
This morning at 7am I officially started my Autumnal Detox with a glass of lime infused water (room temperature) and this blog entry as promised.... I plan to detox from my summer eating habits for 7 days, in honor of welcoming the Autumn solstice on September 22nd at 7pm. As part of my autumn season realignment, I plan to blog here each morning; a form of meditation...sharing my insights and recipes to inspire ~ Goddess Blessings!
Thank you for joining me on this modification/autumnal detox today! My blog is intended to be a source of inspiration to everyone around the world. I welcome your feedback through relevant, constructive, thoughtful comments. Please understand for legal reasons, I cannot answer specific/personal medical condition questions on the blog. For questions, service issues or inquiries regarding purchases of any kind, email me at: [email protected] Thank you kindly for engaging and adding to this conversation!
I offer years of holistic living experience, as I am an initiate of Queen Afua, Ankh Ra Semaje Se Ptah, Gary Null and several other notables. In 2004, I became a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner via Dr. Lliala Afrika and board certified through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). I love to create fun and healthy meals in the kitchen, and felt important to share this love of cooking with some of my clients. I intend to become a published author of healthy living materials. I have given healthy food demonstrations to small groups and I also offer private and group holistic health coaching programs.
As many of you already know, I participated in numerous festivals as a vendor this summer, dragging heavy suitcases of products, setting up a tent and table, then breaking down and packing up after long days of standing and sharing my brand...knowledge of natural hair, holistic health and wellness; along with my Ancient Blends natural hair and body care products with tons of awesome people. So, before heading into fall, my frazzled brain and body need time to cleanse and decompress.
Yesterday, as I mentally prepared for this journey, I decided to stay inside to rest. I drank more tea, water and fruits also. I found myself thinking a lot about the transition into autumn. I envisioned that seasonal chore of switching out my summer clothes and revisiting some old favorite, warm clothing...although, I'm not in a hurry to go thru the winter storage. Last week, I did go through my jewelry box, selected and sold some lovely pieces I hadn't worn in some time. I'm looking forward to releasing some clothing as well as toxins.
The harvest season is the time to begin to decrease your intake of cooling summer foods and start to increase more cooked and warming foods into your eating plan in preparation for winter. It’s also the season to reduce your fruit intake from three portions to two, because fruits are especially cooling to the body. We need more warmth going into the cooler months.
My Autumn Detox Plan: Day-1 (repeat or modify throughout this detox journey)
Here Are A Few Essential Health Necessities:
Daily drink 2 tablespoons Braggs organic apple cider vinegar upon rising in the morning and lastly before bed (alkalizing)
2 tablespoon of Flaxseed oil and 2 tablespoon of sesame oil daily
1 ounce of chlorophyll in 8 ounces of water daily.
2ml of liquid B-12 vitamins daily (nervous system support)
Lean protein—at least 8 ounces daily of fish, tofu, and tempeh
Vegetables—Unlimited raw or steamed vegetables with added cayenne pepper (heat) for improving circulating.
Fruits - 2 whole portions daily. Choose from apples, plums, tangerines, cranberries, pears, persimmons, pomegranate, oranges (no bananas, they're mucous forming)
Alkaline water—1 gallon a day (or the golden rule of: drink half your body's weight in ounces)
Between meals—2 cups of fenugreek tea daily. Fenugreek is a plant. The seeds are used to make medicine. Fenugreek is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn't enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not it is effective for any of them. Fenugreek is used for digestive problems such as loss of appetite, upset stomach,constipation, and inflammation of the stomach (gastritis). It is also used for conditions that affect heart health such as “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis) and for high blood levels of certain fats including cholesterol and triglycerides. Fenugreek is used for kidney ailments, a vitamin deficiency disease called beriberi, mouth ulcers, boils, bronchitis, infection of the tissues beneath the surface of the skin (cellulitis), tuberculosis, chronic coughs, chapped lips, baldness, cancer, and lowering blood sugar in people with diabetes.
During a detox, you eliminate or reduce foods that may be wreaking havoc on your system.
During a cleanse, you dive deeper into cleansing a specific organ, such as your liver or kidneys.
A detox introduces foods that make you feel more alive and recharged in a safe and effective way.
During this 7 Day Autumnal Detox, you will learn how to nourish your body, reduce unwanted toxicity in a non-stressful approach to the elimination diet. This 7 Day Autumnal Detox is not about starving, fasting, juicing, only drinking soups or smoothies, or buying lots of supplements. This 7 Day Autumnal Detox is about learning how to eat right for your unique body.
Here's Another Sample Autumn Detox Plan Menu you may pattern your day after...
Upon arising—two 8-ounce glasses of water with juice of 1 lemon
Before breakfast—1 cup fenugreek tea
Breakfast—1 stewed apple with cinnamon and nutmeg; Autumn Scrambler (made with tofu, mushrooms, and onions with 1/2 tablespoon sesame seed oil)
Mid-morning—two 8-ounce glasses of water
Lunch—veggie burger; warm cabbage salad with grated carrots, celery, parsley, and dressing of 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon anise seed, 3 tablespoons sauerkraut
Mid-afternoon—two 8-ounce glasses of water
Before dinner—1 pear or apple
Dinner—Broiled or baked fish with a dash of cinnamon and cayenne; braised greens and sliced garlic and purple onions with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil; Leafy Veggie salad (with steamed wild mushrooms, radishes, and snow peas); 1 cup of fenugreek tea
Mid-evening—two 8-ounce glasses of water
Colon HydroTherapy (colonics)
(contact me for colonic therapist referral)
SUPER IMPORTANT:
In the fall, you may also want to consider a series of 3-4 colon hydrotherapy treatments to assist in cleansing the bowel. Colon hydro-therapists believe that regular colon cleansing helps relieve fatigue, gas, headaches, irritability, and a number of stubborn skin problems. Colonic enthusiasts report a marked sense of well-being, more energy, less brain fog, and more tranquility. Dark circles and bags under the eyes disappear. Colon hydrotherapy can help to establish the pattern of regular bowel movements on a daily basis. Once the system has been cleansed with colon hydrotherapy, the colon can again function as it was meant to, eliminating unwanted wastes from the body.
Just like the tall maples, we must shed our leaves and cleanse before the winter. A fall detox cleanse will help to stave off seasonal colds, keep your immune system healthy, and prepare your organs for the colder months ahead. Best of all, the fall cleanse doesn’t require a straight-up fast.
According to Health Coach and Integrative Nutrition Specialist Jolene Hart, the fall detox should be all about the lungs and the large intestine. In both alternative and conventional medicine theory, these organs are linked to skin and breathing problems like asthma, eczema, rashes and dry skin—all of the most common things to ail us in the colder months.
To support the lungs and large intestine, Hart recommends limiting sugar, flour, dairy and alcohol for a healthy, mucous free stomach. And for opening the nasal passages, drinking fenugreek tea. I love that warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves—the ones we use anyways in our fall baking recipes—actually support both intestinal and respiratory health, so it’s just perfect that they are good for both our health and the flavor of our foods during this season.
The Fall Detox Guide is now yours!
Here's a cleanse outline I found online which I also plan to modify for my own personal needs. You may feel free to do the same. Inside you'll find recipes for a gentle 3-day cleanse that will leave you feeling lighter, brighter, and ready for the season:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/integrativenutrition/Publishing/Fall+Cleanse+Recipe+Guide+FINAL.pdf
Ingredients:
4 cups spinach, loosely packed
1 tablespoon hemp seed (optional)
1 cup water
1-2 cups ice
2 ripe pears, cut into chunks
In a high-powered blender, blend together spinach, hemp seed (if using), and water until smooth.
Add pears and blend until smooth. Add ice and blend until frothy. Use more ice if you prefer a slushie-like smoothie, less if you prefer a thick juice-like one.
(Yield: 1 giant or 2 medium smoothies)
- See more at: http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/blogs/nicole-macpherson-meatless-mummy-con-carne/20140903/pear-riffic-green-smoothie-recipe#sthash.urU1D6zt.dpuf
serves 8
**I do want to note, as I know many of you already know, I always try to select organic produce whenever possible. Even better if it is from a local farmer. When you are on a cleanse it is more important than ever, to be consuming organic fruits and vegetables and always be sure to properly clean them, as well. You want to avoid any and all unnecessary toxins both in your food and in your environment, during your detox. Rather than putting the word “organic” before each ingredient, just know you should be selecting organic whenever it possible for this soup.**
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 large leek, cleaned well and cut into half lengthwise then into thin slices
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1-2 pepper(s) of your choice, diced (I went with two scotch bonnet peppers)
- 6-8 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, scrubbed clean, peeled and chopped
- 3 or 4 small rutabagas, peeled and cut into medium dice
- 1 very small or 1/4 of a medium head of cabbage, core removed and sliced thinly (about 2 cups)
- 3 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed (you could also select Kobucha squash or pumpkin)
- 8-10 cups water
- Fresh herbs; rosemary, thyme and oregano, or whatever you have on hand
- 3 roma tomatoes, with seeds and skin, diced
- 2 cups cooked Aduki beans (aka adzuki or azuki beans)*
- 1 bunch of kale, spinach stems removed and leaves roughly chopped
- 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan sea salt, a pinch to taste
- fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
- pinch of red pepper flakes
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add in the onion, leek, celery, peppers and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add in the carrots, rutabagas, cabbage, squash and any fresh herbs you are adding. Cook for about 5-7 minutes. Stirring often.
Add the water, tomatoes and beans, take it up to a medium-high bring it to a light boil then drop the temperature down, cover and simmer the soup over a low heat for 30-45 minutes. The longer it simmers, the better and more intense the flavor will be. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add any additional herbs or spices you would like.
Just before serving add the kale and the apple cider vinegar. Stir well and serve.
HERE'S A QUICK, DELICIOUS SALAD IDEA (sourced via internet)
I've actually made this salad often...it provides the needed roughage to sweep the colon walls for optimal elimination. Eat plenty!!!