It’s that time of year when millions of American’s make a resolution to lose weight, exercise or eat more healthy foods. But how many people are still following their resolutions just 4 weeks from now? I recently read that less than 23% of American adults consume 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day. I also noticed quite a few people saying that one of their resolutions for 2013 was to eat more fresh produce. Great! Now where do you start? Right here with these detox basics then continue to focus on including these nutrient rich foods in your life for good.
We know we don’t eat quite as healthy as we should and all of those convenient processed foods take a toll on your body and health, so why not start the New Year with a healthier you. A detox plan is designed for internal cleansing of the body and to remove toxins by only eating pure whole foods. Some immediate benefits of a detox are:
* improved energy
* clearer skin
* weight loss
* better sleep
* clearer mind
While clean eating may be new to you, stick to the approved food lists as closely as possible for the best results. Continue to try new foods and preparation methods to find what works best for your body, family and lifestyle.
Foods to Avoid ~ sugar, caffeine, alcohol, all meat and dairy, salt and processed foods.
Foods to eat ~
Vegetables: arugula, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, romaine lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, kale, cucumbers, beets, bok choy, carrots, jicama, onions, spring onions, sweet potato, squash, kelp, nori
Fruits: apples, apricots, blueberries, raspberries. grapes, figs, peaches, pears, plums, lemons, limes, bananas, kiwi
Whole Grains: amaranth, quinoa, oats, brown rice, wild rice, millet, buckwheat
Nuts: unsalted almonds, cashews, brazil nuts, walnuts, pistachios, pine nuts, pecans, hazelnuts, chestnuts, macadamia
Seeds: alfalfa, fennel, chia, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, flax, hemp
Beans: black, kidney, lentil, mung, garbanzo
Herbs: basil, cilantro, parsley, garlic, dandelion, chives, turmeric
Oils: extra virgin olive oil, coconut, sesame
Vinegar: apple cider, balsamic, rice, wine
Miscellaneous: miso, cocoa powder, ginger, mustard, tofu
Beverages: water, green tea, herbal tea, coconut water, fresh fruit or vegetable juice
*partial list, other foods may also be beneficial for detox
So who’s with me for a Happy Healthy New Year in 2013, check back daily through January 16th for free recipes and the detox basics free ebook!
The cover of the book is above and will be available for download soon.
tomorrow’s recipe is for a gorgeous lentil salad, both of my girls love it today for lunch and I can’t wait to share with you too.