Make your cleanse a cake walk...minus the cake

Gigi inspired me to start a thorough Spring cleaning from within. I attend the monthly Green Lodge Goddess gatherings organized by The Stoned Housewife and Luminous Collections and it brings together total babes mainly in the cannabis industry. I will have to post more about the power and connection these meet ups bring, but in April one of the women who spoke there was talking about how connected we are with the earth and it really resonated with me because I had been ferociously cleaning under the Taurus new moon and noticing that I feel best when I am following along with the stars and eating what is fresh and local that comes from the earth’s natural, seasonal cycles. So naturally spring is a time for detoxifying plants and cleaning all around and within. 

Gigi’s discipline and results were inspiring and I always love connecting deeper with my body and aligning with it’s needs. I hope this cleanse will give me a better perspective on how my body reacts to certain foods and what I can eat to really thrive every day and not leave the table feeling bloated, overly full and weighing my body down with heavy digesting tasks. 

Now we are in full on Summer mode, but that doesn't mean you can't use Gigi and I's cleansing experiences and guidelines to bring some balance back to your life after the Fourth of July Holiday weekend. 

My cleanse started with a 3 day juice cleanse I customized for myself from the only juice in Colorado that is comparable to my favorite in San Diego, OH! Juice, Wonder Press Juice in Boulder. Cold pressed, organic and in glass. 

After the cleanse I planned to do a month without: 

• gluten
• dairy
• eggs
• soy
• “fast food” 
• alcohol
• “processed foods" 

This will include eating 30% Clean proteins (wild fish/shellfish and vegetable sources) 

70% Vegs (beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, seaweeds, GF grains) 

+ Lots of healthy fats  like ghee, coconut oil, flax, walnuts, avocado, sunflower oil and HEMP 

Cleaning up your diet is easier after a cleanse because you already made it through the hardest part (juicing) and you feel so good you want to continue putting clean, whole foods into your body. 

JUICES: When picking the right juice cleanse make certain it is ORGANIC, COLD PRESSED and NUTRITIONALLY DESIGNED ideally in glass as well. (OH! Juice makes the perfect juices and designs custom cleanses if you are in SD this is where you go.) I found Wonder Press juice in Boulder, CO which meet these requirement and I designed my own cleanse with them. I need mostly greens, but I can't do all greens I need a little bit of variety to get me through the juice days and ending the night with a nut milk or mixing a protein rich post-workout nut milk is a must for me.  

Start your day with hot water and lemon and a probiotic. Whether you're on a cleanse or not this is how I aim to start every day no matter where I am. I also always start with a green juice, they are energizing and fuel your day. 

Superfoods to add to juices: This is a list of powerful superfoods that if you have in your pantry can definitely break them out and enhance your cleanse while boosting your energy. 

Green Juices: 

• Spirulina: Protein boost and detox boost.  
• Chlorella: Detoxification boost. Chlorella binds to heavy metals and other toxins in the body and helps to remove them. 
• Chlorophyll: Purifying properties, helps oxygenate the blood and increase cell turnover. You can add liquid chlorophyll to water or into your green juice. 
• E3 Live BrainOn: Organic blue green algae supplement. Another great detoxifier. 
• Moringa Leaf: Highly medicinal, this plant is packed with vitamins and nutrients. Helps to balance hormones and is high in antioxidants. 

Root Juices 

• Goji berry: Antioxidant rich, high in vitamin C, energy booster 
• Acai berry: Antioxidant rich, may increase cognitive function and good for skin
• Maqui berry: Antioxidant rich, anti-aging, high nutrient levels 
• Mangosteen: Antioxidant rich, helps to lower blood sugar, aids in digestion 
• Marine Collagen: Added Protein and is a total beauty booster. 

Nut Milks: 

• Maca Root: hormone balancing 
• Coconut milk Powder: Add those healthy fats and creamy texture to your nut milks. 
• Ginger: Ginger is warming and great for digestion, so delicious in a spiced nut milk. 
• Cinnamon: Balances blood sugar
• Peanut Powder: Pure protein boost 
• Plant based Protein Powder: More protein. 
• Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory 
• Brain Octane: MCT oil on crack bring on the healthy fats.

Secrets to Success

• Water is your BFF4E. Do not underestimate the power of water. So many people think they are getting enough liquids for the day from drinking all of the juice, but forget to drink water and can actually become very dehydrated. Water helps flush the system and you need your cells hydrated while you are in cleansing mode. Being dehydrated on top of cleansing can be very uncomfortable causing headaches and fatigue. 

• Keep your body moving! Go for a walk, do some light exercise, it will help with the detox process and give you an endorphin boost. Yoga, Barre, Pilates, walks, dance are all great options. If you run as part of your routine you could do that too, but know you might not be able to go the regular distance. Steer clear of heavy lifting as it may cause light headedness. 

• Do an enema. I recommend an enema during your cleanse! It's a bit out there, but can take your cleanse to the next level. The more I research enemas the more I want to do them on a monthly...weekly...daily basis. When you cleanse you give your digestive tract a break and allow the nutrients from the juices permeate straight into the digestive tract. When you do an enema it's the perfect compliment to giving your digestive tract a break and you release built up waste and you won't believe how much you have until it's gone. Mind Body Green fires off a quick 10 reasons why you should try an enema. HIGHLY recommend. 
• Treat yourself! Massages relax and release toxins, be sure to drink a lot of water before and after a massage. Acupuncture will assist in the cleansing process and help align your body add cupping on to your treatment  for extra lymphatic drainage. A mani/pedi can help distract, but for me the fumes would be too powerful. During a cleanse your senses heighten and I personally always end up with super sonic sense of smell. 
• Add in Teas and other warming liquids. Non-Caffeinated teas are great for heating things up and calming the body. Ginger is hugely medicinal especially in ancient Chinese medicine and helps with digestion and will warm and nourish you. I even sip on some miso soup broth during a cleanse when I need something more savory. End the night with a cup of natural calm magnesium tea. 
• It's not cheating if you need to chew on something. Yes the point is to give your digestive tract a break from digesting, but if your body is telling you to chew on something do it. Have some raw vegetables, a miso soup with seaweed, a baked sweet potato, a salad. Stick to healthy whole food choices don't binge on pizza or chips it will not make you feel good after.   
• Listen to your body. Don't push yourself, if your body needs to rest, rest. If your body needs a bite of food go for it. Just remember why you are cleansing in the first place. To invest in your health and get a kick start back into healthy eating habits. 

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