January 2010: Get Right Detox

Is your body starting to feel the holiday season backlash yet? Signs of it include but are not limited to an uncooperative top button on your jeans, luggage under your eyes and the thick aftertaste of baked goods or family cooking in your mouth. I realize the signs are really similar to being newly pregnant which would be problematic for my male friends out there. Don't worry guys, pretty sure you're not with child but if the gut you're carrying says differently then this detox is doubly for you.

WHY

As a rule, I don't particularly advocate fasting for anything but religious or spiritual reasons. As far as health goes, I believe that, unless ill, the human body is very capable of cleansing itself. However, by that same token, I do believe we have allowed our very capable bodies to rely much too heavily on factory processed foods which contribute to our ill health as a nation. Hold my hand as I get down off my high horse please.

Let's just admit it: we generally fast or detox to feel better and to hopefully shed a few pounds on the way, right? We want to feel lighter and less gluttonous, look better and less bloated. We want to rediscover food as we rediscover our waistlines.

HOW

Most detox programs are all or nothing: eat all of something and nothing of anything else. The Get Right detox program will focus on improvement in 4 key areas in 4 weeks. Follow the program as long as you want:

1. Reducing salt intake
2. Reducing refined sugar
3. Reducing saturated fat intake
4. Increasing physical activity

Prep Phase

• Make sure you're healthy enough to participate by checking with your physician before starting the program
• Go shopping! You will need:

1. Plenty of water, Crystal Light, seltzer
2. Green, oolong tea and chamomile tea ( iced and hot)
3. 2-4 boxes of low sodium vegetable broth ( less than 240 mg/serving)
4. Fiber One Cereal ( any kind)
5. Steel Cut oats
6. Raisins, lemons, blueberries, apples, pears, apricots, red grapes, bananas
7. Soy or Almond Milk
8. Orange juice
9. Salmon, tilapia (tofu optional)
10. Frozen vegetable mixes
11. Celery
12. 3 cans of Low sodium Chickpeas
13. Fresh Spinach and broccoli
14. Oil and canola oil
15. Eggs or Egg white mix
16. walnuts, almonds
17. Avocado
18. Almond butter
19. Whole grain/ whole wheat english muffins

Stay posted for Phase 1 "Tastebud recalibration"