A lot of people feel “tired”, and blame it on getting not enough sleep, stress or other external factors but rarely do they consider it anything to do with what they are eating. In “Eating for Energy”, leading fitness and nutrition expert Yuri Elkaim, explains the best way to detox your body and change “tired” to all day energy.

Yuri starts off by describing his own experience as a professional soccer player, eating what he thought was a healthy diet, yet always feeling tired. He explains how studying Holistic Nutrition opened his eyes to a completely different view of food and how it interacts with the human body.

How food enlivens or drains you

He says “My intention is to empower you with amazing insight into how your body operates at the cellular level and how every single food you put in your mouth either enlivens or drains you!”

Throughout  “Eating for Energy”, Yuri’s passion and enthusiasm shines through as he explains nutritional concepts in an easy to understand way.

He includes charts showing proof that the nutritional value of commercially produced food has declined over the years and shows that organic food provide more minerals.

Quite a few pages are devoted to explaining the concept of biological terrain and the importance of the acid/alkaline balance or pH of the blood. He explains how acidity can make you fat and keep you fat!

Enzymes in raw food

The chapter on the importance of enzymes for every function in the body leads to the merits of a raw food diet. The whole philosophy of Eating for Energy revolves around consuming a living, plant-based, whole foods diet although he is not adamant that you eat 100% raw food.  In fact he admits to eating only 85% raw food diet himself.

I was fascintated buy the way he explains how certain vibrational frequencies of electrical energy in the body and of food can be measured. The average of the core organs is 70 megahertz but a Big Mac contains only 5 and chocolate cake 1 -3!

It’s easy to understand then that if your diet is made up primarily of these foods your energy is going to be low. Green vegetables, by the way, have the highest vibrational energy of 70-90 MHz. No wonder they are so good for you!

Not all raw

You will be pleased to know that Yuri believes in a certain amount of flexibility in this diet and allows some “leisure” cooked foods. In fact he admits to having a weakness for pizza and sweets himself.

He does explain that on this diet you will detox your body of many toxins that have built up from years of eating low energy, cooked foods and that as your body becomes cleaner you will no longer crave unhealthy food so much.

After fully explaining the concepts behind eating for energy Yuri includes a step by step plan to put it all into action.  Most importantly, he includes advice on how to eat for energy at work, on the run, while travelling and eating in restaurants.

12 Week Meal Plan

He includes an incredible 12 weeks of meal plans, recipes and a smoothie and juice guide.  All the weeks menus help to alkalize your body and weeks 4, 8 and 12 are designed to gently detox your body after which you will be more energetic than ever. You will also notice that you have probably shed some stubborn fat too.

I have read a lot of books on nutrition and detox and I have to say that I don’t remember reading one that is so thorough and contains all the information you need to detox your body and embark on this new Eating For Energy lifestyle.

Four Tips for Hosting Your Own Raw Food Party

In a world where you’re constantly surrounded by fried and fattening temptations, gathering with others who are devoted to a raw food diet (or will at least pretend to be for a night) can be a fun and therapeutic way to stick to your goals while indulging in delectable dishes. Although the benefits gained from a raw food party are easy to see, it doesn’t come without a few challenges. To make sure your own event goes smoothly, consider the following tips to be a successful host at your next raw food party.

1. Plan for Everyone

When entertaining any large group of people, you have to make sure you have plenty of supplies and an organized itinerary to accommodate everyone who attends. Create a guest list and strive to get confirmations from each invited guest so you can plan accordingly. Make sure you have any necessary catering equipment for dealing with large crowds, utensils and other food handling supplies. Although you’ll most likely want to include a large variety of different dishes, you’ll need to shoot for the same amount of servings in each. This may limit the amount of dishes you can reasonably make. It’s unlikely that every guest will try every dish available, but you should assume they will so you can avoid leaving anyone out.

2. Keep the Food Fresh

Every adamant raw food-eater knows that raw foods tend to spoil much quicker than non-perishable food items, which can be a concern when you’re buying in bulk for a party. One way you can keep foods fresh is by storing fruits and vegetables in air-tight bags and/or plastic containers when placing them in the refrigerator. For fruits like bananas, strawberries and blueberries, you can also try freezing them until the day of the party to maintain freshness. During the party, consider decorative plastic coverings for the dishes to prevent exposure as much as possible.

3. Choose Dishes with Similar Ingredients

If you’re short on space and want to avoid racking up a huge grocery bill, Certified Clinical Nutritionist and blogger Gena recommends looking specifically for dishes that share ingredients. For example, if you are making a special avocado cumin dressing, look for another simple guacamole dish to double up on your ingredients. This not only saves you time and money, but maintains harmony in the stomach.

4. Focus on the Familiar

There’s a good chance that the majority of your guests won’t be well-acquainted with a raw food diet. You’ll want to avoid intimidating newcomers with odd-sounding dishes like seaweed soup and buckwheat bread, and instead stick to foods they’re familiar with like guacamole with romaine lettuce leaves and zucchini “pasta” with marinara sauce. Choosing simple and familiar foods will avoid alienating those who are used to cooked foods, which can encourage more raw food eating for people who may not have the guts to go all the way.

Society doesn’t always make it easy to maintain a healthy raw food diet, despite the fact that research proves that certain cooking methods can often remove important nutrients and enzymes from foods. Even if you don’t end up converting any of your friends to your health-conscious lifestyle, throwing a raw food party can give you the opportunity to celebrate healthy eating habits and gain the support of your friends for your difficult dieting choices.

References:

Gena. (2009, July 26). Raw Foods Tutorial: The Raw Cocktail Party. Retrieved April 18, 2012,

YouTube. (2010, April 19). How to Keep Raw Foods Fresh. Retrieved April 18, 2012,

Lund, G. (2011, April 4). Raw Food Diet– How to Transition from Cooked to Raw Food. Retrieved April 18, 2012,

Bio: Felicia enjoys browsing catering equipment online while prepping for her next raw foods party. She’s an advocate among her friends and family for raw foods.

Photo credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhritz/

Several weeks ago I wrote a blog post about using healthy seeds for your detox diet. Since then I’ve had some requests for recipes for using them so here are a few ideas to whet your appetite.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Seed Pesto

1 tbsp mint leaves
1 ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

Finely chop mint and pound with olive oil with pestle and mortar.
Grind pumpkin seeds in small coffee grinder taking care not to over grind.
Stir into mint and olive oil mixture.
Add to raw or cooked soup

Root Vegetable Salad with Pumpkin Seeds

Serves 4

2 carrots ( about 300gms) peeled & grated
300 gms celeriac ( celery root) peeled & grated
2 large raw beets ( beetroot) peeled & grated
50 gms pumpkin seeds
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp raw honey or agave syrup (optional)
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
20 gms flat leaf parsley, chopped

Combine carrots, celeriac, amd beet in large bowl.
Scatter pumpkin seeds over salad.
Whisk together the lemon juice, honey and olive oil.
Toss through salad with parsley leaves.

Sunflower Seeds

Raw Sunflower Hummus

2 cups sprouted raw garbanzo beans
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
2 – 3 cloves garlic
1 tbsp fresh parsley
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
3 tbsp salt free, sugar free, gluten free, vegetable seasoning to taste

Blend all ingredients together until soft and smooth.
Makes approx 3 cups.

Red Cabbage, Kale and Carrot Slaw                                      

3 cups mixed shredded kale & red cabbage
1 carrot cut into very small matchstick size pieces
2 tbsp diced red onion
3 tbsp sunflower seeds
1/4 cup parsley leaves
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Black pepper to taste
A little celtic salt to taste

Combine the kale, cabbage & carrot, onion, seeds & parsley in a bowl.
In another bowl whisk the oil, vinegar & mustard together .
Season with a little pepper & salt.
Pour over slaw and mix well.

Flax Seeds

Flax Seed Salad Sprinkle

1 tbsp ground flax seeds
1 tbsp fennel seeds
1 tbsp ground anise seeds.

Mix all ingredients together in small bowl and sprinkle over salads or steamed vegetables.

Flax Seed Dressing

2 tbsp flax seeds and soaking water. see directions
1 cup carrot juice
1 red pepper roughly chopped
Dash cayenne pepper
Herbs of choice

Soak flax seed overnight in ½ cup water in fridge.
Put all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
Use a salad dressing

Makes 1½ cups approx

Sesame Seeds

Creamy Sesame Milk

1 heaping cup of raw sesame seeds,
4 cups water,
6 dates pitted

Blend all ingredients together in a high powered blender
until very creamy.

Patrick Holford’s Seed Mix

Half-fill a lidded glass jar with flax seeds and half with a mixture of sesame,
sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

Keep in the fridge to minimize damage from light, heat and oxygen.

Grind 1 – 2 tbsp as needed and add to smoothies or salads.

Hemp Seeds

Hemp Reviver

6 tbsp hemp seeds
1 cup blueberries
6 – 7 large lettuce or other green leaves
2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups water or more if needed

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until very smooth.
Add more water if too thick.

Spicy Lemon Hemp Seed Dressing

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
Juice of 1 organic lemon
1 tbsp mustard powder
¼ cup ground hempseed
2 tbsp fresh basil
1 tbsp fresh parsley
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Put all ingredients except oil in blender.
Blend while slowly adding oil.

Serve over salad or vegetable dish

Chia Seeds

Blushing Chia Seed Smoothie

1 cup red grapes
2 teaspoons chia seeds, soaked for about 10 minutes
2 bananas
1 head romaine lettuce or other green leaves
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
4 to 5 ounces of filtered water

Add everything except for the lettuce to your blender and pulse the ingredients until they are roughly blended. Now, add the lettuce and blend on high for 30 seconds or until smooth.

Raw Chia Energy Bar

2 bananas well mashed
2 cups of organic old fashioned oats
1 heaping tbsp of raw almond butter
1 tbsp of cinnamon
1 light drizzle of raw agave (or stevia)
2 tablespoons of raw chia seeds finely ground
Add a few raisins, shredded coconut or chopped apple if liked.

Place mashed bananas in bowl and add the rest of ingredients.  Mix well together.

Spoon mixture into lightly oiled square glass dish and make smooth.
Cover and place in freezer for 30 minutes.
Remove from the freezer, uncover the mixture and slice into bars with sharp knife.
Keep a few in fridge for the ocasional snack and  open freeze the rest until hard and store in freezer in suitable container until wanted. Allow to thaw out before eating.

These bars are really meant for a little snack or treat if you are about to give in to something wicked. They do not form part of the detox diet.

I hope you will enjoy these healthy seed recipes.

“Sugar is toxic beyond its calories”  say doctors at the University of California and argue that it should be taxed like alcohol and tobacco. So what exactly do they mean by that and is that why you should avoid it while on a detox diet?

What do we mean by sugar?

Carbohydrate is the main source of calories and energy in most diets. The two main forms of carbohydrates are sugars (such as fructose, glucose, and lactose) and starches, which are found in foods such as starchy vegetables, grains, rice, breads, and cereals.

The white stuff we know as sugar is sucrose which is made up of fructose and glucose.Our bodies digest and turn most carbohydrates into glucose, the most important carbohydrate for us. Glucose is the only source of energy that can be used by our brains.

So, what’s wrong with sugar?

Our ancestors ate far more complex carbohydrates and it is only since the middle of the 19th Century that our intake of refined carbohydrates increased significantly. And, the consumption of sugar worldwide has trebled over the past 50 years.

Refined foods have been processed in a way which removes vital vitamins, minerals and fibre.
Complex carbohydrates are digested slowly and the fiber slows the release of glucose into the blood stream.

Refined carbohydrates such as white sugar, foods containing it, white flour products, candies (sweets) and chocolate are all digested very rapidly and glucose is released very quickly into the blood stream.

There should be a constant level of glucose in the blood and any rise in the level normally triggers the pancreas to produce the hormone insulin which takes the glucose out of the blood stream into the cells to be converted to energy.

Too much glucose in the blood damages the arteries, nerves, eyes, and kidneys which is the danger in diabetes when the blood sugar is not controlled well enough.

Pancreas Problems

Very often the pancreas becomes over-reactive and too much insulin is secreted causing the blood sugar to plummet. This results in a period of low blood sugar before the body can bring in other hormonal controls to re-establish the status quo.

If the over-stimulation of the pancreas continues it may eventually become exhausted and no longer produce insulin which results in diabetes. In some cases of late onset or type II diabetes the insulin is produced but the cells are resistant to its effects.

This is a condition called insulin resistance. The glucose cannot be driven into  the cells and it is turned into and stored as fat instead. Sugar is fuelling the obesity crisis in many Western countries and doctors are calling for it to be controlled like alcohol and tobacco.

Why should you avoid sugar on a detox diet?

1 Eating sugar plays havoc with your blood sugar balance as you have seen above. Two other glands, the adrenals and the liver are involved in keeping the blood sugar stable.

If the blood sugar drops too low or too quickly adrenaline is released from the adrenal glands which counteracts the effects of insulin. Another hormone from the pancreas, glucagon, helps the liver to release stored glucose into the blood stream.

So, you can see that eating sugar causes the release of a lot of hormones which stresses your body and make you feel bad.

2. Sugar is very acid forming which is just the opposite of what we are trying to achieve on a detox diet. The cells detox themselves best when the tissues are very slightly alkaline.

The blood pH has to be very precicely controlled and your body has a number of buffering systems in place should it start to alter. One of the buffers is organic calcium which the body draws from the bones to neutralize the acid. Calcium is one of the essential minerals that is needed for detox.

Soft sugary drinks haven’t  been called “acid bombs” for nothing. A glass of Coke, Pepsi or similar drink  can shoot the equivalent of 9 teaspoons of refined sugar straight into your blood stream.

If you drink soft drinks and eat other refined products during your detox not only will you constantly be acidfying your body hindering detox but you will be draining your body of it’s calcium stores. The habit of eating and drinking refined sugar is one of the main causes of osteoporosis.

3. Sugar encourages the wrong balance of organisms in the gut. The right balance of organisms is essential for good immune and detox function.

Yeast and some bad bacteria ferment sugar in the gut. This produces gases which damage the gut lining. Some researchers have suggested that there may be a link between refined sugar intake and colitis.

4. Sugar is a nutrient robber. Your body needs magnesium, zinc, manganese, chromium, vitamins B & C for proper sugar regulation.

Refined sugar has been stripped of its vitamins and minerals so when you eat it your body has to draw on its reserves of those minerals and vitamins to digest and metabolise it. That’s why is sugar is referred to as “empty calories”

So it’s true, sugar is toxic and must be avoided even if you are not following a detox diet. Don’t forget that sugar is hidden in all sorts of food products. It’s hard to get away from it. If you normally have a lot of sugar and find it hard to give it up or contantly crave it you could benefit from the The Sugar Free Lifestyle Program

Healthy seeds are often recommended as part of a detox diet but do you know why?

When people first hear about eating seeds they often remark that seeds are for the birds. It’s true, birds, squirrels and and other animals rely on seeds for survival during harsh winters but that is because they are so rich in vital nutrients.

Healthy seeds are full of fiber, amino acids, minerals and essential fats, the nutrients that are needed by the detox system. They are best eaten in their natural state, that is raw, unroasted and unsalted and even better when they have been soaked and sprouted.

Traditionally seeds have always been soaked and partially sprouted before they were eaten. This is because seeds and nuts contain enzyme inhibitors which can interfere with digestion if eaten in excess and phytic acid which can bind to minerals preventing them being absorbed.

Soaking for 3 – 12 hours helps to neutralize these substances and starts the sprouting process even if you are not going to sprout them fully.

Sprouts are very alkalizing and the precious nutrients in seeds are increased after soaking and sprouting by as much as 400%.

Here are some healthy seeds to add to your detox diet.

Pumpkin Seeds

In China the pumpkin is called the Emperor of the Sun which symbolizes fruitfulness. Pumpkin seeds are rich in amino acids, zinc, magnesium, and omega 3 essential fatty acids.

The green seeds contain phytosterols, compounds that help to keep levels of cholesterol stable, boost the immune system and fight cancer.

Pumpkin seeds are often recommended for prostate health as they contain curcubitacins, substances that prevent testosterone being converted into dihydrotestosterone which can cause enlargement of the prostate gland.

Because of their size and chewy texture they can be eaten as a snack if you get a bit peckish while following a detox diet. Add them to salads or sprinkle over a bowl of chopped fruit for breakfast.

Sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are rich in the B complex vitamins, Vitamin E, beta- carotene, the minerals magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, copper, chromium, manganese, selenium, phytosterols, amino acids and both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Vitamin E and beta-carotene are antioxidants which help neutralize free radicals that are produced as part of the detox process. Selenium and copper are needed by your body for it’s own antioxidant system.

Sunflower seeds could help protect the heart and and may help to boost the immune system.

Flax seeds

Flax seeds, also known as linseeds, are a good source of omega 3 essentail fatty acids, fiber, lignans, manganese and magnesium.

Flax seeds, are probably one of the better known seeds for colon cleansing because of their  particular effect on the bowels. The seeds are high in soluble fiber which makes them ideal for relieving constipation. 1 or 2 tablespoons of flax seeds either whole or freshly ground are often used daily to keep the bowels moving during detox.

When the liver processes toxins, one way they are removed from the body is through the bile it produces which carries the toxins through the digestive system and out of the body in the stools.

If your bowels slow down during detox which they can do if you are following a very restrictive diet,  the toxins can get reabsorbed into the body and end up having to go through the detox process all over again. This wastes both energy and vital detox nutrients.

The seeds are rich in lignans, the phytoestrogens found in other seeds, legumes and grains that are thought to have protective effects against breast and prostate cancer.

Sesame seeds

These tiny healthy seeds are regarded in the East as symbols of immortality. They are packed with protein, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium and calcium, all nutrients needed for detoxification. Manganese & copper are needed for the body’s own antioxidant system.

They also contain sesamin and sesmolin, lignans which help the body to burn fat and to lower cholesterol. Sesamin heps to protect the liver from oxidative damage which can happen during the detox process.

Tahini is made from sesame seeds and is one of the ingredients of hummus the Middle Eastern chickpea spread that is oftern used a a dip for raw vegetables.

Hemp seeds

These tiny round seeds have been eaten for centuries and have kept people alive in times of famine. They are considered to be one of the most nutritious superfoods around.

Hemp seeds have a mild and slightly nutty flavor and are noted for their ideal balance of omega 3 to omega 6 oils.They are rich in Vitamin E and trace minerals and are good for skin conditions like eczema & psoriasis.

One of the best ways of getting them into your diet is to add them to smoothies.  Add a handful to your favorite detox smoothie recipe or sprinkle them on your salad.

The hemp plant is very similar to the marijuana plant because they are of the same family.  Hemp seeds are not allowed to be grown in the USA becaause of the concern that the seeds contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the ingredient  that gives people a “high” from smoking marijuana. The reasearch shows that you cannot get high from eating hemp producs!

Chia Seeds

This list of healthy seeds would not be complete without mentioning Chia Seeds. They have recently been making a comeback after being hailed as the newest superfood. Chia seeds have in fact been grown and used by humans for centuries.

Chia seeds contain the highest known plant source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids, protein and fiber. These tiny mild tasting seeds are so highly packed with antioxidants that they don’t deteriorate as quickly as flax seeds do.

The other advantage they have over flax seeds is that you don’t have to grind them up to obtain their nutrients when you eat them. Chia seeds contain calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc, many of the nutrients needed for effective detox.

As Chia seeds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber you can use them for bowel cleansing in place of flax seeds. They may cause more gas and discomfort than flax seeds though because of their higher fiber content. It’s best to start on a teaspoonful and gradually increase the dose until you find the right level.

To get the best from using any of these healthy seeds as part of a detox diet they should be bought very fresh and stored in a cool dark place or refrigerator to prevent the essential fats from becoming rancid.  They are a very concentrated source of nutrients so you only need small amounts of them.

The role of fruit and vegetables in our diet has never been more important. Our bodies have to continually detox a wide range of pollutants in our food, water and environment. A high fruit and vegetable diet helps support and rev up the detox system so helping to detox your body.

More and more research is showing that a high fruit and vegetable diet contains the nutrients that ward off all manner of ill-health and diseases from cancer, to premature aging.

It’s generally agreed by Functional Medicine Doctors and Naturopathic Doctors  that the underlying causes of most disease are toxicity and deficiency. We need to feed our cells with proper nutrition if they are to function and detox themselves properly.

Fruit and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and enzymes that nourish the body, support the detox pathways and encourage the release of toxins.

Fruits and vegetables that activate the Phase I liver detox pathway are:

• Cruciferous vegetables – Cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, bok choy, cress, mustard, horseradish, turnips, rutabagas (swede), kohlrabi, watercress, arugula (rocket)

• Vitamin C rich foods – peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, citrus fruit (not grapefruit which inhibits Phase 1)

• Oranges & tangerines,  lemons (but not grapefruit)

Fruits and vegetables that activate the Phase II pathway are:

An abundance of fruit and vegetables will ensure adequate glutathione a primary substance needed for detox. Specific foods that stimulate this pathway are:

• cruciferous vegetables, avocados, walnuts, asparagus, watermelon, orange peel oil, dill seeds & caraway seeds.

• Garlic & Onions

• Red peppers

• Green leafy vegetables

Organic Fruit & Vegetables

The vitamins and mineral contained in the fruit and vegetables come from the soil so it’s important to buy produce that that is grown in soil that has not been overfarmed or depleted of its precious nutrients.

Organic produce is better than conventionally grown because organic growers take care of the soil and you are not putting more toxins into your body from the pesticide residues on the food.

Sweep out toxins

Fruit and vegetables contain bulk and fiber which acts like a broom to sweep the intestines clean. Fiber helps to regulate the blood sugar keeping us balanced both physically and emotionally.

Talking of blood sugar, according to a new study eating mangoes regularly can help prevent diabetes and insulin resistence. Certain substances in mangoes act in a similar manner to dibetes and cholesterol drugs.

Apples and oranges contain pectin which helps to absorb fats and toxins from the digestive system.

Cleansers and Regenerators

Basically fruit are cleansers and vegetables are regenerators and builders. Researchers have shown that cells can regenerate themselves either by replacement with a weaker cell or by replacement with a stronger cell. A high fresh fruit & vegetable diet promotes healthy cell regeneration.

The best fruits for cleansing are:

apples, pears, oranges, watermelon, grapes and lemon.

The most valuable vegetable cleansers are:

beets (beetroot), carrots, celery, cucumber, spinach, chard, and watercress.

Green vegetable juices are rich in chlorophyll which helps with bowel cleansing.

Some good cleansing combination juices are:

Watercress and spinach
Apple, carrot and celery
Beets ( beetroot) and cucumber

Acid Alkaline Balance

The majority of people eat too much protein, fatty and processed foods which are highly acid forming. An acidic body has been linked to fatigue, a weakened immune system, arthritis and other degenerative diseases and even cancer.

A high fruit and vegetable diet helps to supply the minerals which have an alkalizing effect on your body and creates an environment that enables your cells to detox.

Eat a rainbow of fruit and vegetables for optimum health

Eating a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables suppies your body with a range of natural plant chemicals known as phytochemicals that have a host of health boosting qualities.

These phytochemicals are what give the fruit and vegetables their amazing colors. Different phytochemicals have different effects in our bodies so it’s important to eat as many different colored fruit and vegetables as you can.

Many phytochemicals are anti-oxidants which are needed in the detox process and to combat the free radicals created in the body during normal metabolism.

You can read more about the Rainbow Diet here:

Detox Diet: Eat A Rainbow For Optimum Health

Raw fruit and vegetables contain an energy and vitality that is destroyed by cooking. When you eat them the energy is transferred to your cells which helps them push out the waste products which if left to accumulate will internfer with its function.

Some health practitioners feel that a raw food diet is the only natural human diet and that cooked food is a major cause of disease and suffering. Yet research has discovered that some nutrients are better absorbed from vegetables when it is lightly cooked.

The best option then seems to have a diet that is high in both raw fruit and cooked vegetables.There is no doubt that whether you opt for cooked or raw a diet high fresh fruit and vegetable diet  will help you detox your body.

The body is exposed to toxins everyday through food, air pollution, medication and even stress. Processed, chemically enhanced and ready to eat food contain substances that are toxic to the body. These toxic agents weaken your immunity, stress the mind and cause fatigue so let’s look at some important detox tips.

Detox or detoxification is a cleansing process from within that gets rid of toxins, body waste and excess fats. It nourishes and renews the body from the inside to give an outside glow. There are different ways to detoxify your body. Here are 5 detox tips to get you started.

1. Start detox from where toxins start

Eliminate toxic substances that are found in sodas, processed foods, junk foods and pre- packed foods and vices like smoking and drinking alcohol. Food colors, food enhancers and preservatives found from these foods are removed from the body through the liver, kidneys and large intestines.

One of the most important detox tips is to avoid toxins that are in products you apply to your skin. Your skin is highly absorbant and will absorb a range of toxic chemicals from your personal care products. Look for natural products.

Use only chemical free cleaning agents in your home and and avoid using air freshners unless truly natural. Your liver turns these substances into water soluble for excretion through urine and feces.

Too many toxic substances make the liver and kidneys to work double time. This stresses the liver and kidneys and if this continues for a long period, it could lead to kidney and liver malfunction.

2. Add fiber to your diet

Eat plenty of fiber rich food and maintain a healthy diet. Fiber helps to absorb and flush out fats, cholesterol, processed toxins from the liver and the waste products that remain in the gut after digestion and absorption takes place.

Whole, gluten free grains such as buckwheat, red and brown rice are great sources of fiber. They are also rich in slow releasing carbohydrate that fuel the body with energy without turning energy into body fats.

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, green peas, potato with skin, sweet potatoes, carrots and green leafy vegetables are fiber rich vegetables. They contain nutrients that nourish and repair damaged cells.

Fruits like raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, cherries, plums, apples, kiwi fruit, guavas and bananas are immune boosting fiber rich fruits. They are rich vitamin C that strengthens the immunity and provides fast recovery from sickness and stress.

Almonds, Brazil nuts, pistachios and walnuts contain high level of fiber. They also contain essential fatty acids that fight and eliminate bad cholesterol that can cause hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

3. Spice up your food

Anti- oxidants are detoxifying agents that fight free radicals and promote cell regeneration. Herbs like fennel, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, garlic and spices like cayenne pepper, dried chili pepper, ginger and turmeric are rich in anti- oxidants. They add flavor, color and aroma to the food while promoting healthy cells.

4. Drink plenty of water and freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices

Water dilutes toxins and helps to flush them out through urine and sweat. Drink at least 1 liter of pure water a day. Freshly squeezed juices are healthier and more natural than concentrated or powdered juice.

5. Exercise to good health

Perspiration produced through exercise detoxifies the skin and removes toxins from the superficial layers.  It tones, firms and keeps the muscle look younger. Sweat pushes out excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells to keep the skin smooth and radiant.

Exercise improves blood circulation for better distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the body. Meditation and yoga are perfect for mind detoxification and relaxation. The deep breathing soothes the mind, promotes better sleep, supplies more oxygen and helps to clear out air pollutants from the lungs.

By following these detox tips on a daily basis you cannot but help to improvement your health. For more specific information on detox see my Definitive Detox Diet.

If you’ve had a spell of rich food, more alcohol than usual and late nights over the holiday season why not try this easy 2 Day Detox Diet to help restore your energy and vitality?  Although Spring is the traditional time to detox many people feel more motivated to do a New Year Detox Diet.

Instead of following a longer and more restrictive diet that may lower your immunity you can incorporate a few healthy diet changes into your life to naturally support your body’s detox system and kick start your health.  Following a 2 Day Detox Diet once a month will ensure you feel and look great and boost your energy

2 Day Detox Diet

Prepare

• Plan to do the detox over a weekend or when you are not working or have any other commitments. Arrange a a long weekend if you can so you can rest and relax.

• For a week before the detox ease into it by focusing more on whole grains, vegetables, fruit, wild fish, free range or organic chicken, organic eggs, beans, pulses, seeds and nuts.  Avoid fatty meat and fried food.

• Ensure your meals are 75% vegetables + 25% meat, fish or eggs. Try to have a variety of different colored vegetables. Steam or stir-fry them to keep the nutrient content high. Use herbs and spices instead of salt to make them tasty.

• Reduce your regular tea and caffeine in coffee, colas, and other beverages and drink green tea, clean water and fresh vegetable juices instead. If you normally drink a lot of tea or coffee take even longer to wean yourself off it to prevent withdrawal headaches during the 2 day detox diet.

• Stop drinking soft drinks with with high fructose corn syrup and and try to avoid alcohol.

• Look for alternatives to bread and other wheat based products. White bread, white pasta, white rice, cookies, and cakes trigger a rise in insulin levels and causes blood sugar balance problems which often results in sugar cravings and weight gain.

• Use brown rice, millet, oatmeal, quinoa or amaranth instead.

• Cut out processed foods, sugar and foods containing it and artificial sweeteners.

• Reduce dairy products but you can eat live natural unsweetened yogurt. Use rice or almond milk instead.

The 2 Day Detox Diet consists of mainly liquid meals for breakfast and dinner with a solid meal at lunchtime.

Day 1

On rising

Lemon Detox Drink:

Blend together the juice of 1/2 small medium organic lemon with 8 oz water, 1 tablespoon organic flax oil,  small piece of peeled and grated ginger root to taste until well mixed. Sweeten with a few drops Stevia or apple juice if you have to.

Breakfast

Wait at least 30 minutes after drinking lemon Flax Detox Drink and then sip a Green Smoothie.
Make it from 40 % fruit and 60% green leaves if you can.  Place diced fresh fruit in the blender and add a variety of green leaves and enough water to make the blades turn easily. Blend on high speed until very smooth in a high powered blender.

Snacks

Keep drinking herbal tea, green tea, or pure water throughout the day and eat raw veg, fresh berries, a handful of almonds or another green smoothie for snacks.

Lunch

Choose from:

• Steamed, low mercury fish with vegetables or large vegetable salad

• Stir fried vegetables with buckwheat noodles

• Bean or lentil dish with wholegrain rice and vegetables.

• Plain roast or poached chicken breast with large vegetable salad or steamed vegetables.

Mid afternoon

Snacks as above.

Dinner

Choose from:

• Raw soup

• Cooked vegetable soup

• Green Smoothie

• Fresh vegetable juice

You can find some tasty recipes for Cabbage Soup here:  Cabbage Soup Detox Diet Plan

And some Detox Soups here: Detox Soups for Winter Cleansing

For Green Smoothies try these: Tasty Recipes For Detox Smoothies

Day 2

As above.

You can follow this 2 day detox diet plan for longer if you like.

If you’re diabetic, pregnant or breast feeding you should get the advice of a health practitioner who is knowledgeable and experienced in detox before going on a detox diet.

Detoxification is not just about diet so here are a few things you can do to help.

Brush Up

Give your lymphatic system a treat and do some skin brushing. Your lymph system carries waste away from your cells. Using a firm, natural bristle long handled brush, starting at your feet, brush your body all over using long sweeping strokes towards your heart. Brush your abdomen with gentle circular clockwise movements.

Detox bath

Relax and ease tensions in a detox bath. Epsom salts helps to eliminate toxins from just under the skin.

Move your body

Spend half and hour each day doing some exercise. Yoga, stretching, rebounding on a mini trampoline or brisk walking will help to rev up your circulation.

Your energy levels may fluctuate during the detox so rest when you are tired.

A detox is a good time to kickstart healthy eating so once you have finished your 2 Day Detox Diet ease back into eating solid foods but stay on a healthy diet. Aim for eating at least 7 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables every day and eat a wide variety of colors.

Almost everyone likes to eat and drink but if your eating and drinking habits are slowly killing you isn’t it about time you changed them? It’s not too soon to start planning your detox diet goals for health in 2012.

Your body is a wonderful but incredibly complex piece of engineering that must be maintained so that it doesn’t break down in the middle of your life. Who wants to suffer with heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and cancer, the biggest killers of our times, if they can be avoided?

Genetically our bodies are designed to last for 100 years or more. With the right care your body can remain fully functioning that long. I think you will agree that there is no point in living to a ripe old age if you cannot enjoy it.

How many times have you made a New Year’s Resolution that this will be year you will get healthy ? Or perhaps you have you promised yourself that you will start a detox diet in January?

It’s easy to make a resolution but not so easy to keep it. The decision to take responsibility for your health is a big challenge and needs motivation, planning and, will power and a certain amount of discipline.

Setting your goals

Resolutions tend to be vague and are hard to put into practice. You are much more likely to succeed if you have definite goals. Without having a goal in mind, the final result is not as clear.

For example, you might say your resolution for next year is to lose weight but that is too vague. Much better would be to say that your goal for health is to lose 50 lbs in 6 months. Then you set smaller target goals to help you reach that main goal.

If you want to follow a detox diet you need to plan out some time when you will be able to start. Most goals are reached in steps so write down all the steps that you will need to take before you start it.

Create a clear vision

If you are thinking about what you will have to give up to lose weight or how hard it will be for you to follow that detox diet program  then your are likely to fail before you start.

A much better way is to have a clear vision of how you want to look and how you want to feel. This method of visualizing is used by top people from all walks of life to create vivid pictures of themselves reaching their goals. When you have a clear vision and focus on what you want you will be able to achieve your goals much more easily.

As well as creating a vision in your mind you can create a vision board so you can remind yourself every day of how you want to look or what you want to achieve. A vision board is simply a collage of images that represent your dreams and desires. You can cut pictures or words out of magazines, use your own photos, draw or write them.

They can be easily created on special sites online for no cost. It is proven that the more you visualize and see yourself already achieving your goals and dreams, the faster they will happen.

Get support

Sticking to a detox diet plan needs some discipline and you will need to make some changes to the way you live. Let your family or friends know about your goal and keep them informed of your progress.

Having their support and encouragement can make a huge amount of difference to your success. Maybe you have a friend who has the same goal in mind and will agree to be your goal buddy.

Make an affirmation

You may not believe in affirmations or have ever done them before but it has been proven that if done correctly they can produce very positive results.

Sit down on your own and go through your reasons for wanting to follow a detox diet to improve your health. Pick out the things you want to change. Perhaps you want more energy, or to get rid of achy joints, or to stop binging on chocolate.

Project your mind forward two months from now and pretend the change has been made. See how you want to be in your mind’s eye.  Really feel what it would be like for you.  Describe that in one sentence. That is your affirmation.

Repeat the affirmation 10 times to imprint on your mind and feel the emotion that goes with it. Repeat the affirmation for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night as well as 5 minutes during the day as often as you can. You will experience results.

You deserve to have vibrant health. So take control of your life and start planning your detox diet goals for 2012 right now. For more on this you might like to read my post from last year New Year Health Resolutions:  Overhaul Your Health In 2011 and 5 Better Eating Tips For Your New Year Resolution.

You can make yourself some detox green smoothies at any time of the year. They are so easy to make, so tasty to drink and incredibly nutritious. You just whizz up some fruit and a bunch of greens and you have your breakfast, lunch, dinner or healthy snack. Before we get to the recipes  let’s take a quick look at why they are so very good for you.

Detox Green Smoothies provide healthy carbohydrates, all essential amino acids and an abundance of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and chlorophyll so are an excellent choice whether you are following a detox diet or not.

Green smoothies make use of the whole food and includes the fiber which has numerous health benefits for the digestive system. I wrote a post here about whether blending fruit and vegetables is better than juicing for detox?

Greens contain more valuable nutrients than any other food group. Greens are high in carotenoids, and other antioxidants that guard against heart disease, cancer, and problems with blood sugar regulation.

Health Benefits of Green Leaves

Each type of green leaf has it’s own health benefits. For example Kale contains Vitamin K , calcium and manganese all needed for bone health. It also contains sulforaphane,  the anti-cancer phytochemical.

Spinach contains iron and is a good source of folic acid, selenium and zinc.  Collard greens contain diindolymethane which improves good estrogen metabolism and immune system modulation.

If you use a very high powered blender like a Vita-Mix or Blendtec the cells of the plants are ruptured releasing more nutrients that are more easily absorbed than if you use a regular blender.

Who invented Green Smoothies?

Although Steve Kuhnau, dubbed The Smoothie King, has been credited with inventing nutritional smoothies Victoria Butenko started the present day trend for Green Smoothies in 2004.  While searching for a cure for her family’s illnesses Victoria concluded that the missing element in their diet was leafy greens.

In order to get them to eat enough greens she hit on the idea of blending them and she added fruit to make them more palatable. Many people do not consume nearly enough greens in their normal diet so Detox Green Smoothies are a great way to get more greens into your diet.  And once you start drinking them, you’ll be hooked on them.

As you drink more Detox Green Smoothies and get more of these nutrients into your body you will notice an increase in energy and fewer cravings for food which will help with weight loss.

To detox with Green Smoothies you can just eat green smoothies and fresh fruits and vegetables for 2 – 7 days or simply replace one or two meals per day with 1 quart of green smoothie.

Here are some easy and tasty recipes for Detox Green Smoothies.

The basic recipe is 60 % fruit and 40% green leaves. As you get used to them you can experiment with increasing the greens and reducing the fruit.

You can use fruit such as bananas, apples, pears, kiwi fruit, mangoes, pineapple, berries and every other juicy fruit. You greens could be any kind of lettuce, mixed baby greens, celery, spinach, kale, chard, arugula (rocket) and other green leaves. You can also try peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.

It’s best to keep Detox Green Smoothies simple. You don’t need to add protein powders, superfoods, powdered supplements, nuts or seeds. You can add a scoop of your favorite green food powder if you want.

Allow at least 40 minutes for your Detox Green Smoothie to be absorbed before you eat anything else. If you want to drink a Green Smoothie as a snack mid-morning or afternoon wait several hours after your previous meal to allow it to digest first. Do not be tempted to add nuts, oils, or other supplements as these can make them harder to digest.

These recipes make varying amounts. They are best drunk fresh but you can keep any left over smoothie in the fridge or take it to work in a cooler.

The method is the same for all the recipes. Put all the ingredients in a blender fruit first. Start the blender at slow speed and then increase to high power when the greens are incorporated into the liquid. Blend until very smooth. Add more water if necessary to taste.

Wild Purple

1 cup fresh or frozen wild blueberries
1 banana, peeled
3 plums, pitted
1/2 head romaine lettuce
1/2 cucumber, chopped
8 ounces of filtered water

Blueberry Green

1 cup of coconut water, almond milk or rice milk
1 – 1 1/2 cups of blueberries or other berries
1 small banana
6 large lettuce or other green leaves
1/2 tsp organic cinnamon ( optional)

Mango Spice

2 medium mangoes, peeled and diced
1/2 – 1  cup arugula
2 cups spinach or other green leaves
1/2 to 1 cup filtered water

Berry Good

4 handfuls mixed berries (blueberries raspberries, strawberries)
1 or 2 dates
2 handfuls of greens
8  ounces of filtered water

Green Mist

4 ripe pears, cored
4-5 leaves of kale coarsely cut into ribbons
½ bunch of mint leaves
Water, enough to cover blades

Melon Refresher

3 cups honeydew melon
1 large handful mixed greens
1 small handful mint leaves

You don’t have to be following a detox diet plan to benefit from the Detox Green Smoothies but it will help if you follow a healthy diet. If you have a favorite Green Smoothie recipe why not share it below?