As much as even the healthiest eaters pay attention to their cuisine, there’s sometimes no escaping the evils that lurk in various foods. At restaurants, for example, nonorganic products can include pesticides and dastardly toxins. Weight gain, low energy, unclear skin and illnesses are among the unpleasant side effects of toxins in our body.
It’s possible, however, to give your digestive system a vacation. With a simple detox, your body can rid itself of harmful toxins; the benefits include greater energy, weight loss, deeper sleep and reduced stress. In many ways, it’s like taking your body to the dry cleaners—it helps you look and feel great!
There are many ways to achieve these results, from participating in a 100-percent organic juice cleanse to doing a raw-food detox. If you are new to the world of cleanses, I suggest a combination of the two for a fabulous detox challenge. The best part is that it’s doable anywhere and doesn’t take extra time. In fact, this cleanse will put time back into your schedule. Here’s our suggested seven-day plan:
DAYS 1-2: Buy your favorite organic fruits and raw vegetables and eat them for every meal (and snacks) during the first two days. You can have as many servings as you’d like, but don’t overeat. A typical day on this cleanse for me would be a whole honeydew for breakfast, four mangos for lunch, grapefruits and papaya for snacks and an apple cobbler for dinner (see recipe is below). Because raw organic foods are full of digestive enzymes and vitamins, your body doesn’t have to do much work to process them. As a result, you will feel more energized.
DAYS 3-5: Buy a three-day 100-percent organic juice cleanse. One of my favorite companies is onjuice.com, based here in Boca. A great part of this cleanse is that the juices are delivered right to your door; it’s the ultimate fast food for a person on the go. (Mention this blog to receive $25 off a three-day juice cleanse.)
DAYS 6-7: Repeat the first 2 days of eating your favorite fruits and vegetables.
Trust me, your body will thank you!
APPLE COBBLER RECIPE
5 to 6 organic apples
4 dates
2 teaspoons ground flax seeds
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
1/2 cup raisins
6 tablespoons chopped walnuts (one per serving)
6 teaspoons coconut shreds (one per serving)
Mix 3 apples with dates, flax seeds, salt, cinnamon and vanilla in the food processor until blended well. Chop 3 apples and add to mixture. Add raisins. Place into dessert dish, sprinkle with cinnamon, walnuts and coconut. Enjoy!
About Alina Z.
Alina Z., aka “The Green Goddess,” is a certified holistic health coach, detox specialist and raw-food instructor at Whole Foods in Boca who lends her expertise to individual clients as well as the likes of Boca-based DeliverLean. Prior to moving to Florida, Alina hosted her own TV show in Maryland—“Entertaining A to Z”—for people who didn’t have time to cook but wanted to eat healthy. Follow Alina on Facebook (facebook.com/fabulousfoodAZ) or Twitter (@FabulousFood)—and catch the Green Goddess every other Wednesday at bocamag.com.
