HEALTH: Regain energy and lose extra pounds
HEALTH: Regain energy and lose extra pounds
ASK YOUR HOLISTIC NUTRITIONIST
Want to regain your energy and lose extra pounds? Try a fall cleanse to rejuvenate your body and get rid off the toxic build up. Why cleanse you ask? In essence, digestion is one of the major keys to health and wellness. By following a cleanse filled with high fibre and nutrient-dense foods, you give your body the opportunity to “clean out the pipes.” When thinking of doing a cleanse or a detox, I recommend a five-day period from Monday to Friday. Weekends are often a more difficult time to make nutritional changes. If following the recommendations properly, you should not feel hungry or deprived while cleansing. There will be enough selection of low glycemic index, high-fibre foods to fill you up and keep you going.
After the expansiveness of Summer a Guided Fall Cleanse is a time for us to come together and realign our diets for the changing season. A week of focus and guidance is an excellent way to establish healthy habits and rhythms for the transition into Winter. Whether you have lots of experience cleansing or this is your first time, I encourage you to jump on board and cleanse your body and mind for the new season.
The beginning of fall is a great time to get back on track and refine your relationship with your personal health. Fall marks the beginning of a new phase of the year. It is the perfect time for introspection, self reflection and taking your health to the next level.
The key steps for the five-day cleanse include:
1. Eliminate coffee. Coffee is acidic, a diuretic and can often make you feel shaky when cleansing. Instead of coffee, I recommend drinking herbal tea, green tea or white tea for the antioxidant effect and to help you get rid of any coffee withdrawal headaches. In addition, I always say if there is something in your diet you are so addicted to that you can’t give it up for five days — that is a clear sign to give it up!
2. Eat an abundant amount of colourful foods. Fruits and vegetables are high in fibre, filled with minerals, vitamins and plant chemicals called phytonutrients that prevent and even help treat disease. From tomatoes to broccoli and blueberries — fruits and vegetables are low glycemic index and will help to sustain energy while flushing the system.
3. Eat lean protein options such as egg whites, chicken, turkey, fish and soy at every meal or snack. Proteins secrete the hormone glucagon which helps in fat loss. Avoid red meat and dairy for 5 days.
4. Supplement your diet with a high quality multi-vitamin, fish oils supplement and probiotic such as acidophilus. Acidophilus is “friendly” bacteria that helps to maintain a healthy digestive microflora. Healthy digestion and absorption is one of the main keys to looking and feeling your best.
5. Add essential fats and oils — such as flaxseed oil, ground flaxseeds, olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds — to your diet for their anti-inflammatory effect.
6. Drink eight glasses of water per day. Fresh clean water aids with elimination, helps to boost metabolism, gives you a “full” feeling longer and helps to keep energy up.
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For a more detailed and personalized cleanse, please contact Your Holistic Nutritionist: Kalayaan Garcia de Vera, RHN ;www.yourholisticnutritionist.com; info@yourholisticnutritionist.com, 416 995-6146.
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