Detox cleanse?

[Pollyanna]

Can I ask what you are hoping to gain from a cleanse? I'm sure there is a better way to accomplish your goal.

[diggitydot]

V-girl, last year when I couldn't swallow I inadvertently put myself on a cleanse. I could only eat very cleanly and due to the nerve damage things just tasted weird. I couldn't eat meat or bread and sugar tasted awful. So I ate fruit/veggie smoothies with protein powder. It was a cleanse of sorts because I cut out wheat and sugar. Even though I couldn't swallow, my bloating went away and my stomach felt better than it ever had. Maybe try cutting out wheat and sugar? When I tried to do a "cleanse" many years ago, I couldn't stomach it...I was too hungry and ended up over-eating go figure.

I was totally gobsmacked when we began eating more of a Paleo/primal diet and discovered how much better I felt sans processed carbs and sugars. We've always had a pretty decent diet, but the difference in how I feel omitting processed foods is kind of amazing.

[BonBon]

I was totally gobsmacked when we began eating more of a Paleo/primal diet and discovered how much better I felt sans processed carbs and sugars. We've always had a pretty decent diet, but the difference in how I feel omitting processed foods is kind of amazing.

Preach.

vgirl, I highly recommend It Starts with Food. It completely lays out what foods are good for you and *why*, and why the bad foods do a number on you. It lays out a 30 day "detox", if you will, where you eliminate all inflammatory foods. After the 30 days, you can slowly test out different foods to test your reaction to them. Even though I was told to not eat wheat anymore, actually testing it this way allowed me to see how awful it made me feel. (Eliminating it from my diet got rid of the eczema I'd had for 20+ years, joint/muscle pain, and the tingling/numbness in my hands, as well as debloating my gut.)

[Michele]

In my head, "detox" means to get rid of chemicals....so if I were to do one, I would only do fresh fruits, fresh veggies, farm eggs, meats, water....almond milk and stevia would be out because of how much processing goes into them. It would be extremely hard for me to give up things like bread and cheese and popcorn and sugar....and so I haven done it. But in my head, the theory is good.

[v-girl]

In my head, "detox" means to get rid of chemicals....so if I were to do one, I would only do fresh fruits, fresh veggies, farm eggs, meats, water....almond milk and stevia would be out because of how much processing goes into them. It would be extremely hard for me to give up things like bread and cheese and popcorn and sugar....and so I haven done it. But in my head, the theory is good.

What about honey? I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this. I already take wheat grass pills multiple times a day since I'm not great at eating veggies.

[Michele]

I think honey would be ok. I think I would eat eggs and fruit for breakfast, a salad with some lean protein for lunch, more fruit for a snack and then a protein and two veggies for dinner.

Like I said, I can't actually do it. But that's my theory of how I would do a clean eating/detox.

[diggitydot]

I would think honey or agave nectar would be fine. Personally, I prefer agave nectar. It's sweet, but has a neutral flavor.

[v-girl]

I would think honey or agave nectar would be fine. Personally, I prefer agave nectar. It's sweet, but has a neutral flavor.

I have both. Honey for cereal or oatmeal. LOL

[Pollyanna]

What about honey? I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this. I already take wheat grass pills multiple times a day since I'm not great at eating veggies.

Wait, how often and why are you taking the wheatgrass pills? Nausea, loss of appetite, constipation, among other things are side effects. Have you tried eliminating them from your diet?

[v-girl]

I wasn't taking it when the nausea started. I can go days without it and it doesn't make a difference.

[ladymoreta]

I know several people who have had great results with the cleanse and following diet recommended by Doug Kaufmann in his book "The Fungus Link". I haven't read it and don't know anything about it, but I don't think I've seen it mentioned yet.

[v-girl]

Thank you!

[MsSassyBaskets]

I don't really support what celebrities refer to as "detoxing" or "cleanse" -- meaning fasting, juice, supplements, etc. Gwyneth Paltrow is a crazy-ass b*%(&. But I can understand wanting to clean your diet if you're feeling sluggish, slow digestion, etc. On a few occasions when I've felt like that, I've done a few days at a time where I cut down to brown rice or quinoa, lean proteins, tons of veggies, fruit, herbal tea, and lots of water. Mostly focusing on eating TONS of green veggies -- lots of kale and spinach -- and everything else very simple and easy to digest. Ditch simple starches, sugar, too much fat, any junk food. I wish I had the willpower to eat like that all the time, but it really does the trick if I've had too much heavy food and I'm feeling bloated and gross. Really the whole point of it is getting lots of fiber and getting your digestion moving. Anything more extreme than that is just not for me.

[v-girl]

I almost bought quinoa at Costco this morning and didn't get it because I didn't know how to cook it! Darn! Can it go in a rice cooker?

[MissCrabette]

Yes! You cook it just like rice, and it's delicious. I think it's so much more versatile than rice, though.

One thing I'd be careful about is leaving it on "warm" for too long in the rice cooker. I understand it dries faster than rice.