Cleanse Protocol
I hope you had a restful weekend! Dan and I attended a friend's beautiful wedding yesterday, perched on a hillside vineyard above Napa Valley. The company, conversation, food, music and dancing were all excellent! Of course we are excited for our own gathering in a month.
At a time where there is much to do, I am grateful to also be preparing for this cleanse, and the grounding and clearing it will provide. I find that I have a lot of extra energy and time during cleanses, because I'm not spending so much effort cooking in the kitchen or going out to eat. It's a great time to focus on tasks I've been putting off, like reorganizing a messy closet or giving away things we no longer use.
I want to provide you with the basic outline of the body cleanse so you have a sense of what the cleanse looks like. Each person's body and lifestyle are different, so it's important for you to make a plan that works for you, and do your best to stick with it. There are two outlines I'm giving below. You might select one of these plans for June 12th-16th, or you might make some changes and customize your own! Feel free to ask questions in the comments section.
Summer Solstice Cleanse- Whole Foods Plan
5-days dedicated to eating healthy, wholesome foods with a focus on plants. Includes detoxifying teas and herbs. Eliminate all sugar, processed carbohydrates, alcohol, junk food, canned foods, processed meats, salty foods, dairy, corn, soy. No beans or grains unless eating a vegetarian diet. Pre-cleanse preparation involves a gradual reduction of the foods to eliminate. Post-cleanse involves a careful and gradual reintroduction of foods such as grains and dairy, to avoid overwhelming your digestive system. I will provide step-by-step instructions in advance and daily support through this blog.
Example:
Summer Solstice Cleanse- Juice Plan
5-days of raw organic juices focused on vegetables and cleansing herbs. Includes detoxifying herbal teas. Pre-cleanse protocol is two days where you will be guided to eat whole foods (see above for examples). Post-cleanse is a slow introduction of whole foods, starting with raw fruits and vegetables and then incorporating cooked foods, protein, and whole grains. It is very important to prepare for a juice cleanse and to go slow in re-introducing foods. I know this first hand, it is no fun to rush back into solid food after a juice cleanse! I will provide step-by-step instructions in advance and daily support through this blog.
Example:
I encourage you to consider these basic outlines and make a plan that will work for you. You may choose to do a hybrid, with 1 day of whole foods, 3 days of juice cleansing, and another day of whole foods. Or you may choose a juice plan with 4 or 5 juices a day, instead of 3. The variations are numerous! When you know what you are willing to commit to, post your plan in the comments. We are here to support each other and keep each other accountable.
I'll be posting even more details in the coming days, including more information on water and cleansing herbs, shoppings lists, and how to avoid potential pitfalls in a cleanse. If you have questions, please ask!
Here's to a smooth start to your week!
-Shannon
At a time where there is much to do, I am grateful to also be preparing for this cleanse, and the grounding and clearing it will provide. I find that I have a lot of extra energy and time during cleanses, because I'm not spending so much effort cooking in the kitchen or going out to eat. It's a great time to focus on tasks I've been putting off, like reorganizing a messy closet or giving away things we no longer use.
I want to provide you with the basic outline of the body cleanse so you have a sense of what the cleanse looks like. Each person's body and lifestyle are different, so it's important for you to make a plan that works for you, and do your best to stick with it. There are two outlines I'm giving below. You might select one of these plans for June 12th-16th, or you might make some changes and customize your own! Feel free to ask questions in the comments section.
Summer Solstice Cleanse- Whole Foods Plan
5-days dedicated to eating healthy, wholesome foods with a focus on plants. Includes detoxifying teas and herbs. Eliminate all sugar, processed carbohydrates, alcohol, junk food, canned foods, processed meats, salty foods, dairy, corn, soy. No beans or grains unless eating a vegetarian diet. Pre-cleanse preparation involves a gradual reduction of the foods to eliminate. Post-cleanse involves a careful and gradual reintroduction of foods such as grains and dairy, to avoid overwhelming your digestive system. I will provide step-by-step instructions in advance and daily support through this blog.
Example:
- Wake up- hot water with fresh lemon juice (boosts digestion)
- Breakfast- Baked sweet potato with coconut oil, cinnamon (manage blood sugar and metabolism), and 1/4 c. soaked almonds (protein)
- If you must have caffeine, 1 cup of coffee or tea with unsweetened almond milk or blended with coconut oil (makes it nice and frothy!)
- Lunch- Green salad: spinach (ALA manages glucose and insulin, also potassium and iron), avocado (healthy fats), raw pumpkin seeds (protein, magnesium, zinc), parsley (blood cleanser), olive oil (healthy fats), balsamic, optional add tomatoes, shredded carrot, sliced cucumber
- Dinner- Pesto squash noodles (squash shaved into noodles, available at many produce departments or make your own on a mandolin), fresh pesto (blend or chop: basil, olive oil, walnuts), make your own roasted red bell pepper, optional 6 oz. of roasted chicken
- Nighttime cleansing tea
Summer Solstice Cleanse- Juice Plan
5-days of raw organic juices focused on vegetables and cleansing herbs. Includes detoxifying herbal teas. Pre-cleanse protocol is two days where you will be guided to eat whole foods (see above for examples). Post-cleanse is a slow introduction of whole foods, starting with raw fruits and vegetables and then incorporating cooked foods, protein, and whole grains. It is very important to prepare for a juice cleanse and to go slow in re-introducing foods. I know this first hand, it is no fun to rush back into solid food after a juice cleanse! I will provide step-by-step instructions in advance and daily support through this blog.
Example:
- Wake up- hot water with fresh lemon juice (boosts digestion)
- Breakfast juice 16oz. - Sunrise: Carrots, 1 bulb fennel, 1 orange, peeled
- Herbal Tea
- Lunch juice 16 oz. - Blood cleanser: 3 beets, entire bunch of celery, 1/2 bunch parsley, 1 lemon, optional dash cayenne
- Lemonade - I've made many renditions of a basic recipe (fresh squeezed lemon juice and water) including cucumber aloe, turmeric anti-inflammatory, spicy cayenne, apple cider vinegar probiotic
- Dinner juice 16 oz. - Green Comfort: Carrots, 6 leaves kale, 1 apple, 1" ginger root, top with cinnamon and/or nutmeg
- Nighttime cleansing tea
I encourage you to consider these basic outlines and make a plan that will work for you. You may choose to do a hybrid, with 1 day of whole foods, 3 days of juice cleansing, and another day of whole foods. Or you may choose a juice plan with 4 or 5 juices a day, instead of 3. The variations are numerous! When you know what you are willing to commit to, post your plan in the comments. We are here to support each other and keep each other accountable.
I'll be posting even more details in the coming days, including more information on water and cleansing herbs, shoppings lists, and how to avoid potential pitfalls in a cleanse. If you have questions, please ask!
Here's to a smooth start to your week!
-Shannon
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