Health and Beauty

One-week menu options for a gentle cleanse

Here are some suggestions for meals and snacks.

First breakfast of the day (7 a.m.): Green juice. Recipe: 6 small leaves of kale, 2 leaves of collard greens, 1 cucumber, 2 stalks of celery, 1/2 inch of ginger, 1 green apple. Drink green tea and plenty of water throughout the day, at least 8 glasses, one glass with the juice of half a lemon added.

Second breakfast of the day (10 a.m.): Protein and healthy fats of your choice. Eggs, goat cheese, avocado, smoked fish, and nuts are all great options. One bowl cooked whole grains, such as millet, brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, or buckwheat. Choose either protein or carbs.

Lunch: Green salad or a serving of steamed vegetables. Eat a variety, including roots, stems, and greens: potatoes, yams, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, asparagus, kale, chard, and cabbage. Cabbage helps reduce body fat. Use healthy oils, spices, and herbs for flavor. Combine with a handful of nuts or seeds, an avocado, a serving of smoked or steamed  salmon, or other fish. Salmon is high in healthy oils, which are crucial to a healthy immune system. Enjoy the benefits of eating tasty fish. I try to eat salmon every day.

Afternoon snack: Nuts, seeds, avocado mashed with herbs and spices, a small salad, or green juice. One piece fresh fruit, such as pear, apple, berries  or citrus.  Pineapple burns fat, and tones the stomach.

Dinner: (finish by 6 p.m.) Same as lunch. You may need to eat smaller meals 4 to 5 times a day. Try to choose either a green salad, steamed vegetables, or a small serving of fish.

Methods of food preparation include grilling, steaming, boiling, and sauteeing. When I cook, I always use ghee, fennel and cumin seeds, grated ginger, and turmeric.

A gentle cleanse can be accomplished with herbs by drinking a cleansing tea; by eliminating sugar, alcohol, processed foods, and white flour; and by eating light, nutritious meals for one week. This can assist the body, particularly the liver, in eliminating toxins, and replenishing and rejuvenating the blood. It is one of the fastest ways to  enhance the body’s healing processes.

You can cleanse your body safely and effectively with a juicing program. Juicing is an excellent way to get desired nutrients. Begin drinking freshly squeezed vegetable and citrus juices on a regular basis. Each vegetable has the power to heal a particular organ. For instance, beets and dandelion help heal the liver. Use small amounts because they have a strong cleansing effect on the liver. Citrus fruits also support the liver-cleansing process.

Most important, cleanse your mind of negative thoughts. Stay focused on the positive. Aspire to perform your daily tasks in the most positive way.

I use a sauna or steam room during my cleanse. During this time I drink more and eat less, (simple foods that digest easily), proper sweat, warm and cold showers.

The body does an amazing job of detoxifying itself. Even the short fast between dinner and breakfast causes the body to go into repair mode. This fast supports metabolism, restores energy and the body’s natural balance, and normalizes weight.

You can create radiant health in as little as a month, and maintain it all your life. Reach your absolute best in terms of your improved health and happiness. Put yourself first. You deserve to live an extraordinary life. Say “yes” to health and beauty.

About Author