Our bodies are actually already "detoxing machines" – it is part of their work-description to do detoxification everyday. Some are better at it than others, which depends a lot on what we are putting into them to begin with. The food we eat everyday becomes part of what helps us detox / cleanse or part of what we need to detox / get rid of.  It is actually pretty simple – choice is – do you want to assist your body in the daily cleanse or give it more to work on everyday.

Some people call me excited to find out how to best do a complete fast (all liquid diet) others are scared to even consider giving up certain foods for a period of time. Especially those so-called favorite foods which – for some reason also seem to be the ones we are not able to resist. They are the foods most toxic for our system – sugar, white flour, and coffee.

What is then best? A fast, a detox program, or a gentle cleanse? This I cannot answer for you – it depends on your health status, goals, and daily life; which basically dictates what is possible for you. It can be very harsh on the body and the emotions to do a liquid fast. Not everyone can do it, nor should do it. I personally believe the most healthy option is to support the natural detox process our bodies go through daily by feeding it wholefood. Lots of vegetables, wholegrain, and good quality protein and fat. This is a cleanse in itself for most people. Below is a list of foods to add and omit ....or limit at least for a period of time to get lighter for the Spring.

If you would like to do a detox and go more into more detail, I have a tele-class which will go for 3 weeks. It will give you the information and support you need to cleanse your body and get ready for spring. See the dates above and email me if you are interested and to receive the details for participation. jeanette@pathforlife.com

Foods to eat : for a cleansing diet           

Liquids: Filtered water, herbal teas, Green drinks, (wheat grass, spirulina). Vegetable drinks (carrot, beet, celery, cucumber, cabbage), broth from vegetables and mushrooms.

Grain+bread: Brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, buckwheat, kamut, hemp seed, safflower seed, and sprouted grain bread (without wheat and gluten). Some that are wheat intolerant can have spelt as it is low in gluten.

Protein: Fresh small white fish, wild salmon, beans, lentils, peas, chickpeas.

“Dairy”: Rice and almond milk, oat milk. Note – some are allergic to these “milks” as well as they are a processed food and somewhat mucus forming, it would be best if they are omitted.

Nuts and seeds: Dry-roasted Walnuts, pumpkin seed, sunflower seeds, almonds + butters made from these (without sugar added)

Vegetables: Lot's of them; green and white ones (Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, onion, leeks) dark and leafy greens (kale, collards, bok choy, watercress) and field greens (arugula, organic mesclun), and seaweed. Other vegetables of the red and yellow group are great too; like carrots and beets.

Fruit: Non tropical and non citrus (except lemon). Apples are great cleansers. Berries are wonderful.

Fats: Avocado, nuts, and flaxseed oil, olive oil, and coconut oil, for a daily dose of good fat, energy and medium chain fatty acids (MCFA). Don't heat flax-seed oil.

Sweeteners: natural sweeteners only, brown rice syrup, fruit sweetener, blackstrap molasses, maple syrup, agave-nectar, and stevia.

Condiments: Cinnamon, cilantro, cumin, dill, garlic, ginger, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, turmeric.

Herbs that help the detoxification process:
Milk Thistle - Should be your primary herb. Detoxifies and rebuilds the liver.
Dandelion - Dandelion should also be a primary herb. It helps remove toxins from the liver and kidneys. It effects Liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder and stomach.
Burdock Root - Cleanser and diuretic which helps in removing heavy metals. Great for the skin as well.

You can generally find a blend of the above three herbs in tincture form.

NON-foods : the ones to omit during a cleanse
-and most of these you want to continue to live without after the cleanse.
Remember to remove these from your cupboards!

Liquids: Soda, coffee, tea containing caffeine, alcohol, milk. Limit fruit juices and soy milk.

Grain + bread: Omit white bread, wheat, and all grain and flour containing gluten.

Protein: Non-organic Soy. During a cleansing time don't eat tofu products at all, including seitan (which is gluten). During a cleanse do not eat any animal products except some fish as mentioned above. At other times avoid; Non-free range and non-organic beef, pork, and chicken, cold cuts, sausages, canned meat, shellfish, farmed non-organic salmon, predatory fish and deep sea (tuna, sword, mahi mahi).

Dairy: Omit completely including all cheeses, mayo

Nuts and Seeds: Peanuts and brazil nuts, including peanut butter (choose almond butter after the cleanse)

Vegetables: Starchy vegetables, corn, and creamed vegetables.
And Night shade vegetables: potato, tomato, eggplant, peppers, tobacco.

Fruit: Tropical unless in the climate where these are needed to cool you down. Citrus on occasion, depending on your level of acidity. Dried fruit on occasion.

Fats: Margarine, butter, shortening, processed oil and hydrogenated oils, mayo and spreads

Condiments: Ketchup, mayo, mixed seasonings, salt and pepper, salad dressing, and sauces.

Sweeteners: Sugar, all processed sugar including brown sugar, corn syrup, and high fructose corn syrup, sweets, desert, jams and marmalades.

Honey is ok on occasion but can have the same blood sugar effect as sugar. Sweets and cakes in general (on occasion very dark bitter chocolate is ok after the cleanse).

- And of course all fast food, processed food, and commercially prepared food. Yes that does include pre-fab dinners from the freezer even if it says "natural" on it.

 Yours cleansing, Jeanette