HELPFUL TIPS FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS & REACHING YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT! (PART 4 OF 4) - EAT THE BEST FOODS FOR HEALTH & WELLNESS

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS & REACHING YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT! (PART 4 OF 4) - EAT THE BEST FOODS FOR HEALTH & WELLNESS!

Over the past month, my Weekly Blog posts were dedicated to the major health issues resulting from following a poor diet, using food for emotional purposes, and lacking proper physical exercise. Last week, we began exploring dietary suggestions that can help us attain our natural weight and bring us back to health. Today, we will examine the changes in our diet and our eating habits that will keep moving us towards our healthy weight objectives! 

By following a few simple tips and implementing minor changes in your nutritional intake, you will soon find yourself effortlessly moving toward your permanent health & wellness objectives and reach your natural weight.

1. Stay away from processed food! If you're unsure what processed foods are, follow a simple rule; 'Anything that comes in a package and has more than 1 ingredient is essentially processed.' Remember that processed foods  essentially means 'dead' food, i.e. food that has no nutritional value to your body, that is 'empty' calories! To be nutritional, food needs to provide your body with the essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes it needs to survive and thrive.

2. Buy your grains, legumes (rice, oats, barley, beans, lentils, etc.), nuts, and seeds in bulk, if you can. They will be fresher and you will lessen the risk of them having been processed or contaminated in some manner. 

3. Always favor Whole foods! For instance, for all your grains' needs, choose the WHOLE/ BROWN option! That means pick brown rice, whole wheat pasta, hole grain bread, etc, rather than their nutrient-stripped derivative. Stay away from white flour, rice, pasta, etc. Again, those are 'empty calorie' foods that build a compact ball of dough that sits undigested in your stomach and go on to block your colon. Remember, deprived of their husks which acts as roughage to help the process of digestion and elimination (peristalsis), the denatured foods that you eat are no longer filled with vitamins and nutritious qualities and prevent the healthy regular movement of your bowels.

4. Pick the 'No Sugar Added' over 'Sugar Free' alternative in all foods. The first option either has no sugar or uses a healthy alternative to sugar such as natural fruit juices or extracts* or completely natural sweeteners such as Stevia (*which is not the best but a better option for sure). The latter usually contains highly questionable products such as artificial sweeteners that have been linked to some types of cancers. When choosing whole grains breads, tomato sauce, or cereals, pay extra attention as there are currently only about 1 or 2 brands that do not ad any sugar or sugar replacement (such as high fructose syrup or other sugar alternatives) to their original ingredients. They do exist and are a much healthier alternative, so be sure to look for them.

5. Choose Organic over conventional foods, whenever you can. Some foods are more susceptible to collect and retain the pesticides and insecticides used in traditional agriculture than others. Following is a high level list of such foods which you should absolutely eat organic; Baby Food, Strawberries, Rice, Green and Red Bell Peppers, Milk, Corn, Bananas, Green Beans, Apples, Cherries, Celery,  Apricots, Peaches, Grapes, Soybeans, Potatoes, Raisins, and Cucumbers. If you really can't buy these organic foods, make sure to peel the skin off of them and to wash them thoroughly - possibly with an organic fruit & vegetable wash product, thereby removing as much of the pesticides and insecticides residues as possible. 

6. Prefer 'Natural' to fully conventional foods. In no way does 'natural' mean 'organic'. It might be better than conventional altogether as it excludes GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms) but it can still be grown using highly undesirable pesticides and insecticides. So only use it as a 'second choice'.

7. Keep to a Raw diet as much as you can, only cooking grains that are just too hard to digest or cannot be easily eaten sprouted. Raw means 'Alive', and since the purpose of eating is to bring Life into the body, that makes for a much more effective process to provide you with optimum nutrition and vitality!  Don't cook what doesn't need to be cooked! You may be used to cooking everything and enjoying that taste of 'cooked' foods right now, but once you switch to raw food, you'll soon notice how much tastier food becomes and how much energy you actually get out of your food! That's real nutrition! Pace yourself when making the switch so that your body's digestive system builds back up and your taste buds get acquainted to new tastes and flavors.

8. Steam, grill or bake! If you are going to eat cooked food, choose one of those 3 healthier alternatives. Also, never cook vegetables for more than a few minutes as heat alters the natural 'chemical' structure of any element, and that is also true with food! As you might have noticed before, when you cook vegetables for more than a few minutes, they soon lose their vibrant colors and therefore their vitamins and minerals!  

9. When boiling food, use a healthy water source (see below) and keep the 'juice' as a refreshing and vitamin-packed drink!

10. Do not use a Microwave to cook or heat up your food! If you are currently using a microwave, you are actually depriving your food of all nutritional value. Think about the level of heat required to get something that usually takes 1h to cook to do it in less than 5-10 minutes. If you are willing to compromise for the sake of convenience, that's fine but just remember that you are just filling up on empty calories when eating microwaved food and that you should therefore add a reliable liquid vitamins & minerals supplement to your daily diet in order to make up for that loss.

 11. Stay away from fried foods as much as possible! Not only has it been cooked and therefore stripped of its nutritional value (vitamins and minerals) but if it's soaking in 'fat', it's not going to be healthy for you liver and your belly (where most of the fat storage occurs), let alone your arteries and your heart. Instead of frying your food, select one of the cooking methods described above. And If you really can't resist fried food, try using just a tablespoon of sesame oil and adding a little water for stir-fries and the likes. Using a little Tamari (a healthier alternative to soy sauce) or Amino Acids (Raw Coconut or Bragg) to which you add a little water also gives a great taste and texture to food cooked in a frying pan. The best oil for heat use remains Extra Virgin Olive Oil (cold-pressed) and Canola Oil.

12. Discontinue the use of salad dressings and oils in your salads wherever you can. Look at oil in a new light; imagine how many sunflower seeds you need to make a whole bottle of sunflower oil and ask yourself if you could actually consume that many seeds without feeling physically sick. Great alternatives to dressings and oils - which afford myriads of health-giving properties of their own, include: crushed avocado, grated mango, apple, or lemon, all kinds of seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, flax, etc.)  If you absolutely need to use oil, favor pure extra virgin olive oil or canola - both of which are rich in monounsaturated fats, the kind that help reduce “unhealthy” LDL cholesterol and boost “healthy” HDL cholesterol.

13. Stay away from Dairy products, if you can help it. Without entering into the controversial debate about milk and dairy and why its over-consumption can be detrimental to your health, it is worth noting that a large number of people are lactose intolerant (and some don't even know it.) Bloating and weight gain have long been associated with the consumption of dairy.  It also has a high level of fat which doesn't help your arteries (heart disease) and causes the formation of mucus in the body, which is associated not only with colds and the likes but with many of the less desirable modern diseases such as cancer. (For more on that, read Dr. T. Colin Campbell's Best Seller, 'The China Study') But If you really feel the need for that morning coffee 'enema', lose the milk!  There are so many healthy alternatives to milk nowadays that you are bound to find your pick. Most of these now come naturally fortified with Vitamins B12 and D as well as Calcium (so that you don't miss out on the good 'things' your body needs to remain strong and healthy). Almond, Rice, and Hemp are amongst the healthiest and best choices, and have the extra advantage of tasting naturally sweet without any added sugar. 

14. Switch to more Alkaline choices for your beverages! Sodas and mineral water are very acidic to the body. Most recently, doctors have even started warning people against using Spring water which minerals contribute to blockages in the arteries. In order to remain healthy, it is important that the body's PH level remains slightly alkaline rather than acidic. Our modern diet tend to make our body acidic, a state in which dis-ease can develop and thrive. Therefore using alkaline beverages such as Kangen water or green tea in place of soft drinks and regular water is a smart move.  Kangen water is known to be the most alkaline water of all and to be highly oxygenated, bringing a large supply of fresh oxygen to the whole body through all-day hydration. Further, Kangen water is renowned for its antioxidant properties which helps prevent and fight cancer.

15. Introduce 'fat-cutting' foods into your daily diet. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (a teaspoon in 8 oz of water, 3 times a day), Papaya, Pineapple, and Grapefruit are all known for their enzymatic content or/ and 'fat-burning' properties. They will break down existing fat storage and prevent more from taking place. DaIly consumption of the first is greatly advised, especially since it also aids fight arthritis and pains and aches in the bones and joints. Small amounts of the one of the others will help greatly with digestion and to break down fat. All around, these are miracle foods to help fight fat! Of course, there are always more but these are great and cheap too!

16. Consider fasting from time to time! Fasting doesn't have to be all the way, i.e. no food! This kind of fast can actually be detrimental to the body if you are not ready for it.  Start slowly based on your current diet and health condition and build it up. If you have a really poor diet or know your body to be highly 'toxic' don't go all the way since you might be causing more harm than good. Whatever you do, drink lots of water all throughout!  Fasting for you could just be cutting out all greasy and processed foods and switching to healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables for a few days. It could also consist in going on a mono-diet, eating one one food at a time for a few days (healthy that is!). If you are a little healthier, it would be having fresh juices and smoothies only for a week or more. And if you are a hardcore and experienced faster, you could go on a 'water' only fast, though I would not recommend this type of fast but rather using a blue-green algae (such as E3LIve) in your water in order to continue to bring a non-invasive yet optimal nutrition to your cells while ripping the benefits of fasting.

17. At this point, providing you with a list of the healthiest foods to eat is beyond the scope of this Weekly Blog post as it requires a separate post of its own (which we'll cover next week). However if you follow the 'live food only' rule, you'll be eating the healthiest food and feeling great all the time. Until next week, 'eat as much fresh, unprocessed foods as possible; that means, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables (the green leafy kinds are packed with vitamins and antioxidants) and freshly sprouted legumes (beans, lentils) and seeds. Miso soup and sea vegetables (algae) should be integrated into any diet to make it most complete and healthful!  And keep drinking the most healthful beverages you can find (Kangen water, E3Live, Green Tea, Raw Coconut Water should be top on your list!)

For more on how to effect permanent changes in your life or ways to achieve permanent weight loss and gravitate towards your ideal weight, consider our Holistic Cleansing Programs which cater to all dimensions of your being. Visit us at www.thesouthbeachdetox.com and www.letloverule.us.

Next week tune in for our weekly "Health & Wellness" blog post covering the final addition to our Special on 'Food/ Lifestyle for Healthy Weight Management'. This last article will feature all the great foods that should be incorporated into our daily diet in order to balance both body and mind, keep healthy, and attain permanent weight loss objectives (or simply achieve our 'ideal' weight). 

Food & Nutrition: 'Foods that naturally detox the body'

Food & Nutrition: 'Foods that naturally detox the body' 

Health Food & Natural Medicine Author, Feb, 2011

Read below to find out more about the many foods available to help naturally detox the body.  These foods are a great addition to supplement a full body cleanse, before, after, and sometimes even in the middle of it.

Foods to detox the body

As toxicity becomes a growing concern within our society so does the need for detox. With newer, stronger chemicals in the air, water, drugs, medications and foods the risk for exposure is much greater than it was in the past. Other factors such as lifestyle also lead to the risk of exposure to pollutants, irritants and toxins. Food plays a major role in the body’s ability to eliminate toxins and chemicals. The body requires essential nutrients through food, supplements or vitamins to maintain metabolic balance. However, a poor diet that consists of foods with additives, flavor enhancers, food coloring, artificial preservatives, and refined and processed foods can compromise the body’s ability to eliminate unnecessary chemicals. Fresh and organically grown foods help to cleanse and detoxify the body. Food that is rich in fiber, high in water content and full of vitamins and minerals all help to eliminate impurities. Detoxifying foods stimulate excretion of toxic chemicals and replace them with nutrients that the body needs to restore health. When you have digestive problems, constipation, a distended stomach or sluggish elimination, look at your diet and replace fast food, soda and empty calorie snacks with these detoxifying foods.

1. Water- Water naturally flushes out chemicals, toxins and impurities from the body through sweat, breathing and urination. By adding an extra quart of water to your daily water intake you can quickly cleanse your system of ingested irritants.

2. Fruit- Fresh fruit is full of water, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Fruits are easily digested and are high in nutrient content. Fruits can be eaten fresh, dried, frozen or juiced. Fruits high liquid content helps to wash out toxins. The list of fruits that can be consumed include apples, pears, oranges, grapefruit, bananas, raisins, pineapple, mango, kiwi fruit, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, melon, sultanas, nectarines and peaches.

3. Lemon- Lemons have a wonderful detoxifying effect on the body. Adding lemon to your water can help to stimulate digestive enzymes. Also drinking hot water with lemon squeezed into it can aid in liver cleansing. Plus lemon is filled with vitamin C and antioxidants, which help to flush toxins such as free radicals from the body.

4. Leafy Green Vegetables- Eating raw vegetables is excellent for your health and can aid in detoxification, and also add a boost to detoxification through chlorophyll. Leafy green vegetables such as blue green algae, barley, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, spirulina, psyllium, cabbage, parsley, cilantro, watercress, alfalfa, chard, and arugula all contain chlorophyll, which help to rid the body of environmental toxins. Chlorophyll is a plant based compound that can flush out smog, heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides from the liver. These greens have a diuretic effect on the body, which causes toxins to be expelled through excretion. Leafy greens are most often used in salads, which are full of fiber and contain fewer calories, which help to flush the system of toxins.

5. Raw Vegetables- Eating raw vegetables helps to naturally cleanse the stomach, intestines and bowels. Raw vegetables also purge the liver of toxins. Vegetables are full of vitamins that are essential for health. Sulphur and glutathione are naturally occurring in many raw vegetables and help to cleanse the liver of toxic chemicals. Good detox vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, beets, radishes, onions, artichokes, seaweed, Brussels sprouts, asparagus and many more.

6. Broccoli- Broccoli is a great detoxifying vegetable as it helps to stimulate digestive enzymes, which encourages weight loss during detox. Broccoli sprouts are more effective than their full-grown counterpart however; they are rich in antioxidants, which encourages waste clearing from the body.

7. Garlic-Garlic is a great choice for any detoxification. In addition to being a blood cleanser, garlic is a natural antibiotic. It can reduce blood fat as well as lower blood pressure. Garlic stimulates cleansing of the liver and helps flush the body of toxic chemicals and impurities. Garlic can be added to food dishes or can be taken as a supplement to avoid the smell.

8. Green Tea- Green tea helps flush out toxins from the body. Green tea is full of antioxidants and boosts the metabolism. Green tea contains catechins, which speeds up liver function.

9. Seeds & Nuts- Seeds and nuts are a great way to detox the body. They are easily digested and aid and protect the liver in cleansing toxins. Seeds and nuts that are good for detoxing include flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, walnuts, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, Siberian cedar nuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Remember to eat unsalted nuts during detox, because salt can impede the detoxification process.

10. Beans- Beans are a major source of protein and fiber. Legumes are easily digestible and should be part of any detox program. Beans cleanse the stomach of residual toxins and help the body get rid of unwanted impurities. Include kidney beans, pinto beans, garbanzo, soybeans, and mung beans are all great for detoxification.

11. Omega-3 Oils- Foods rich in omega-3s are not only healthy for you but also help to detox the system. Hemp, avocado, olive oils, and flax seed oil are all food sources of omega-3s. When consumed they lubricate the walls of the stomach and intestines which allows toxins to flush out through the bodies natural elimination systems.

12. Figs & Prunes- Figs are high in fiber and contain calcium and essential nutrients for the body. One to two figs a day can help to improve elimination. Prunes help to cleanse the digestive tract. Prunes are high in fiber content but also contain a natural laxative that helps elimination and stops constipation. Prunes can be consumed as a dried fruit or as prune juice.

For more information from this author who graduated with a BA in exercise science and has worked in the medical field since, with a focus in alternative medicine, check out his health website at http://www.universalhealthinfo.com/Detoxifying_Foods.html.

Food & Nutrition: 'Raw food, and how to keep our skin holistically healthy through what we put into our bodies'

Food & Nutrition: 'Raw food, and how to keep our skin holistically healthy through what we put into our bodies' 

'High on Health' Blog , January 6, 2011

There's nothing quite like juicing when it comes to supporting natural body detoxification. For more, read below for great insights from a raw and vegan chef specializing in nutrition research and counseling and get a great juice recipe full of health benefits which can be used while doing The South Beach Detox.

Lately I’ve been inspired back to juicing again after usually starting my day off with a smoothie of some kind (usually a green one). I’ve always known the benefits of juicing, but it has basically come down to a convenience factor until now. Cleaning the blender has been much easier than the juicer! Juicing can be a great way to boost your health by injecting an amazing amount of nutrients into your body that you may have otherwise not been able to sit down and gnaw on. For example, who really is going to sit down to a plate of 2 carrots, some cabbage, half a beet and an apple. You might, but you’ll be waiting a while to get through it all.

Also for ingredients such as carrots, the juice is way more beneficial than the vegetable itself, as the process of eating the carrot forces your digestion to do more work by separating the juice from the fibre and this is where most of the nutrients are lost. Drinking the juice ensures more of the nutrients are bioavailable at a cellular level. Here’s one juice recipe I’ve been enjoying quite a bit of late and the ingredients benefits:

Jammin’ Juice (Fresh Juice for Body Detoxification)

Ingredients (serves 2):

1/8 green cabbage
1/8 red cabbage
2 stalks of celery (include green leaves if available)
1/2 beetroot
1 green apple
1 carrot
1 whole lemon
1 inch ginger

Place all ingredients one at a time in your juicer. I always like to save the celery till last as the strings can end up clogging up the screen (I use a champion masticating juicer). Also try and alternate softer ingredients like cabbage leaves, with the firmer vegetables like carrots or beetroot as they will assist moving the softer veggies along. I always blend the finished product with some ice cubes briefly as I love my juice cold and it also helps to mix the foam through the juice.

Drinking your juice as close to making it is always preferable, as it begins oxidising as soon as it is made therefore diminishing the nutrient and enzyme content. However if you are short of time, you can always juice up to 3 days ahead of time, as long as you store the juice with absolutely no air in the container and glass containers are best. You can fill the juice right up to the top of a jar, cover with cling film then screw on the lid.

Also, try to drink your juice on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, and do not consume any solids for at least an hour afterwards and even try and wait until you start to get hungry. This is because your body will utilise the juice much better without the added work of digestion.

Health benefits of the ingredients

Celery

Strong diuretic. Assists arthritis and rheumatism patients. Also beneficial for liver and gall bladder health issues, and will ease constipation. Can alleviate menstrual problems in women.

Beetroot

high in calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron which makes it beneficial for those suffering from anaemia. Can reduce blood pressure within in hour of consuming in a healthy individual and is high in Vit B.

Apple

can delay onset of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, It also helps prevent liver and kidney disease, formation of uric acid and chronic colitis. Great detoxifier.

Carrot

Even though carrots contain approximately 16% sugar, they have been proven to have less blood spiking effect than white potatoes or bread. Carrot juice is exactly what the body needs for blood alkalising (disease can only survive in an acidic body). An amazing ingredient for clear skin: prevents dry skin, treats psoriasis and other skin conditions. Other healths issues carrot juice assists with - cancer, eyesight, production and quality of breast milk in nursing mothers, high cholesterol & water retention.

Lemon

used in skin care it is a natural antiseptic and will rejuvenate the skin, and can even remove blackheads. Known as a detoxifier, lemon acts as a blood purifier and body cleanser. Will treat heartburn, throat infections, nausea, and can even rid the body of parasites. Rich source of Vit C & B.

Ginger

Blood purifier, great for regulating blood circulation, reduce nausea, useful for patients with gall stones, heartburn relief, cold and flu prevention and management, menstrual cramp relief.

Tips For A Long Healthy Life: '5 Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes'

Tips For A Long Healthy Life: '5 Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes' 

Dr. Weil's Daily Tips, January 22, 2011

Keeping healthy eyes through aging is a luxury we can all afford with a little extra care.  Through a combination of healthful nutrition, protection, exercise and rest, we can all maintain good eyesight or at least prevent further deterioration from occurring.  For more, read below.

The eye is a highly complex and sensitive organ that requires a careful combination of nutrients, protection, exercise and rest for optimal function. In addition to an antioxidant-rich diet and prudent supplementation, consider the following healthy habits to help maintain visual health:

1. Don't smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Smoking can decrease blood supply to the eyes by causing blood vessels to narrow and blood to thicken.

2. Protect the eyes from the elements. Sunlight can damage the cells of the macula, which provides visual acuity. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that protect against at least 99 percent of ultraviolet (UV) rays.

3. Use safety eyewear when working around potential hazards to help protect against eye injuries.

4. Stay active. Regular exercise promotes eye health by improving circulation and lowering the risk of diabetes.

5. Keep blood pressure in check. High blood pressure increases the risk of glaucoma. Consider medication if lifestyle changes can't bring pressures into the normal range.

Food & Nutrition: 'Healthful Resolutions: Adopting the Anti-Inflammatory Diet'

Food & Nutrition: 'Healthful Resolutions: Adopting the Anti-Inflammatory Diet' 

Dr. Weil's Weekend Tip, January 30, 2011

Chronic inflammation has been identified as factor in the development of fatal degenerative diseases and Alzheimer's. Because diet is a major contributor to chronic inflammation, adopting a healthful diet can help prevent and counteract the risks associated with inflammation. For more, read below.

The anti-inflammatory diet isn't a weight-loss program (although you can lose weight on it) or a temporary eating plan. It is intended to counteract chronic inflammation, now known to play a central role in the development of heart disease, many cancers and Alzheimer's disease. Poor diet is perhaps the main contributor to chronic inflammation. The anti-inflammatory diet can help you correct

that: it points the way to food choices that can help you remain optimally healthy. Use my Anti- Inflammatory Food Pyramid - print it out and post it on the fridge. Along with influencing inflammation, the diet will give you steady energy and provide all the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and dietary fiber you need.

Eating Anti-Inflammatory, Made Simple

Food & Nutrition: '4 Reasons To Eat Almonds'

Food & Nutrition: '4 Reasons To Eat Almonds' 

Dr. Weil's Weekend Tip, January 30, 2011

Almonds, eaten in moderation, are a very healthy snack.  They are alkanizing to the body, keeping you healthy and free from disease.  They contain vitamins and minerals necessary to the body's proper functioning. For more, read below.

Some of the best snacks you can enjoy (in moderation) are nuts, and almonds in particular. The benefits are plentiful - almonds contain:

1. Monounsaturated fats that help reduce the risk of heart disease

2. Protein to provide sustained energy

3. Calcium for strong and healthy bones

4. Magnesium, which promotes normal blood pressure and healthy metabolism

I recommend unsalted or low-salt almonds that are raw or dry-roasted as a staple in your pantry. Toss almonds in a salad, cereal or yogurt; chop finely to use in a marinade or coat tofu "burgers"; or simply enjoy them on their own!

Other ways to eat almonds include vegetarian paté or stuffing for pears; almonds are versatile. 

Food & Nutrition: Most Healthful Fruit

Healthy Foods: '4 Reasons to Eat Pomegranates' 

Dr. Weil's Daily Tip, December 29, 2010

Pomegranate fruits may be part of a new health fad yet the benefits they provide are far from the usual exaggerated all-healing claims!  They are a wonderful food and one with an interesting spiritual component too.  For more, read the article by Dr. Weil below.

The pomegranate is an extraordinary fruit, steeped in history: the number of seeds (roughly 613) found in a single fruit was said by ancient scholars to correspond to the 613 commands of the Hebrew Torah. Renowned herbalist James Duke, a former ecologist with the USDA, has published (in

the April, 2008 issue of Alternative & Complementary Therapies) an exhaustive review of the scientific literature on the pomegranate. His conclusion: it is "one of the most promising of health foods" with "a dozen known anti-inflammatory phyto-chemicals and some three dozen antioxidants."

Duke found studies that suggest pomegranate fruit and/or juice may help prevent or alleviate:

1. Heart disease and atherosclerosis

2. High cholesterol

3. Prostate cancer

4. Alzheimer's disease

If you have access to inexpensive pomegranates (as many in the southern U.S. do as the trees grow prolifically with little

tending), by all means indulge. And if you can't, remember that deep-colored fruits such as cherries, blueberries, raspberries

and deep-colored vegetables all offer similar benefits. Enjoy!

Tips for Detox: How To Detox With A Vegan Diet

How To Detox With A Vegan Diet

It is actually easier than you think to rid your body of the accumulation of toxins and other metabolic debris and waste products.  One thing you must do detox your body is pay careful attention to the food you are eating.  A vegan diet could be one part of a detox process and it is certainly not the only way that we accumulate toxins in our body.   Think, for example, about the many situations you are in each and every day.  Your environment has many avenues that create a toxic load or stressor to your body.  From the air you are breathing, the food you are eating, the medicines you may be taking, drinking, smoking and level of exercise are all factors that go into determining how your body is able to detox.

Let’s take one of those factors above:  exercise.  Detox exercises are just as much a part of a detox program as is diet or any other type of factor.  You cannot simply do one thing and expect to have your body fully cleansed or nourished.  Just like you can’t just take a supplement and expect all the detox magic to happen without any dietary or mental changes.  Yes, you see, even your thinking can cloud your body and has toxic effects all its own.

A vegan diet includes grains and protein from sources like quinoa and beans.

There are many different types of diets to consider also with this whole detox process.  The main thing that you should understand is that many different types of diets work and it is up to you to determine which particular one you would like to follow.  The biggest factor is to pick one that you think you will or can follow.  The best detox diet in the world will never work for you if you keep eating French fries and drinking diet soda.

So, it is clear that committing to your program is the key.  Just like any worthwhile endeavor in life, if you want to see results you must keep dedicated to your pursuit.  There is no detox inheritance waiting for you, you’ll have to do some work yourself.  Some people go full speed ahead and see the amazing changes in their energy, mental clarity, emotional well-being and physical body quite rapidly.  It is no surprise, right?

One way you might choose to go with your diet is either with raw foods or vegan.  They are similar in many respects because under the broad category of raw food would come vegan.  But, not all vegan foods are raw.  Raw foodists are often quite purists in their dietary ideals and you should know that it is very different than your traditional diet.  If you don’t think you have the dedication required to eat a purely raw diet but still want to reap the benefits of this type of plan, you might consider a vegan diet.

Vegan refers to the fact that you will be eating no animal products of any kind.  There are many celebrities that have adopted a vegan diet, Alicia Silverstone comes to mind.  So, like with many body detox plans, the notion of eliminating meat from your diet is widely held to be a good idea.  It is also recommended to eliminate alcohol and any type of drugs (medically required are an exception) from your diet during your detox process.  A vegan diet also contains no animal products like milk, cheese, eggs, etc.  So, if an animal is needed in any way to produce the food item in question, then it isn’t vegan.  This is also a rigorous program, but not quite as much as the raw food plan.  Eating vegan can still allow you to cook food items and use sauces and things.  Most raw food diets are hard for many because of the restrictions regarding food temperatures and any sauces and things that are wanting to be used.  There are many raw food recipes and meals that are delicious.  They are not just based on eating vegetables pulled from the ground, washed and eaten.  In fact, there are several raw food restaurants and marketplaces that cater to this specific group of people.

Tips for Detox: What Should You Know About How To Detox Your Body

Detox Your Body The Safe Way

If you are embarking on your first detox diet or program, then you need to know how to do it safely.  Most detoxification procedures that have any merit should give you the adequate information to make your diet one of the largest components of your plan.  While it can be very helpful to supplement your food choices with the right herbs, teas and detox supplements, the key will be in the organic food you eat and the amount of water you drink.

As just mentioned, you should pay particular attention to make sure that your foods are organic.  To the degree that you are trying to eliminate toxins from your body, your choices in food items will make a big impact.  Choosing organic vegetables and fruits is no longer difficult and often very similarly priced.  On the more exotic foods, you may find organic to be a bit pricey, but remember, this is your health you are dealing with.  It just makes sense to go for the cleaner produce – especially when you are hoping to detox your body.

When It Comes To A Cleanse, How Much Should You Drink?

Let’s be clear.  The only thing you should be drinking is water, possible a little fruit juice or what ever type of detox

You can blend up your own smoothies and vegetable drinks.

products you may be using.  Other than this, you should not be consuming any alcohol, pop or soda, or coffee.  While this may be hard on your normal routine, it will benefit your colon in the end.  What you are assisting is your natural body detoxification process.  Water is an essential component to cellular and organ function and health.  Your colon cleansing will be accomplished by the movement of waste through your body.  Water and some light fruit juice combined with the proper foods and supplementation will accomplish this.  The idea is to work with your body in its own natural detox way, don’t try to force something that is not a natural process.  However, you can assist and amplify the results through proper conscious dietary choices.  It’s always funny when I hear critics say “do detox diets really work?”.  They usually have never done one and consider things fast food and smoking or alcohol simple necessities of life.  Don’t get me wrong, enjoying alcohol or a hamburger time to time are fine in moderation.  I do not think anyone can defend smoking in this day and age.

Here is a basic rule of thumb to use for how much water you should be drinking:  divide your body weight in half and drink that much water in ounces, plus one glass.  For example, if you weigh 130 pounds, that would be 65 ounces of water.  There are approximately 8-10 ounces of water in a normal glass.  So, this would be approximately 8 glasses, PLUS one equals 9 glasses of water each day.  You cannot really screw this up, the key is simply to be drinking a very healthy amount each day of your detox.  The same rule could apply if you are simply trying to do a thorough colon cleansing, although the process is quite similar for both.

Tips for Detox: Do Detox Diets Really Work?

How To Detox Your Body With Ease

Like in life, the more willing you are to ask for help, the more likely you are to have people show up that can assist you.  So, if you’re trying to learn how to detox safely and effectively, using the proper supplements or fruits and vegetables, then you’ll be ready if you do enough research.  That’s because there are many online resources to teach you about this topic.  Short of a “detox your body” manual, we hope this site will help you get some answers to your questions.  When you’re pondering a difficult topic like how to clean out your body from years of toxic build up, you should do some due diligence.  Once you’re comfortable with having filled your mind with the proper ways of embarking on your detox program, you will be more properly prepared mentally to proceed.  So, how does one detox with ease as this article’s title suggests?  Well, you have to start with the basics.  The basics start with defining what would qualify as a detox diet and what is just eating a big salad every day.

Don’t Confuse Fasting With Detoxing

Fasting has been a part of not only many diets but spiritual traditions as well.

This is a common problem or distinction that needs to be made.  And the distinction is quite a simple one, just important.  Fasting implies that no food is being consumed as part of the detoxification.  This is not what this is about as a way to detox your body.  We offer advice and info about how to detox using proper organic foods, supplementation with teas or even doing an herbal detox which involves specific plants and herbs to help you clean out your system.  With the right dietary choices, you can do a proper detox without fasting.  Sometimes, a fast is recommended for a person who has a tremendous amount of ambition, or weight to lose and has less information.  Often times, a fast is not the best way to lose weight or detox your body.  The best way can vary person to person, but usually includes hydration as a key component.  So, fasting can be part of a detox, but it may include supplements and any number of a variety of drinks or teas.  So, in this sense, it isn’t like you are eating and drinking nothing in order to lose weight or otherwise detox the body.

Detox Your Body One Choice At A Time

Basically, as you learn how to detox, you will be faced with many challenges emotionally as well as physically.  It isn’t strictly your body that will be going through this cleanse.  Your mind will be going through it too.  In fact, many in the health care professions use the term body-mind now, to indicate how there really is no separation. In any case, a body detoxification process is both a challenge and opportunity for you to pay attention to other ways in which you live your life.  The toxins you are trying to eliminate from your body got there somehow.  What types of choices do you (or did you) make that got you to this point in the first place?  Part of learning how to detox your body is that many of these old behaviors and patterns will show up again and again for you to address in your life.  The more completely you address them, the more beneficial each future cleansing process will be for you.

Tips for Detox: Do Detox Diets Really Work?

Do Detox Diets Really Work?

Have you heard of the Atkins Diet? Or the South Beach Diet?  How about the Zone?  You’ve likely heard of these because they all have sold millions of books and make the authors and their publishers that much in profits as well.  Many people are looking for confirmation as to which diet is easy and effective. Virtually every diet will help you lose some weight.  But they all have a major flaw – the snap back.  Sometimes it’s more severe than others.  With a detox diet, you can almost eliminate this possibility.  You see, a detox diet is more of a way to get rid of a build up of toxins in your body.  Detox diets (they can be varied in style) are especially focused as colon cleansing in nature.  As goes your colon, so goes your body detoxification according to the experts in this area.

Tips for Detox: So, You're Thinking About A Body Detox Are You?

Detox Your Body Without The Yo-Yo Effect

It is a very common phenomenon. You can avoid it by choosing to eat a more vegetable based diet as a routine.

That previously mentioned flaw to diets, the snap-back effect – it’s a common problem for many people not only trying to lose weight but even those learning how to detox.  You’ve probably experienced it yourself if you are looking to lose weight with your detox.  The smart way to detox your body is to go about it like any pursuit that is worthwhile, commit to it.  Some detox diets are only for a brief 2-3 day period.  We’d call this more of a quick fast or fasting cleanse, but you’ll see it as a detox in places too.  Most sources will recommend at least a 10 day time period to plan for your detox program.  This is ample time to allow your body to go through its natural process of elimination, followed by further cleansing and more elimination.  Combined with the suggested fruits, vegetables, supplementation to support your cleanse and adequate hydration and you will be in good shape.  Great shape even, in no time!  As you learn how to detox this way, you’ll be much better about your body’s ability to be more alive, vibrant and full of life.

So, rather than trying to be the hare and finish a brief episode of colon cleansing and then race on to your next diet, give yourself some time to be the turtle and ultimately win for your health.

THE CONTROVERSY AROUND VITAMINS & MINERALS SUPPLEMENTATION

VITAMINS & MINERALS SUPPLEMENTATION

Extra Calcium and Vitamin maybe Harmful says 

New York Times - November 30, 2010

There is no substitute for nature.  This applies to everything, including vitamin and mineral supplementation.  If you want to receive the appropriate level of vitamins and minerals, you need to follow a healthy and varied diet that provides your body with all the natural nutrients and supplements it requires for optimal functioning.  Absorption of synthetic supplements is always less efficient and most likely second-rate when compared to natural absorption received directly through the consumption of vegetables and fruit.  Medical authorities are starting to question supplementation as totally unnecessary and consider it as a potential health risk factor.  For more, read below.

The very high levels of vitamin D that are often recommended by doctors and testing laboratories — and can be achieved only by taking supplements — are unnecessary and could be harmful, an expert committee says. It also concludes that calcium supplements are not needed. The group said most people have adequate amounts of vitamin D in their blood supplied by their diets and natural sources like sunshine, the committee says in a report that is to be released on Tuesday. “For most people, taking extra calcium and vitamin D supplements is not indicated,” said Dr. Clifford J. Rosen, a member of the panel and an osteoporosis expert at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute. Dr. J. Christopher Gallagher, director of the bone metabolism unit at the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Neb., agreed, adding, “The onus is on the people who propose extra calcium and vitamin D to show it is safe before they push it on people.” Over the past few years, the idea that nearly everyone needs extra calcium and vitamin D — especially vitamin D — has swept the nation. With calcium, adolescent girls may be the only group that is getting too little, the panel found. Older women, on the other hand, may take too much, putting themselves at risk for kidney stones. And there is evidence that excess calcium can increase the risk of heart disease, the group wrote. As for vitamin D, some prominent doctors have said that most people need supplements or they will be at increased risk for a wide variety of illnesses, including heart disease, cancer and autoimmune diseases. And these days more and more people know their vitamin D levels because they are being tested for it as part of routine physical exams. “The number of vitamin D tests has exploded,” said Dennis Black, a reviewer of the report who is a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco. At the same time, vitamin D sales have soared, growing faster than those of any supplement, according to The Nutrition Business Journal. Sales rose 82 percent from 2008 to 2009, reaching $430 million. “Everyone was hoping vitamin D would be kind of a panacea,” Dr. Black said. The report, he added, might quell the craze. “I think this will have an impact on a lot of primary care providers,” he said. The 14-member expert committee was convened by the Institute of Medicine, an independent nonprofit scientific body, at the request of the United States and Canadian governments. It was asked to examine the available data — nearly 1,000 publications — to determine how much vitamin D and calcium people were getting, how much was needed for optimal health and how much was too much. The two nutrients work together for bone health. Bone health, though, is only one of the benefits that have been attributed to vitamin D, and there is not enough good evidence to support most other claims, the committee said.

'Fish Oils and Omega-3 fatty acids: A cure for psychotic mental illnesses?'

BBC News - February 17, 2010

The essential fatty acid Omega-3 has tremendous effects on the brain when received in ample quantities, improving brain functioning significantly.  While Omega-3 oils are present in fish, a much healthier alternative - in a time when most fish is contaminated by human pollution and contains poisonous mercury levels - is to turn to organic vegetable sources of Omega-3 such as botanical blue-green algae (which is the source of the Omega-3 for fish) and flax seeds.  For more on the findings related to fish oil, read below. 

The BBC reported that 'taking a daily fish oil capsule can save off mental illness in those at highest risk'.  A three-month course of the supplement appeared to be as effective as drugs, cutting a rate of psychotic illness like

schizophrenia by a quarter. The researchers believe it is the Omega 3 in fish oil already held for promoting healthy hearts that has beneficial effects in the brain. 

The Benefits of Physical Exercise and Fitness: 'Michelle Obama and 'Let's Move!' leading the WAY!'

'Michelle Obama and 'Let's Move!' leading the WAY!'

New York Times - September 10, 2010

One of the most preoccupying issue facing the U.S. is the obesity epidemic resulting from poor nutrition and lack of exercise and which is starting to affect younger and younger populations in our country each year.

The first lady, Michelle Obama, has identified this issue as a priority and launched a national initiative called, 'Let's Move!' to try and derail a process that would have extreme negative consequences on both the health and future wealth of our nation.  For more, read below.

SLIDELL, La. — Declaring the beginning of the “next phase” of a program to combat childhood obesity, the first lady, Michelle Obama, called on Congress on Wednesday to pass legislation that would make many of the program’s initiatives possible. In a speech at an elementary school here, Mrs. Obama ticked off the main points of her “Let’s Move!” campaign: encouraging children to exercise, providing more free and reduced-price school meals and making the food in schools more nutritious. Explicitly tying school nutrition to academic performance, she pledged to expand the program on all these points. But Mrs. Obama, who has typically not waded into Congressional debates, emphasized that achieving much of this was dependent on federal lawmakers. “It’s important to be clear,” she said, “that we can’t do any of this unless we pass the Child Nutrition legislation that’s before Congress right now.” Under the act, food sold in schools would have to meet new nutrition guidelines, but schools would get an increased amount of federal reimbursement money for meals. It would also expand the number of poorer students who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. In early August, on the eve of the act’s passage in the Senate, Mrs. Obama wrote an op-ed article in The Washington Post encouraging lawmakers to vote yes, which they did, unanimously. The bill is now expected to be on the agenda this month in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers have been working on a version that would add new elements, and more financing, to the $4.5 billion version that passed in the Senate. “Congress is very close to getting this done but still there are a number of barriers,” said Margo Wootan, the director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a group that provided input to the White House in the creation of a plan to address childhood obesity. “This would be a historic change to the programs,” Ms. Wootan said. “I’m agonizing daily about it.” Mrs. Obama delivered her speech at an elementary school here that is one of 25 in the district — out of only 59 in the country — that have received $2,000 cash awards from the United States Department of Agriculture for promoting healthy eating and physical activity. It also sits just over the state line from Mississippi, which has the highest rate of childhood obesity in the country.