the body. Therefore, you want to detox when it starts getting warmer out. That is why spring and fall are the best times.

·        Pick a time that is convenient and realistic for you. Don’t pick the 2 weeks where you have major events planned (i.e. weddings, parties). It will only make sticking to the detox program more difficult. Also this program involves quite a bit of food preparation time. Don’t do it when you are scheduled to do over time all week.

·        Get rid of any temptations (i.e. chocolate, cookies etc.). This detox will be a real test on your will power so the easier you can make it on yourself the better.

Foods to Avoid

·        Sugar: all foods containing white sugar, brown sugar, glucose, fructose, corn syrup, cane sugar/juice/syrup, honey, agave nectar, rice syrup, maple syrup and definitely no artificial sweeteners (sucralose, saccharine, aspartame, neotame). Stevia can be used but only if really necessary – which I don’t think ever really is!

·        Coffee: it would be a good idea to slowly start cutting out the coffee as soon as possible to avoid headaches and coffee withdrawal. The only form of caffeine allowed is green tea.

·        Animal products: A purely vegan diet is recommended for a detox. This includes no eggs, fish, dairy products and honey.

·        Processed foods: pretty much anything that comes in a can or box is not allowed!! This includes tofu for vegetarians and almond, rice or soymilk. Some exceptions are organic Tamari sauce (make sure it is wheat free), olive oil, organic coconut milk and canned organic beans  (Eden). The better option would be to soak and cook all your beans but I do realize how time consuming that can be.

·        Gluten: follow a gluten-free meal plan. A detox should also be free from most grains with the exception of brown rice and quinoa.

·        Alcohol: sorry, no exceptions. Hey, the good thing is your friends will appreciate having a DD for the next 2 weeks!!

What to Eat:

·        Veggies, veggies and more veggies!! There is no limit except for potatoes as they are a starch.

·        1-2 grains /day consisting of brow rice or quinoa.

·        Fruits. Limit high sugar content fruits such as tropical  (banana, pineapple, mango) and eat fruits after lunch only to help balance blood sugar levels. Avoid dried fruit.

·        1-2 servings/day of beans or lentils.

·        Nuts and seeds with the exception of soy and peanuts.

Diet Guidelines

·        Drink water: first thing into your body every morning should be an 8 oz. glass of pure water with ¼ of a freshly squeezed lemon. Water should be drunk consistently throughout the day. The minimum requirement should be your body weight divided in half and that would equal the amount in ounces you should drink per day (i.e. weight=130lbs/2 = 65. 65oz of pure water per day minimum). Drink 6 oz. (177 ml) before meals. Water should never be ice cold. Warm or room temperature is best.

·        To break-the-fast, it is recommended you start each day of the cleanse with vegetables. 750ml – 1L of freshly juiced juice is recommended for breakfast everyday and to be drunk within an hour of making, as nutrients are lost. Carrot and beet juice, along with leafy greens are best.

·        Eat every two to two and half hours to balance blood sugar and energy levels (this is will help avoid the afternoon crash as well as night time munchies).

·        Eat organic. As we are trying to limit our exposure to toxins, we should avoid all pesticide-sprayed foods.

·        Finish meals and snacks by 9 p.m.: your liver detoxifies overnight and this time line helps its efforts.

·        Try not to overeat. To conserve time, you can make big batches of food to eat throughout the week. However, as fresh is best, try to add a fresh salad or veggies as a side to any leftovers.

·        As stress and anxiety can produce toxins internally, one should incorporate a program that will detox the mind as well. Balance and harmony is only achieved when there is a balance between mind and body. Incorporating Yoga, Reiki, Tai Chi and/or meditation are great ways to improve mental health.

·        Supplementation: Liver support during a detox is essential. Milk thistle or Hepato DR by St.Francis is recommended. Dandelion and parsley leaf is recommended for kidney support as toxins are flushed out of the body.

·        Enemas. Yes, you heard me correctly. As our livers begin to release existing toxins, we should assist to eliminate these toxins from the body and enemas are a great way to do this. Please feel free to contact me on how to preform an enema safely and properly.

What you might feel during the Detox

A Detox is a break-down diet designed to not only eliminate the toxins you ingest but release the toxins that already exist in your tissues. As this process occurs, it is possible to feel worse before you feel better. Some possible symptoms can be headaches, fatigue, gas, dizziness, feeling cold, irritable and/or emotional. Those with more toxins will most probably experience more symptoms.

*Anyone pregnant, breast feeding or diabetic should not participate in this program. Those suffering from any other medical conditions please consult your physician prior to starting this program.

For those of you who are ready to feel great, The Green Blossoms Detox Program is a full a 7-day meal plan complete with all recipes including snacks and even a few treats. This program will guide you through a healthy detox with such yummy foods; you won’t even feel like you are depriving yourself! Sign up today and get ready to blossom!! www.greenblossoms.ca

Love your Liver Smoothie

This smoothie is super rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals as well as having many immune boosting properties. Studies show that beets protect liver cells from harmful chemicals while dandelion greens are known to improve liver function by enhancing the flow of bile. Say ‘I love you Liver’ by drinking one of these nourishing tonics every morning!

Ingredients

1 small beet (juiced)

3 to 4 beet green leaves

3 to 4 dandelion leaves

½ lemon

2 apples

1 inch fresh ginger

1 cup water

Process all ingredients through your juicer. Otherwise, if you have a powerful motor, blend all together in your blender until smooth. Should be drunk first thing in the morning after consuming an 8oz glass of pure water with lemon.

Recipe adapted from The Green Smoothie Queen http://www.greensmoothiequeen.com/en/blog/archives/622

Photo courtesy of http://www.essentiallyhealthyfood.com/essentially_healthy_food/drinks/page/2/

Love Your Liver

by Kimberly Davidson CNP

If asked what the most important organ of the human body is, usually the brain or heart are first to come to mind. No doubt we could not survive without either of these, however today I nominate the liver as the most important organ of the body.

The liver is responsible for over five hundred different functions in the body. Yes, I said hundred.  The liver is the body’s major metabolic organ and plays a vital role in digestion. In digestion, the liver synthesizes bile which is the primary product required for digesting fats. Bile output, which is stimulated by the hormone secretin, is necessary for the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). During absorption, nutrients travel in the blood first to the liver via the hepatic portal vein, so that the liver can have “first pick” of the nutrients. Being that it is the liver that processes the many vital substances responsible for the body’s overall health and well-being, amino acids, fatty acids and glucose are removed and stored or processed in various ways. Just from amino acids, the liver can synthesize lipoproteins, cholesterol, enzymes, blood proteins such as albumin (the most abundant protein in the blood) and clotting factors such as prothrombin and fibrinogen. Gluconeogenesis is an example of an important bodily function occurring in the liver. Because the brain and red blood cell production are dependent on steady levels of glucose, stores must be maintained. Also, the liver will synthesize glucose when notified that glycogen stores are low. In the absence of insulin, fructose, which is hydrolyzed from sucrose, is able to enter muscle cells and adipocytes. Fructose is metabolized primarily in the liver.

Although the largest, this modest organ is often overlooked, probably much due to its association with being called ‘the filtration plant of the body’. None of us really want to know what goes on at a filtration plant, however we all recognize that we cannot live without one. The liver is similar to this. As mentioned above, the liver is responsible for so many vital functions that determine our survival, however it is the detoxification process that is most impressive. Everything that enters the body must pass through the liver via the hepatic portal vein. It is the liver cells that remove all nutrients from the blood, as well as any bacteria, microbes or pathogens that have entered the blood stream. If you stop to think about how many toxins we are exposed to everyday, we then realize the importance of our liver. From the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the products we use daily, it is no wonder why our liver is probably the most over worked organ in our body. The reason why the human body can withstand such dangerous exposure is due to the liver’s evolved neutralizing abilities. Within the bile that it secretes, the liver contains enzymes that chemically modify the toxins and then properly dispose of them. If the liver is at all compromised, the detoxification process therefore is also compromised. Many studies have shown strong connections between a malfunctioning liver and cancer. It is well known that environmental pollutants (cigarette smoke, herbicides, pesticides, car fumes etc.) are precursors to cancer as well as other illnesses. A body that is unable to protect itself against exposure to these toxins is therefore at greater risk for these diseases.

Fortunately, for those with compromised livers, proper dietary measures, special supplements and herbs along with bi-annual detoxing, the liver can repair itself. Because of the many vital roles that the liver does, nature has provided a surplus of liver tissue. If ever the liver experiences damage or must undergo surgery to have part of it removed, this miraculous organ is actually capable of regenerated itself to where it can function again at 100%!!! This is not to say we can do what we please and not worry about the consequences; quite the opposite. Now knowing the importance of our liver and all it does to protect us from illness, the answer seems pretty obvious. Love your liver and it will love you!!! 
 

Click here for my "Love Your Liver" smoothie recipe. 

*Please stay tuned for Part II – How to Properly Detox , which will be featured in April’s Healthy Hotties blog.

References:

Michael Murray, N.D and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D, Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, 2^nd Edition, Three Rivers Press, 1998

Elson M. Haas, M.D, Staying Healthy with Nutrition, 21^st Century Edition, Celestial Arts, 2006