Spring Green Clean: Detox Day 1

I finished day one of my Spring Green Clean!  So what is this detox program?  It is a ten day system reboot to clear the system of unwanted chemicals and toxins. Juicing and Green smoothies can maximize nutrient intake, fight disease, strengthen cellular defense against free radicals, alleviate pain, encourage weight-loss, and decrease the need for medication. Following a juicing and green smoothie detox program can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, strokes, diabetes, certain types of cancers, mental illness, metabolic syndrome, and may result in longer lifespans.  


I have ventured on this journey with several other people try and boost my energy levels.  I have several reasons for trying this cleanse.  I have a skin condition called psoriasis that has plagued me for years.  The condition got better as my healthy habits improved but has never completely gone away.  I want to see if I can cure this skin condition once and for all.  I also have serious issues with water retention, I can retain upwards of 4 to 6 lbs. on a bad day.  I think that it is related to something that I eat so by flushing my system I will have better control over the situation.


This program is designed to break caffeine and sugar addictions, help reset your internal system, clean the organs and skin, and aid in weight loss.  

Day 1 Menu

Breakfast:  Carrot, Apple, Wheatgrass Juice

Snack:   Superfood Green Smoothie (spirulina, maca powder, chorella)

Lunch: Raw Asparagus Soup (garlic, Himalayan sea salt)

Dinner:  Kaloe Cayenne Smoothie (Aloe Vera, Cayenne, Tumeric)

Before Bed:  Li Me Gingerly Smoothie (Ginger, Lime)

Each of these smoothies have special ingredients that help with purification, detoxification, antibiotics etc.  Which is why I chose them for my recipes.

After one day I am down 4 lbs, which is just the water dropping!  I did 30 minutes of cardio and took a 3 mile walk for my first day.  Day 2 will be back to my regular workout routine.

When to buy Organic Produce

Organic produce is more expensive than conventional produce.  What are paying extra for and why should you? Conventional farming uses pesticides or neurotoxins that destroy the central nervous systems of various pests to control their crops and have a higher yield.  Every time you eat food from these farms you ingest small amounts of pesticides.  These farmers also use chemicals to ripen produces prematurely.  When produce is ripened early it loses the benefits of absorbing more vitamins, nutrients, and minerals from the sun and soil.  We need our food to be as natural as possible.  Organic farmers allow produce to ripen on its own and studies show that the produce from these farms have much higher mineral and vitamin content.
Organic farming is also eco-conscious.  It uses less fuel and energy and is more "green".  The soil is not filled with chemicals and can be used again for future crops.  Organic farming focuses on healthy produce instead of mass quantity.  
I know not everyone can afford to always buy organic so here is a list of produce that should always be  organic because the toxicity levels have been proven to be the highest.


12 Most Contaminated

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes (Imported)
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

If you must purchase conventional produce the following list are the least contaminated and best to buy conventional.  Always clean your produce with a fruit and vegetable cleaner available at most health food stores or make your own cleaner  3/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 gallon of water and soak the vegetables for at least a half hour.

12 Least Contaminated

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn (Frozen)
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas (Frozen)
• Kiwi Fruit
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Papaya

The last thing I want to mention is that even better than organic produce is produce from a local farm or CSA.  These farms usually don't use pesticides or herbicides but because they are small can't afford the organic stamp.  Support your local farmers and you will help the environment and get the freshest produce available.

Carbphobia

It seems as a nation of unfit, unhealthy people we seem to departmentalize food into nutrients and then find things wrong with these nutrients and delete them out of our diet. One of the "bad" nutrients is Carbohydrates.  I get numerous questions about Carbohydrates.  Fear in the form of fat transferring to hips spills out of my clients because they have been misinformed about what a carbohydrate really is.  What is a carbohydrate and why do we need them?
A carbohydrate is a combination of a starch and a sugar (monosaccahride or disaccharide) package in the perfect form with fiber and phytonutrients.  Carbohydrates include vegetables (leafy greens are best), fruits, whole grains, and legumes. All body functions, cellular processes, thinking, breathing, muscular exertion (running, yoga, weightlifting) require carbohydrates and use them as their main source of fuel.  The brain is dependent on glucose from carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are central to all cultures around the world and humans have been eating them for thousands of years!  Take for example whole grains.  Whole grains are different all over the world and depending on the region you live in will determine what you are familiar with.  Africa has sorghum, millet, and teff. Asia produces rice, Peru produces quinoa, and Russia produces buckwheat or kasha.  Corn comes from the Americas and oats from Scotland.  Italy is known for their risottos, pastas, and breads and Europe for its dark beer, millet, and wheat.  Civilizations have survived on carbohydrates for centuries and they were not fat.  If a carbohydrate makes you fat than all the citizens of Japan would be fat from their consumption of rice.  Our term "meal" even comes from carbohydrates such as cornmeal and oatmeal.

The next time you fear a carbohydrate fear the cookies, bread, sugar and processed boxes of cereal and other crap that come in bags and not the amazing nutritious forms of whole plant-based foods that are truly meant to help you body!