Detox: A Fresh Start in 2010
Forgive me for getting an Outkast song going through your head (my Clean Team is composed of super hip (they’ll love that!) music lovers so I’m getting quite an education) but your very own “so fresh and so clean” New Year begins with not only a catchy little beat but three very important R’s.
These R’s will be the tools for absolutely amazing vitality as well as an immune boost. They are: Remove, Restore and Rejuvenate, and here’s the super simple breakdown.
1. Remove toxins by avoiding processed/packaged food with additives and artificial sweeteners, beauty care products with ingredients you can’t pronounce, finding food and non-food items that are organic like fruits and vegetables, clothing, bedding, makeup, and pet supplies, buy or make your own eco-friendly cleaning products, and also look at removing common allergens from your diet such as dairy, bread, pasta, sugar, white rice/sugar and red meat.
2. Restore healthy bacteria in the gut (by using natural and often really delicious plant and herbal antimicrobials like garlic, lemon, olive oil, oregano oil, thyme and cayenne pepper) to help your body out as it tirelessly works to move all those toxins that we accumulate just by living, working and playing in this world of ours.
3. Rejuvenate by making time to rest both your body and your mind, with things like meditation, yoga, gentle walking or stretching, being outside whenever possible even if it’s just to watch some clouds float by or the snow fall through trees, taking a bath, reading, some form of creative activity, sharing space with loved ones, or simply being still for a few minutes every so often throughout your day. . .
A final tip that addresses all three of the above R’s is this:
Love those greens! Fresh green juices are one of the best ways to fill your body with incredible nutrition, easy to digest energy, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and a pleasant sensation of fullness that will help with maintaing the right weight for your own body. Greens (and especially in fresh juiced form) even help to generate feelings of comfort and being loved. Love from yourself for taking such good care of your wonderful body, but also, that feeling of being satiated and nourished creates a state of happiness and clarity in your brain (and also to your overall moods) both of which are so important in these long cold winter months. Seasonal Affective Disorder runs rampant and threatens to drive us all under the covers with a pound of chocolate, and unless it’s some sugar-free raw chocolate, you might be pleasantly surprised when silky, sexy, slightly sweet green juices become your “comfort food” of choice and the scales begin to tip in a lighter direction as a welcome side effect.
If you don’t happen to have a neighborhood juice bar don’t worry, because you can make delicious green juices without even having a juicer. With any high speed blender, you can make a thick “soup” and then using a simple nut milk bag (about $7) or even with a DIY cheesecloth one, you can strain out the pulp and be left with a glass full of yummy green nutrition to power you up through what promises to be an amazing New Year!
These simple things are the sexiest (and easiest) tools ever for reaching optimal health and vitality. You’ll have more energy and more time to fully experience the things you love and to begin actively participating in your incredibly vibrant life.
Warmth and love. . .
Dr. Alejandro Junger
- Posted by Dr. Alejandro Junger on December 22, 2009 at 5:00 am
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Tagged as: creativity, detox, green juice, meditation, vegetables, Yoga
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Dr. Junger,
I’ve only recently become aware of the benefits of green juice. I’d really love to try to get into my own creation of it at home but would love to know if there is a reliable online site on which I could find recipe suggestions? Thank you kindly!
–Casi
Those are great guidelines for a good start to the New Year. Thank you! Casi, I got going with green smoothies after reading “green for life” by Victoria Boutenko. She includes lots of ideas for making green drinks.
Hi Casi,
Here is a recipe by Kris Carr:
Ingredients for the juice, juice, juice:
-Cucumber
-Sunflower & or Sweet pea -sprouts
-celery
-broccoli stems
-kale
-dandelion greens
(Add a pear or green apple for sweetness)
My favorite juice…
-1 Pear
-1-2 Cucumbers
-1/2 head romaine
Love it. . .feeling fully supported and ready to get through the chaos of the holidays and start january off with a juicy bang! Thanks for this!
This is greate guide.Now Im starting with natural detoxify.
In number 1 you mentioned green cleaning products and that is so important for a green lifestyle.
Using non-toxic natural products is such an important part of keeping a green home. I found some great products (including laundry detergent) at http://www.carribeanmist.com
They sell high-quality environmentally friendly products that are natural, safe, effective AND affordable!