4 Reasons NOT to Go On a Liquid Cleanse Diet
Q: What are your thoughts on doing a liquid cleanse diet? A: I’m a fan of a cleanse diet. However, I’m not a fan of a liquid cleanse diet. It’s hard to feel empowered when you’re drinking your breakfast. And your lunch. And your snacks. And your dinner. . . I need to chew. You? I prefer a real food cleanse diet. I believe in eating whole foods to fuel and energize your body. Eating proper portions of fiber rich, high antioxidant foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and also eating lean protein and healthy fat, will give you the results you want for your health and weight for the long term. You don’t need to go to the extreme of liquid cleansing to achieve this. Yep, as boring as it may sound, eating healthy foods as part of an overall balanced diet is the best way to lose weight and keep it off. 4 benefits from a real food cleanse diet for a few days include Now, there are exceptions to every rule. I may green light a liquid cleanse for a specific situation or condition such as an individual needing to recover from GI distress. Sometimes bowel rest can be helpful to get a client back on a healthy track. Very infrequently I may have a client who needs something extreme to break a cycle and get to a new starting point on a healthy diet and a food cleanse isn’t an option because they’re overwhelmed by the prep (simple as it may be) or really resistant to alternatives. But, 99% of the time I recommend a whole, real solid food cleanse, not a liquid cleanse. Here are 4 reasons why I don’t like a liquid cleanse diet: Steer clear of liquid cleansing. If you want to take your healthy diet up a notch and give yourself a nutrition boost and weight loss push, try one of my real food cleanses!
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How to Cleanse by Eating Healthy Food
Skip the unsustainable deprivation of liquid detoxes. Here’s how to cleanse—and develop better eating habits while you’re at it—with food.
The 3 Best Detox Foods
Today, we’re talking detox foods. Why? Because let’s be real. Your eats can’t always be ideal. Even though (I hope!) you’re trying your best to eat as clean as possible, it’s normal to sometimes end up on the couch on a Friday night with salty takeout or spend a rainy Sunday afternoon curled up with an oversized chocolate chip muffin. But when this does happen, we need to focus harder on those foods that are going to help cleanse us. Don’t let a little bit of an overindulgent weekend wreak havoc on your health and digestive system. Eating detox foods will help to flush out your GI tract, wake up your digestion, and will also help enable your body to more efficiently absorb all of the crucial nutrients in the whole foods that you eat regularly. Here Are Some of My Fave Detox Foods:
No Fail Ways to Become a Green Juice Pro
So many people assume green juice is not for them. They claim they don’t like vegetables. They fear it won’t be yummy. The color is off-putting. Sipping something you normally use a fork for is just…weird. And die hard green juicers seem nutritionally elite, right? Willing to compromise their taste buds in the name of super fuel, they’re like the Ironmen of healthy eating, and casual joggers feel, well, inadequate. But here’s the real deal. You don’t need to be an Ironman. You can simply have a cute pair of running shoes in your closet that you break out for a slow walk on a sunny day, and the nutrition community will love you all the same. So yes, while there is definitely a continuum of green—from beginner to advanced—there is a place for you on the spectrum. No Fail Ways to Become a Green Juice Pro 1. You do need a juicer to make a green juice, but you do not need to buy the fanciest one out there. A blender can work for some recipes, but cannot separate the pulp from the juice, making it thick and less juicy and technically a smoothie. 2. Even if you don’t care for cooked broccoli, kale, collards or cucumbers, for example, you may like them in a raw juice—many times the flavors are more mild raw and combined with other ingredients. 3. Choose produce that is fresh and healthy in appearance. 4. Try to juice immediately prior to drinking. Once the juice is made, it starts losing its nutritional powers. Green juices are sensitive to time (how long from when they are made until consumed), temperature (heat can diminish some of the vitamin potency) and storage (air and clear glass containers can also make the juice less potent). 5. You can find commercially prepared juices in stores nationwide. But beware: to preserve their integrity on the shelf, there is often added sugar, usually in the form of juice, so choose selectively. The key here is to find a bottle with greens in it—not a green bottle with sugar in it. 6. A juice can be a great break from salad boredom but shouldn’t replace chewing your veggies. Try one in place of a snack with a handful of nuts. Or, if you’re not much of a breakfast person, a green juice and an ounce of cheese can be a great start to the day. 3 Green Juice Recipes Beginner Green Juice ½ head of romaine lettuce ½ cucumber 6 spinach leaves 1 green apple Clean all produce well. Toss in the juicer in order and drink immediately. Intermediate Green Juice (while the ingredients may seem intimidating, the flavor is mild) 2 celery stalks 1 cup kale or spinach ½ cucumber 1 cup wheat grass ½ lemon, peeled Clean all produce well. Toss in the juicer in order and drink immediately. Advanced Green Juice ½ cup broccoli 3 celery stalks 1 handful fresh parsley 1 handful fresh spinach ½ cucumber ½ inch fresh peeled ginger 1 teaspoon spirulina 1 lemon, peeled Clean all produce well. Toss in the juicer in order and drink immediately.
How Your Lymphatic System Can Help You Lose Weight
By: Lauren Roxburgh The lymphatic system is truly a forgotten hero in our amazing bodies. By getting to know your lymph system you can help eliminate cellulite and jumpstart your weight loss goals! Basically, it’s the garbage disposal of our bodies, it’s responsible for filtering our system and eliminating toxins which is incredibly important for immunity, optimal health and even weight loss. We are exposed to thousands of toxins daily from household cleaning products, beauty products, processed foods, plastics, chemically based foods and other environmental toxins. Efficient functioning of the lymph system is essential to eliminate these excess wastes in our modern day bodies and help the body function optimally. Stress, sitting too much, lack of activity, injuries and poor posture also contribute to a sluggish lymphatic system. The lymph system is found under the skin throughout the entire body and support circulation, immunity and help the body flush of toxins. The lymph has to move against gravity since we are upright and that is what makes this system become congested and make you feel sluggish and carry excess weight. Since toxicity can play a huge roll in premature aging, losing or keeping excess weight off, this system must be addressed when we are seeking optimal health. Here are a few amazing ways to reboot your lymphatic system to get glowing and feel lighter and brighter. Foam Rolling: Rolling helps smooth away congestion, inflammation, flush out the lymphatic system, increase immunity, stimulate blood circulation, “wring out” and hydrate the connective tissue and revitalize your whole being. I always say it’s like an internal juice cleanse of your connective tissue! Inversions: Getting your hips above your heart is an amazing way to help improve your lymphatic system. By using gravity to drain stagnant fluid, inversions help bring blood and lymph from your feet and legs up to your kidneys to drain excess fluid, toxins, and stagnant energy. Brisk Walking: When walking your legs act as a natural pump that helps move the lymph fluid through the body. Plus, the deep breathing creates pressure and expansion that helps aid the lymphatic fluid. The more transverse rotation you have while walking, the better your lymph system can flush the upper body, arms, neck and shoulders. Rebounding: For me the combo of rolling and rebounding is the key to getting the best results. I use the Bellicon in conjunction with foam rolling each day for a transformative combination. Start with the roller for a few minutes to smooth out the density, congestion, and inflammation and then finish with 5-10 minutes bouncing on the rebounder for a fully restorative, stress busting, cellulite reducing and detoxifying workout. I have my Bellicon set up in my backyard for maximum results, breathing fresh air and soaking up a bit of vitamin D. BOUNCE #1 The Health Bounce: Move up and down without actually jumping for 1-2 minutes to warm up your muscles, joints, lymphatic system, and organs. BOUNCE #2 The Toning Bounce: Jump as high as you can, which helps improve balance, strengthens your primary and intrinsic muscles throughout your entire body, and also jumpstarts your lymph garbage disposal. Do this for 1-2 minutes. BOUNCE #3 The Cardio Bounce Combo: This includes Jumping Jacks, running in place, the ski bunny twist, bouncing on one leg at a time, dancing, and any other ways you can think of. Doing these with some high intensity will help you sweat out the toxins. Do this for 10 minutes. Dry Brushing: Dry brushing has been around since ancient times, though it’s been surging in popularity lately as many supermodels claim it as their beauty secret weapon. The idea is to get the circulation going, effectively “tightening” the skin by stimulating it with a vigorous rub, using either a brush or dry brushing gloves before a bath or shower. Always brush towards your heart and rub each limb and your torso for about 30 seconds. I find it invigorates me in the morning—and is almost as essential as that first cup of coffee. It also helps exfoliate any dry or damaged skin. Mineral Bath: This is another ancient technique that’s just as relevant today. I recommend adding Magnesium flakes to your bath for two reasons. First it helps draw out toxins and impurities, and secondly it helps re-mineralize your skin (many of us are magnesium deficient as our Western diet and farming techniques often don’t provide the minerals we need). Rosemary essential oil and lemongrass are also great things to add as they boost the lymphatic system. Other benefits of a warm bath include easing sore muscles and helping you relax and sleep. About Lauren: Lauren Roxburgh is an international best-selling author of ‘Taller, Slimmer, Younger – 21 Days to a Foam Roller Physique’, and creator of the Lo Rox Aligned Rollers and the Aligned Life video series. Certified in the fields of Structural Integration, classical Pilates, nutrition and pre/post-natal yoga, Lauren is a body alignment, fascia and movement healer, and has been fortunate enough to work with some of the world’s top athletes and celebrities. She is the go-to writer and expert on all things fascia, alignment and foam rolling and regularly works with some of the country’s top orthopedic surgeons.
Why You Need to Start Dry Brushing Your Skin Immediately
Have you heard of dry brushing your skin? Whether you’ve heard of it or not, I promise you’ll be hooked once you give it a try. If you’re a dry brushing pro, then you already reap the benefits of this ancient technique. Go you, because dry brushing is very beneficial and can (and should!) be incorporated into your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth and washing your face. So What is Dry Brushing, Anyway? Dry brushing is a simple, holistic beauty practice that helps energize and stimulate your body, and is usually done right before bathing. Using a natural bristle brush, begin brushing your feet and move up your body towards your heart using long, sweeping motions. You may think, “OUCH, why would I want to rub a scratchy brush over my skin?” But it’s actually quite enjoyable once you get used to it. You know that awesome, head-scratch feeling you get at the salon when they wash your hair? It’s kind of like that, only over your whole body! The Benefits of Dry Brushing There are many noticeable benefits of dry brushing if done daily. Think of how great your skin feels after a nice body scrub. This is a similar concept, but even more effective. It’s like a more intense body scrub with cumulative effects, helping to bring on effortlessly glowing skin. Dry brushing can also act as a detoxification aid because “when you dry brush your skin, it increases circulation to your skin, which encourages the elimination of metabolic waste,” says Joseph Mercola, DO, an osteopathic physician, natural health expert and founder of Mercola.com. Dry brushing is also a great exfoliant. It “will slough off dead, dry skin, improving its appearance and allowing it to hydrate more efficiently when moisturizer is applied afterward,” says Francesca Fusco, MD, a celebrity dermatologist and frequent contributor to Women’s Health Magazine. Women who dry brush frequently say that it’s also extremely relaxing. This could be because dry brushing stimulates the nerve endings in the skin resulting in an invigorated and rejuvenated feeling. Hello, total Zen experience! 6 Tips to Dry Brush Correctly 1. Ditch the synthetic stuff and find a natural bristle brush at your local health store or online. Look for one with vegetable- or cactus-derived bristles. 2. Brush dry skin before your shower, so you can wash away dead skin cells and feel more energized. 3. Begin brushing at your feet and move upwards towards your heart. The lymphatic fluids flow through the body towards the heart so you want to go in the same direction. Use long strokes, firm yet comfortable pressure, and don’t brush over skin irritations. 4. Keep the brush free of bacteria by spritzing it after each use with a natural antiseptic such as tea tree oil or by washing it with soapy water. 5. To really amp up your at-home spa experience, alternate the water temperature from hot to cold during your shower to further invigorate the skin and tighten your pores. The shock of the cold water hitting your skin is better than any double-shot espresso or venti-extra-shot java jolt! 6. Lastly, end this therapeutic experience by applying organic, unrefined coconut oil as a moisturizer. Coconut oil is a wonderful skin moisturizer. It has antimicrobial properties, contains vitamin E, and medium chain triglycerides that deeply penetrate the skin resulting in a baby soft feel.
