Summer Iced Coffee Detox

A sure sign that we’re in the sweltering dog days of summer is that the trash cans, park benches and sidewalks are suddenly littered with the ubiquitous clear plastic cups, plastic lids and straws from iced coffees – whether they’re black, flavored, or milk and sugar-filled. Just because they’re slightly watered down with ice cubes doesn’t mean they’re any less harsh on our bodies than a steaming paper cup full. And people are drinking hot coffee even on the very hottest days as well!

But here’s the thing about coffee, not only do those cups fill up the landfills, but they put toxins in our body too. Coffee is incredibly dehydrating (which is not something we want when the temperatures soar), and it’s also acidic to the body, while severely taxing the detox organs (liver and kidneys).

When you “need” it to get going in the morning, feel foggy and are unable to function or communicate without your first cup, or experience the crash later on in the day when it wears off, you are already addicted and doing damage to your adrenals while leaching calcium from your bones and causing a general state of dependency and acidity in the body.

So let’s try something that will rehydrate our bodies, give us a great boost of energy to power through all the fun summer activities and expand our drink palates.  Why not start a coffee cleanse while summer is in full swing, the days are long and sultry, and you really don’t want to be drinking a hot beverage anyway?

Here’s how:

First, keep in mind that withdrawing from caffeine can be a bit of a shock to the body. You may experience a few days of headaches and irritability, but it’s so worth it and magnesium can help with the headaches. The substitutes below not only help rebalance the body, but they taste very similar to the coffee you’re used to (with the exception of the green juice and lemon water of course!). They’re soothing to wrap your hands around and can be shared with others during your morning coffee break!

Second, drink more water – pretty easy.  Try adding mint, lemon, cucumber slices, fresh berries, even a pinch of stevia. Or make your own herbal sun tea, and then keep a pitcher of it in the fridge for refreshing hydration breaks.

Third, here are some great energizing coffee substitutions that will definitely help you forget all about coffee’s hypnotic hold on you:

1. Remineralize and hydrate the body with 8 to 16 ounces of fresh green vegetable juice instead of your morning cup of joe, either made at home or from your local juice bar – just make sure it’s fresh pressed and not pasteurized. A good combination is a base of cucumber and celery with a generous amount of leafy greens (kale, parsley, chard, romaine, etc.) with a little apple or carrot for sweetness, and some ginger and lemon. This is super energizing, hydrating, cleansing and tastes delicious.

2. Another amazingly detoxifying and refreshing way to ease into your day is with a glass of warm or cold water (depending on the season) with fresh squeezed lemon juice and a pinch of stevia.  It’s a delicious lemonade, but it’s also a great way to get the peristalsis action going in the intestines to cleanse and start your day off right with proper elimination.

3. Another way to get a healthy jump start is by using cacao powder (raw chocolate) in some warm water or nut milk, adding some stevia to taste and a dash of cinnamon or mint extract for some flavor. You’ll have an incredibly rich chocolate drink that’s loaded with minerals and antioxidants but without the sugar and dairy typically found in processed chocolate and without the crash that comes with coffee.

4. A great tasting herbal coffee is Teccino, made from roasted nuts, fruit and grains, full of probiotics and a delicious earthy flavor that goes well with some stevia or nut milk or just plain. We also like roasted dandelion root made into grounds and used the same way as the Teccino in a French press or regular coffeemaker.

5. A cup of green tea or yerba mate is another very low caffeine way to start your morning, both are full of other health benefits and are delicious iced during these hot summer days.

This powdered Yerba Mate dissolves instantly into hot or cold water and you can get it with stevia or without:

6.  Saving the best for last, here’s a delicious and energizing superfood-filled “coffee granita” that will beat anything you find at any chain coffee spot:

- 1/2  cup non dairy milk (rice, almond, hemp, coconut)

- 2 tablespoons raw cacao or carob powder

- 1 tablespoon maca powder (this is incredibly energizing and has a wonderful rich flavor)

- 1 teaspoon lucuma powder (slightly sweet taste)

- 1 teaspoon mesquite powder (optional but highly recommended)

- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

- a pinch of stevia (powder) or a few drops of liquid to taste

- 1 cup ice

Blend all ingredients together until you have a coffee-like “slushie.” Pour into a tall glass, kick back and enjoy the rest of your summer – energized and addiction free!

For more information on how to optimize your health, see http://www.cleanprogram.com/.

Photo credit: EJP Photo

11 Tips and Tricks to Kick Your Coffee Addiction

Addicted to caffeine? No problem! Been there, done that. Boy, do I remember the days … working long hours, drinking two or three triple-shot soy cappuccinos. I’m surprised my adrenal glands are still functioning. Better late than never, though. I was determined to kick the coffee addiction, and I did just that with the help of the following tips and tricks.

- Fresh-squeezed orange juice in the morning can give some pure raw energy instead of stimulated energy from caffeine. And it tastes so good!

- Hot peppers can work wonders for caffeine addiction because they give a real rush of endorphins. For the hard-core folks out there, think habanera peppers. If you find those too hot, then start with a milder red pepper, and work your way up. The idea here is that it must be hot enough to release endorphins, the brain’s mechanism for dulling pain. The endorphins tackle two issues for you: providing energy so you don’t miss the caffeine and fighting headaches that may result from caffeine withdrawal. When I want a quick burst of energy, I just take a couple nibbles.

- Lots of green juices, including wheat grass, will help alkalize the blood and reduce cravings for caffeine. Add carrot juice either straight or in the green juice. The carrot juice helps give you a little extra energy boost.

- To help avoid severe withdrawal problems, consider tapering off gradually. You can start with half decaf, or just make the regular caffeine version with fewer coffee beans/ground when you’re making it at home (it’ll be more watered down than normal). Back in the day, one thing that helped me when I went to Starbucks was ordering a small regular coffee with a quarter of it as hot water. I increased that to half of the cup as hot water with the other half as coffee and so on. Of course, you can go half regular coffee with half decaf and eventually work your way to 100% decaf. Get organic when possible.

- Organic black tea and green tea are reputed to have a number of beneficial health properties, along with a more subtle caffeine boost than coffee. So, it’s a great way to enjoy a hot beverage with a little caffeine as you transition away from toxic, often pesticide-ridden, caffeine-filled coffee. And, finally, have herbal tea as a goal when you’re ready to eliminate all the caffeine in your diet. Enjoy it sweetened with a touch of raw agave nectar, or toss in a tablespoon of goji berries. Those make for an awesome treat at the end of the cup when they’re plump and warm.

- If cola or energy drinks are your brand of poison, you’ll get a triple-whammy benefit by weaning yourself off of these antithesis-of-health beverages. You’ll be eliminating not only caffeine, but also a fairly disgusting quantity of sugar (or artificial sweeteners that bring their own host of problems) and the carbonic and phosphoric acids that are bad for your blood, leach calcium from your bones and dissolve the enamel on your teeth. As with coffee, it may be easier to reduce your quantity gradually by ordering a medium instead of a large or pouring out the contents of a can when you’re 2/3 of the way through it. Another great idea is to gradually cut your fountain drinks with soda water when available at self-serve fountains (it’s usually dispensed by a little hard-to-see plastic tab that may or may not be labeled). This won’t help reduce the acidity, but it will help you taper off your caffeine levels without denying yourself the refreshing and cleansing fizz — what I like to call “Throat Draino.” Caffeine is much more addictive than bubbles, so once you’ve kicked your chemical addiction to caffeine, it will be much easier to phase out carbonated beverages entirely.

- Drink cold-pressed coffee made with a Toddy Maker. This still has caffeine, but it’s less acidic than regularly brewed coffee, so it’s a start (I’m all about the baby steps!). You can find these machines online.

- Drink Teeccino, which is herbal coffee. My husband and I have become huge fans of this. For my husband, it was love at first sip. For me, although I really enjoyed it, it wasn’t the perfect coffee replacement for me when I first stumbled upon it. Then again, I was such a hard-core coffee lover, I didn’t think anything would ever compare to the real thing. That being said, here I am, loving Teeccino — big time! Not only does it taste great, but it’s not acidic and safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s high in potassium, helps restore alkalinity, and the chicory root can help improve digestion. We love it plain (black), and we also enjoy it with raw nut milk for a nice creamy experience. I’ve even brewed coffee mixed with Teeccino for some of my coffee-addict friends to reduce the caffeine and help them transition. They love it.

- Make a beverage (or food) with raw chocolate powder. Raw chocolate has only small amounts of caffeine, but it has a stimulating effect from theobromine. Many people love raw chocolate for the feel-good buzz they get.

- Rest and adequate sleep! I can’t emphasize enough that getting enough sleep at night (and rest) is one of the big keys for helping to maintain great energy levels, so you don’t feel the need to reach for caffeine.

- Set a schedule for yourself. Decide a plan of attack for eliminating coffee from your diet and write it on your calendar. Remember, part of the addiction is the experience associated with consumption (such as going to a cafe or wrapping your hands around a big, warm mug), so look for surrogates. Find new places and new cafes, and wrap your hands around a big mug of green smoothie, warm herbal tea or yummy Teeccino.

Photo Credit: Ahmed Rabea

Forget coffee and have a SUPERFOOD SUMMER

Sarma’s One Lucky Duck goodies (raw and vegan crackers, cookies, truffle butter, nuts and more) are now in the Crazy Sexy Shop!

It’s been six years now that I’ve been a mostly raw-vegan, most of the time. In my books, blog, and elsewhere, I openly admit to being relatively open-minded when it comes to what I eat. But sometimes being very relaxed about it—particularly in the context of stress and other distractions—leads to the formation of habits before we even realize what’s happened. My own example of this: coffee! What a hypocrite I am. A whole page in my first co-written book Raw Food Real World is devoted to how bad coffee is.

My transgressions started a few summers ago as one of my early oneluckyduck.com investors was frequently drinking coffee around me in my office. I wasn’t sleeping much then and particularly freaked out about a lot of things going on, and the smell of it was very appealing! First I’d ask for a sip, then I’d have a few sips, then I’d just grab the whole cup from him and he’d have to go get another for himself. Before I knew it, I was hooked again. It was that easy.

I felt like an addict with a secret. I’d run to the coffee shop for an iced coffee, then head back towards the restaurant thinking that I really shouldn’t walk in this neighborhood drinking coffee! What if one of the regulars from the juice bar saw me! What then? Making it easier for me, my assistant at the time became my “enabler” offering to fetch me a fresh iced coffee anytime I wanted. I truly felt like a “user” when I finally bought my own ground coffee. At least now it’s organic, I rationalized. Still, alone in my own kitchen filling the filter (made of unbleached recycled paper, of course!) with the aromatic grounds, and waiting for the water to boil, I felt a bit like a crack-head with the spoon and lighter.

My conflicted and tumultuous on and off relationship with this substance has led me to a few conclusions. I simply do not do well on coffee at all, tempting as it is. Not to mention, it gives you yucky coffee breath if you don’t brush your teeth right away. I also have a theory that it makes me sweat and in an odd funky kind of way. Not sexy! But the worst issue is the dependency and crashing. I might feel uplifted for a bit, but then before long sluggishness sets in. Is it not also widely known that it dehydrates you and inhibits the absorption of iron and many other minerals, and is acidic in your body? Further, it must certainly be the case that when you get to the point where a massive migrane is the consequence of trying to stop suddenly, something is really wrong with this very popular habit.

Luckily, I finally feel I’ve weaned myself off for good. If I get very little sleep and crave a sweet and creamy jolt, I mix in my VitaMix some raw cacao powder, nut milk (or, heaping tablespoon of cashew or almond butter + water = milk), stevia or agave nectar, vanilla, ice, and some frozen banana if I have any, and pour it over more ice. So refreshing, much better than iced coffee, and its breakfast too. There also seems to be something magically energizing about the combination of goji berries and raw cacao. My favorite breakfast is One Lucky Duck chocolate crispies with a handful of raw cacao nibs and goji berries, maybe some sliced banana, and hemp or nut milk. It’s crunchy cereal power breakfast.

Superfoods may be a very overused term these days. I love goji berries and they seem to keep you full for hours. A famous New York cosmetic doctor was quoted in a fashion magazine years ago saying that the goji berry is the number one anti-cellulite food, because of how loaded they are with antioxidants. I read this and immediately wanted to hoard them as I expected a sudden worldwide surge in demand and subsequent scarcity, but luckily they still seem readily available and affordable.

I’m also completely in love with green shakes. I’ll always love green juice, particularly when I don’t want to get really filled up. But when I want to get filled up, I make a green shake. Fresh cucumber in the blender makes an excellent base, to which I add grapefruit or pineapple, lemons and limes, sometimes a little mango. To that I add a whole bunch of fresh cilantro, kale, chard or spinach, sunflower sprouts if I have them, along with stevia, a pinch of salt, and a splash of vanilla. I like shakes because they make for the ultimate superfood party. I love to add a splash of aloe vera juice, a toss of tocotrienols, a spoon of blue green algae, some green tea extract, and yes, maybe some more goji berries—which blend easier than you might imagine if you have a VitaMix.

Aside from being so nutrient dense, what I love about these crazy concoctions is that they taste really good. Sometimes I add strawberries or blueberries, or nectarines or white peaches. And if I don’t feel like having it in a glass, then I’ll chop a fuji apple into a bowl, pour my amped up green shake over it, sprinkle it with bee pollen and some whole goji berries and eat it with a spoon like cereal – superfood cereal. When this is what I’m taking in, I feel as if I could not eat for days and I would feel fine. As if I’ve truly nourished myself and am a well oiled machine.

With so many variables, it’s always tricky to evaluate how something specific is affecting you. I have given up coffee only to fall back into the habit enough times that the overall conclusion is clear to me. I might crave that initial high and the flavor, but it’s a quick fix that quickly makes one dependent. The funny part is, I would slip back into drinking coffee with a full awareness of feeling very unclean about it, and I think in some way that was part of it – I was being almost rebellious, or thinking that I just needed it to get me through a particularly sleep-deprived and work crazy period of time. Now, when that urge for a cup of coffee – even just one – starts to gnaw at me, I take a deep breath and think about the characters in Trainspotting. That always does the trick.

Sarma

*This article was originally published in Get Fresh! Magazine.

The Scoop: Kathy Freston’s Quantum Wellness Cleanse

What was your inspiration for adopting a vegan lifestyle and how has it impacted your life?

I always considered myself a spiritual person, someone who wanted to live by principles that would better hone my personal evolution: kindness, compassion, alleviating suffering when I saw it. When I saw, through videos and in books, what was happening to animals as they became food for my plate, I realized I was not living my principles at all. It was a tough realization, and an immediate challenge to my choices. I knew I wanted to be someone who didn’t eat animals, but I was still so attached to my food. So I leaned into the shift, gradually cutting out one animal product at a time, until over a few years, I became vegan. This shift has not only been hugely beneficial to my health – I lost weight and lowered my cholesterol, and my skin cleared up – but I also felt an inner alignment that I’d never before experienced. Like I was finally living my prayer. I felt clear and clean, energetically, and this clarity empowered me creatively.

What is the largest hurdle you see for people going through your 21-day cleanse and what advice can you give them?

The biggest hurdle is getting through the first few days without your comfort foods or drinks! For me, 3 cups of coffee in the morning and a nightly glass (or 2.. ok, or 3) of wine were habits that I loved. I got very cranky when I tried to abstain, so believe me, I know it’s not a breeze for a lot of people. But my advice is to be gentle on yourself; if you have to ease out of caffeine (one of the Big 5 things to give up for 21 days) by cutting your coffee with decaf and gradually moving to herbal tea over the course of the 3 weeks, that’s just fine. And if you slip and have a glass of wine, say to yourself that tomorrow is a new day. Mostly, though, remind yourself that you will get through the withdrawal symptoms usually within a very short time; they are only temporary, and they only show you that your body is indeed addicted. Do some light exercise, like a brisk walk or a hike, and you will assist your body in the process of detoxing.

How is your 21 day cleanse different from the vegan lifestyle you live everyday?

In the cleanse, you give up sugar, alcohol, caffeine, gluten, and all animal products. Being vegan only means not eating animal products, so the cleanse takes the health program a bit farther. By giving up the Big 5, your body gets to relax and recover from what it often reads as toxic. When I’m not on the cleanse, I do have some coffee or tea (but not nearly as much as I used to!), and I have a glass of wine 3 or 4 times a week. I don’t have a problem with gluten (many people do though, which is why it’s good to test yourself by giving it up and seeing if you feel better in your gut without it), so I eat bread and seitan sparingly. I very rarely have refined sugar, as I think it inflames the body. It wreaks havoc on my insulin/blood sugar, and is simply not worth the momentary pleasure. I love agave, however, and stevia is totally benign.

What are some of the detox symptoms that your readers can expect and what is your advice for getting through these challenges?

You might feel headachy and sluggish, which is usually from caffeine detoxing. Light to moderate exercise will help you get through this, as it oxygenates the body and the resulting endorphins perk you up.

What is your favorite recipe from your book?

The tempeh “tuna” salad is phenomenal. I missed my tuna sandwiches, and Tal Ronnen’s recipe is better than anyone I’d ever eaten from the sea!

What are you working on now?

I’m blogging a lot, and doing a couple of tv shows which feature stories on health, healing, and miraculous medicine. One of them is called Renegade Doctors, and it’s made by the producers of EXTRA. I will start writing a new book on Weight Loss and Healing from Disease soon.

Channeling the genius of James Lipton from Inside The Actor’s Studio, we would like to ask you a few of his famous interview questions:

What is your favorite word? Luscious

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Being around nature, being quiet and absorbing the beauty

What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? City noise and aggressiveness

What sound or noise do you love? Birds, especially in the morning. An evening breeze

What sound or noise do you hate? Horns honking, people yelling at silly things, being rude

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? If I weren’t so focused on health and healing, I would want to be a hospice worker. I think it’s such a profound and deep time to be with someone as they move toward their crossover. It’s about as truthful, poignant, and insightful as we get, I think, when we near the end of our lives.

What profession would you not like to do? I would be terrible in a corporate setting because I’m not good at politics.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “Don’t worry, everything you wanted to get done, we will finish for you. Consider your mission accomplished!”

Thanks, Kathy! Read more of Kathy’s blogs…

Adventure Cleanse Tune-Up (ACT): Food & Lifestyle Journal

Glitter glam!

Before I get started on todays post, check out the newest items in our store! The number one question we get at CSL is: What juicer and blender do you use and where can I get them? Finally, we have our top picks.

OK, Food & Lifestyle Journal time…

Here are some basic questions that will guide you through the 28 days. It would be wonderful if you could answer them at the end of each day. This way you can track your progress and identify your weaknesses. I look at these questions like a road map. You’ll see where you’ve been, where you are and where you’re going. Hope my 20 questions helps. They sure keep me in line!

1. What did you eat today and did you juice? Please include breakfast, lunch, dinner and any in between snacking. Remember to choose from a wide variety of healthy (organic when possible) veggies, leafy greens, sprouts, gluten-free grains, beans, nuts and seeds. If you can get your hands on some wheat grass – good for you! One 2 oz shot on an empty stomach can really perk you up.

2. How much purified water did you consume? My Suggestion: drink up to half your body weight in ounces. Example: I weigh 128 pounds. 128 divided by 2 = 64 Oz. So I need to drink eight 8 oz glasses of water. You can include fresh veggie juices in your calculation.

3. Did you abstain from coffee?

4. Did you abstain from alcohol?

5. Did you abstain from gluten?

6. Did you abstain from animal protein?
Note: I suggest that you eliminate all flesh and dairy products for the 28 days. If that isn’t possible please reduce your flesh consumption to no more than twice per week. Remove dairy completely.

7. Did you choose low-glycemic sweets – if at all?

8. How were your cravings?

9. Did you have any detox symptoms?

10. What supplements did you take?

11. How was your elimination?

12. Did you dry brush today? How about exercise? Did you move your body for at least 35 minutes?

13. Did you meditate for 15-20 minutes?

14. Did you chew your meals mindfully?

15. What time did you stop eating? 3 hours before bed is optimal.

16. What time did you go to sleep and for how long? 8 hours is optimal.

17. How did you feel emotionally physically?

18. How do you feel emotionally?

19. Did you laugh out loud and tell someone you love them today?

20. Did you spend time in nature? Even 5 minutes is better than nothing.

Bonus question: On a scale from 1-10 how do you rate your overall energy and attitude today?

If you would like to include a record of your pH in this journal that would be helpful. Remember that pH fluctuates all the time. Use it as an educational tool and not as the be all end all guide.

You can start tracking and graphing your urine pH 3 times per day for about a week to get a basic snapshot of your acid/alkaline level. Although the blood pH is more accurate, urine is a helpful gauge worth exploring. Urine is far more accurate than saliva. You don’t have to get you’re blood pH tested unless you’re really curious. If your sick, tired, overweight, etc, more than likely your pH is acidic.

Remember, the first reading in the morning will always be acidic due to the metabolic process of overnight repair. Therefore, start with the second reading and take the others BEFORE eating meals. You can find many litmus papers (pH strips) online or at health foods stores. A good measure falls between 6.5 and 7ish. Happy testing!

Peace & scribbles,

Kris

ps- Congratulations to our April Contest winner, Jessica Stone from Ripe London. Here is her raw Dulce de Leche Bars recipe…