❤ 30 days Clean Detox Program

9/22/2013

If we're connected via Facebook, then you already know. I'm gearing up for 30 days of Loving-kindness Clean Detox Program filled with meditation and yoga in October. Yes, I guess you could say I caught the meditation bug which in my opinion is the best kind of bug to catch! I was introduced to meditation by my ever faithful personal yoga guru. It is said that the sound and pronunciation of sanskrit mantras can lead to a transformation within. There are really so many benefits to chanting.

As with anything we do, it is all energy. And the type of energy we put out in the world is the type of energy we will receive. The vibrations of your practice will have a ripple effect. You may begin to see the world through fresh new eyes. You may begin to be more conscious of the things you do and say. These are just some of the shifts that can happen from consistently practicing.

Anyway, you can follow my 30 day challenge right here, I shall be posting photos, blog post, recipes etc. So ensure you're receiving updates by signing up through my RSS feed and/or email alerts.

So, what's a detox?

Detox. It's a word that carries so much hope for some  -- and so much fear to others . Detox the smart way and you're in for clearer skin, more energy, and a smaller number on the scale. Detox drastically and you're likely to do more harm than good. But with so many detox plans out there, and so much conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of each, how's a girl to choose the cleanse that's right for her? 

And boy, do I need one right now. Lots of work, not enough time to shop for (and prepare) healthy foods, and a jam-packed social calendar has caused me to rely on all the wrong things. I haven't eaten correctly for more than I could recall. I finally put my foot down "stomp!" lol and created a daily detox plan for myself. I'm also hoping to get my after birth tummy down as much as I can. "phew..talk about up-coming pressure!"

Ready, Set, Action Plan: Prep Days

Start by Sipping Water

Starting a detox isn't easy, especially if you're not accustomed to eating this way daily. That's why I have built 8 bonus days of Action Plan prep into the calendar: The eight days before you officially begin your plan.), So starting on Monday, 23rd, September, 2013 use these tips to prepare for your 30-day plan. I always suggest slowly cutting these foods out of your diet (caffeine, wheat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, eggs, and meat) so that Day 1 of your detox isn't so shocking -- both physically and emotionally. 

• Start by purchasing a juicer. I have been juicing for a number of years and so I've gone through quite a bit of juicers. And this is what I've learnt, choosing a juicer depends on your lifestyle.Ask yourself a few questions; What do you want in a juicer? What is your lifestyle–are you busy or do you have more time to spend juicing? Is juicing a casual thing or part of your daily routine? Do you want to be able to juice wheatgrass or would it be mainly veggies?
  
  Based on your answers, here are my recommendations:
  If you want a centrifugal juicer, I would recommend the Omega 330 Mega Mouth Juicer.
  If you want a masticating type of juicer that cold presses the juice and one that will juice wheatgrass, the best model I’ve found is the Omega 8005 Juicer.
  If you are looking for a reasonable juicer, my top pic is the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor 67601
  If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to ask. 

Juicing Tips;

1. Focus on vegetables, but include some fruit. I’ve found that one small apple makes a huge difference in flavor. 
2. Include 1-2 root vegetables–such as carrots or beets–to add additional flavor and antioxidants. I like to include either 2 small carrots (1 large) or 2 small beets (1 large). These tend to contribute a tad more sugar and a nice earthy flavor, adding complexity.
3. Add at least one leafy green vegetable.I love using broccoli and spinach, but others likely work as well.
4. Include one watery vegetable. Cucumber, celery and other watery vegetables help dilute the too-strong flavors of the previous 3 ingredients. This can make a big difference in drinkability, while adding some nice flavor and additional vitamins.
5. Don’t forget a garnish. A small amount of a strong flavored item such as ginger, lemon, mint or other herb can make your juice a real pleasure to drink while adding highly concentrated antioxidants.
6. Consider adding back a few scoops of the fiber that is filtered out by the juicer. This will make your juice more filling.

• Rid your kitchen of junk. Is it heartbreaking to toss all of that delicious food? You bet. But I'm telling you -- if those chocolate covered raisins are on your shelf, and the frozen pizza is sitting in your freezer, you will reach for them in a moment of weakness. And those moments of weakness will happen. 
• Stock your kitchen with staples. Here's a quick run-down of the staples that will get me through this detox: wild mountain rice, almond butter, agave nectar, steel cut oatmeal, organic nuts, organic raisins, avocados, every kind of organic vegetable and fruit you can imagine and tofu. (to name a few). 
• How fresh are your cooking oils and spices? If you don't remember when you purchased them, now's a good time to upgrade to fresher, healthier options. Remember, these changes aren't just for the next four weeks, but will hopefully become healthy habits for life.
• Also, before your plan begins, start your day with a glass of hot water and fresh lemon juice. This can aid in the detoxification process you'll be following in the coming week. Make sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. If you're a coffee drinker, start to wean off; swap one cup out for green or white tea. I don't ever consume coffee, I prefer to make a body scrub or soap with coffee than ingest it. 

The plan;

Here's the low-down on this detox: It's a low-fat, vegan diet that includes whole (organic) foods, low-glycemic fruits, raw veggies, and lean vegetarian sources of protein (think beans and tofu) to balance your body's pH and rid your body of toxins. The plan includes drinking two green juice's one on morning and ideally, another one every afternoon.

In the coming weeks, we'll be doing meditation and yoga, the routines will be perfect for beginners and don't require any technical equipment, but you should have clothing you feel comfortable moving around in. I do yoga barefeet but, If you prefer there are no-slip yoga socks you can purchase. When I just started practising yoga I bought from Gaiam .. they are comfortable and just fabulous!.

Stay tuned for part 2!

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❤ It's Lunch Time!

9/12/2013

My lunch today was an ever simple RAW pumpkin soup with a glass of infused water. It was fast, simple, and sweet enough to be rightly called dessert, yet it’s totally guilt free. This soup is also loaded with enzymes, nutrients (such as beta carotene), and natural carbohydrates.

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❤Tahitian Noni Drink

6/14/2013

Noni is a fascinating plant, demanding of our respect.  Its prolific beauty, bearing fruit year round...as if to say, "here I am, please use me." However, as you may already be aware, few of us are willing to make Noni's intimate acquaintance. The aroma of Noni fruit is truly bad. Some say "disgusting" or "horrid" or "stinks bad" or worse. And, it doesn't taste good either! Yet, it is well-known to be one of the main healers among the traditional Polynesian medicinal plants. It is said that this Noni is to be used when we are feeling really ill or really old.

The Noni fruit should be picked from wild tress called "Ovin" at its yellow stage.  This is the critical picking period and very important as set down through generations from Tahitian Medicine Men.  The correct time to pick the Noni is when it turns 100% yellow - this is called "Omoto." The fruit is then washed and placed to dry for five days to a week or more, until the fruit turns to mush.  This fruit is then placed in drums and allowed to macerate (naturally pressed) for approximately 4 weeks into juice .  It is these juices that are strained and filtered for use.  This is the traditional method that allows the natural extraction of Noni Juice with all of the Noni fruits natural enzymes.

It is said the liquid 'supports your immune system, delivers superior antioxidants, increases energy, and allows greater physical performance levels.'

The recipe is a very simple one, combine all ingredients in vita mix and blend well.

1/2 cup Noni Juice
1 Young Coconut water and jelly
4 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
Agave Nectar to sweeten (if desired)

Namaste'

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❤ Raw Glow

6/13/2013

I love raw soups! They are truly the comfort food of the raw world for me! Even on a cleanse you can still make raw soups with just a few modifications. If your recipe calls for cashews or other nuts or nut milk you would leave out the nuts and swap the nut milk for water or coconut water.

My lunch today;
8 oz. frozen raspberries (if you dont want to eat cold let raspberries thaw then blend)
1 large banana
2 medium oranges
3 large ribs of celery
1/2 cup cashews
Agave nectar to sweeten a bit.
Blend all ingredients to desired smoothness.

Garnish with Okra rings, flowers and herb or your choice.

Namaste!
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❤ Green Papaya Smoothie

6/09/2013

It’s official: I'm hooked on papayas!

Papayas have never been a fave fruit of mine until I started blending them.
Yes, I know they are is rich in enzymes called papain and chymopapain which helps with digestion, particularly it breaks down the proteins from the food we eat into amino acids. Even latest research shows that amino acids are responsible for all what is happening in our organism, basically for what is happening in every chemical reaction as well as our mental and physical health.

What's I find particularly amazing is all the parts of the papaya fruit are useful and beneficial. Right from the seeds to the papaya leaves and the flesh of the fruit, all of it has some value. Both the inside and the outside of the fruit can be utilized .Thus no part of the fruit is useless or goes as a waste.

Yet, all along I just ate papaya's cause I know they are god for you. Until, one day I decided to include it in a smoothie. Now, I just love it! It is great because along with savouring the taste you are also ingesting all the benefits associated with eating the fruit, which will result in good health for you ! Did you know papaya even works magic on strengthening the immune system preventing the recurrent colds and flu?

So anyway, the recipe; 

Green Papaya Smoothie

2 handfuls of fresh spinach
2 cups frozen papaya
2 ripe Julie mangoes, sliced.
1 frozen apple
3 dates
2 Tbsp chia seeds, ground.
1 tablespoon of fresh papaya seeds
3 cups living water (or young coconut water and meat)
1 tsp coconut oil (optional)

Method: Wash and blend all ingredients. Place in a bowl and add items below.

Smoothie dressing;
I used organic sweet peppers, sliced.
Sprouted beans
Celery leaves
Vervain flowers.

Happy Raw Eating!

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❤Coco-Nutty

6/07/2013

This smoothie is literally the most delicious treat you will ever taste. It’s better than ice cream, and so incredibly healthy. You obviously have to love coconut. You can also add a handful of frozen blueberries if you want to take away from the pure cocon-nutty taste. Enjoy!

2-ounces coconut water

4 -ounces almond milk

1 tbsp virgin coconut oil

1 tbsp raw coconut meat

1 cup raw almonds

4 pitted dates

1 cup crushed ice

Throw it all in your high-speed blender and you’re set.

❤My reason for going RAW

10/24/2011

It's a lifestyle change. To me. It's not a diet. I have totally changed my life by committing to 100% raw and will never go back. I feel too well to want to jeopardize that. I feel alive.

This can be as complicated, gourmet, or as simple as YOU make it to be. I choose to make it simple. Simplicity becomes me. ;) ..
Once in a while I go gourmet and I've never found it to be complicated. Well, maybe in the beginning when I'd see a recipe I'd want to try and realize I didn't have the right thing sprouting or soaked or whatever.

What influences are making this difficult for you? Do you live with SAD eaters? Are there foods still in your house that tempt you? Are YOU making this more complicated? Do you want to feel healthy, energetic, and alive?

You have to ask yourself these types of questions. Why is it hard to stay focused? For me staying focused meant if I eat healthy I won't get migraines. THAT was enough after my entire life of feeling ill, but that was enough to keep me on track. Plus I love the variety of foods I'm eating now. I've been Vegetarian for 26 years, then I was Vegan for 2, now raw since last July. I will never go back to food void of all their goodness. I eat things I rarely ate before. Cakes, cookies, ice cream, but it's different. It's whole, healthy foods. Not processed crap.

Do you have Alissa's book? If not, I would strongly suggest getting it and reading it. She covers all kinds of concerns and questions. I learned so much from it. Plus this forum is a wealth of information. We may not all agree all the time, but that too is a tool for learning.

As far as life getting in the way, well, eating a healthy, living diet will help you deal with life getting in the way. My mental clarity has sharpened tremendously. I view things even differently then before and I thought I had a fair view on life before! Especially when life gets in your way should you feed your body, mind, and soul with good healthy foods.

Stick around here. You'll learn lots.

Commit to a 30-day challenge. A challenge for yourself. If you can do it for 30days, you can do it longer.