Last fall I took a one month vacation to the western US. Between the fabulous restaurants in Sedona, the scrumptious family meals in San Diego, and the elaborate buffets of Las Vegas, I didn't exactly stick to my best dietary plan, but I did have a blast!
When I came home, I was feeling off, sluggish, and simply not myself. I checked my PH Balance using a saliva strip and discovered that my body had become slightly acidic. (A balanced body PH is slightly alkaline.) I knew I had to take measures to bring myself back to normal so I set about creating my own plan.
Being 60 years old, I decided a harsh dietary cleanse would be too stressful on my body, so I came up with a gentle, gradual "rebalancing" plan.
1. Upon rising, I drank the following:
4 ounces apple juice diluted with 4 ounces of water
1 tablespoon dried cereal grass (I used a product called "Green Vibrance" by Vibrant Health since it had many other beneficial foods plus probiotics. Wheat grass, barley grass or a combination will also work well.)
1 tablespoon freshly ground flax seeds
Health Benefits:
Cereal grasses provide a wealth of nutrients to the body's cells and reduce food cravings. They help control blood sugar levels, support liver function, provide digestive enzymes, reduce acidity, cleanse and tonify the blood, reduce inflmmation and detoxify the body.
Flax seeds are a rich source of essential fatty acids including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Flax seeds help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL and triglycerides), control blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of colon cancer, reduce inflammation, and balance estrogen levels in post-menopausal women. In addition, the gelatinous mucilage of flax gently cleanses and protects the digestive tract with no side effects.
The apple juice is mixed with water to reduce glucose response.
2. About an hour or so later, I made and consumed a fresh juice. I used a juicer that would take whole fruits and vegetables with little cutting and chopping and one that was easy to clean so I would stick to my plan. I used a variety of recipes, changing them each day. All fruit and vegetables used were organic. Here are a few examples:
Carrot, apple, ginger
Carrot, celery, beet
Kale, collard, apple, pear, ginger
Spinach, celery, cucumber, apple, ginger and squeezed lime
Health Benefits:
The removal of the fiber allows the juices to be digested and assimilated within 10 - 15 minutes, nourishing the body with enzymes and a wealth of vitamins and minerals. The fruits cleanse and the vegetables build and regenerate the body.
3. For lunch and dinner, I made sure 50% of my plate was raw or lightly cooked vegetables. (The rest was whole grains and lean proteins). I snacked on fruit in between meals.
With this much nutrition, I expected to feel great, but my initial response was low energy and lethargy. Nevertheless, I continued with this regimen, understanding that my body was gently detoxing.
After two weeks, my energy began to pick up and I was able to incorporate a regular exercise routine. After a month, my energy and vitality increased and my PH balance was back to normal. I decided to continue with the morning drink and include the vegetable juices several times a week to keep myself balanced and healthy.
Next vacation, I think I'll focus on filling half my plate with fruits or vegetables, but still allow myself to enjoy other foods. Love to eat healthy, but also love to enjoy life!
When I came home, I was feeling off, sluggish, and simply not myself. I checked my PH Balance using a saliva strip and discovered that my body had become slightly acidic. (A balanced body PH is slightly alkaline.) I knew I had to take measures to bring myself back to normal so I set about creating my own plan.
Being 60 years old, I decided a harsh dietary cleanse would be too stressful on my body, so I came up with a gentle, gradual "rebalancing" plan.
1. Upon rising, I drank the following:
4 ounces apple juice diluted with 4 ounces of water
1 tablespoon dried cereal grass (I used a product called "Green Vibrance" by Vibrant Health since it had many other beneficial foods plus probiotics. Wheat grass, barley grass or a combination will also work well.)
1 tablespoon freshly ground flax seeds
Health Benefits:
Cereal grasses provide a wealth of nutrients to the body's cells and reduce food cravings. They help control blood sugar levels, support liver function, provide digestive enzymes, reduce acidity, cleanse and tonify the blood, reduce inflmmation and detoxify the body.
Flax seeds are a rich source of essential fatty acids including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Flax seeds help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL and triglycerides), control blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of colon cancer, reduce inflammation, and balance estrogen levels in post-menopausal women. In addition, the gelatinous mucilage of flax gently cleanses and protects the digestive tract with no side effects.
The apple juice is mixed with water to reduce glucose response.
2. About an hour or so later, I made and consumed a fresh juice. I used a juicer that would take whole fruits and vegetables with little cutting and chopping and one that was easy to clean so I would stick to my plan. I used a variety of recipes, changing them each day. All fruit and vegetables used were organic. Here are a few examples:
Carrot, apple, ginger
Carrot, celery, beet
Kale, collard, apple, pear, ginger
Spinach, celery, cucumber, apple, ginger and squeezed lime
Health Benefits:
The removal of the fiber allows the juices to be digested and assimilated within 10 - 15 minutes, nourishing the body with enzymes and a wealth of vitamins and minerals. The fruits cleanse and the vegetables build and regenerate the body.
3. For lunch and dinner, I made sure 50% of my plate was raw or lightly cooked vegetables. (The rest was whole grains and lean proteins). I snacked on fruit in between meals.
With this much nutrition, I expected to feel great, but my initial response was low energy and lethargy. Nevertheless, I continued with this regimen, understanding that my body was gently detoxing.
After two weeks, my energy began to pick up and I was able to incorporate a regular exercise routine. After a month, my energy and vitality increased and my PH balance was back to normal. I decided to continue with the morning drink and include the vegetable juices several times a week to keep myself balanced and healthy.
Next vacation, I think I'll focus on filling half my plate with fruits or vegetables, but still allow myself to enjoy other foods. Love to eat healthy, but also love to enjoy life!
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