Have you ever tried a cleanse? The Master — drink spicy, syrupy, lemon water only — Cleanse? The goopy avocado shake cleanse? Or perhaps a strictly juice cleanse?
I have… I’ve tried many a cleanse and I’ve never lasted on any of them. I can’t get through the day with just water and some vegetables in my system — no way. And if you think drinking spicy lemonade is the path to resolving your problems, you’re just…………. well, I don’t have to say it.
So, when one of my favorite yoga instructors let me in on her annual Spring Cleanse (that actually allows you to eat, you know, like, food) I decided THIS WAS IT. This was my cleanse, and I was finally going to do it!
The main point of this cleanse is to cut out harmful substances, cleanse yourself of toxins, and replace all that crud with mainly raw, whole, organic goodness. The first three days were the toughest for me, but by Day 4 I was used to my new routine, my hunger had subsided, and I was feeling completely in tune with my body. I felt strong and focused (although I will admit to needing an afternoon cat nap, which is probably better than my usual 4pm dose of caffeine).
What you’ll need:
Willpower
A really big bottle of water to carry around with you at all times
A vegetable juicer (or a reliable juice bar that uses fresh, organic, whole ingredients)
An assortment of tasty black teas (to convince yourself that cutting out coffee and alcohol isn’t so bad)
Raw and unsalted nuts (for snacking)
Organic fruits & vegetables (for snacking and juicing). These include, but are not limited to:
Carrots
Beets
Bell Peppers
Apples
Ginger Root
Spinach
Romaine Lettuce
Cucumbers
Celery
Parsley
Kale
Bananas
Avocado
Mango
Berries
Oranges
Here’s the deal: for 7 days you will not consume alcohol, dairy, grains, refined sugar, or coffee. Instead, for breakfast you will have a big juice, for lunch you will have a green juice, and for dinner you will have veggies with an organic protein of your choice. In between meals you will drink TONS of water and snack on nuts, fruits, and vegetables. You can also allow yourself 2 cups of black tea a day with almond milk (I added a tbsp of organic agave as well).
Here are 3 of my favorite morning juice recipes (play around with them and see what you like best):
3 carrots
1/2 – 1 apple
1-2 inches ginger root
3 carrots
1 beet
1-2 inches ginger root
OR
3 carrots
1/2 yellow bell pepper
1/2 cucumber
2 handfuls spinach
1-2 inches ginger root
For whatever reason I don’t enjoy parsley or celery in my juices, so here is a recipe for my favorite green juice:
3-4 leaves kale
2 handfuls spinach
1/2 cucumber
2-3 leaves romaine
1/2 green apple
My dinners were simple, organic and as local as possible — an asparagus and beet greens frittata made with fresh eggs from a farm 30 miles away, organic chicken with a medley of flavorful veggies and herbs picked straight from my garden, thinly sliced radishes dressed up with micro greens, tomatoes and really good olive oil, salt and balsamic vinegar.
I can’t say I was all that deprived. I felt fantastic filling my body with so many vitamins, minerals and nutrients without ever opening a package, scooping out a powdery replacement, or popping any pills. And getting past the no coffee or alcohol bit wasn’t too bad either — organic loose leaf chai, early grey, and ceylon black tea with mango were in constant rotation.
Now that I’m through with the cleanse I am still avoiding dairy, eating very few grains, small portions of meat, having only 1 cup of coffee a day, and I often forgo alcohol for a nice cup of tea sweetened with agave.
If it comes in a package full of processed ingredients I kick it to the curb. If my body is craving something, like a burger, I eat it. If I’m tired by 9:30 pm, I go to bed early. I’m listening to my body, because apparently it’s had something to say all this time.
Now the question is: What’s your body saying? I bet it would thank you if you’d just take the time to listen…
Leave a comment