I’m not going to finish the 3-part series I initially planned on the Standard Process 21-day detox. I had to stop the detox a few days early due to severe constipation. I am entirely convinced that the program’s high-fiber shakes caused a dramatic slowdown in my bowel movements from the very first day. (Yes, I drank enough water.) Despite the pelvic and abdominal pain I started having halfway through, I stubbornly insisted on following the program strictly until my husband forced me to stop the shakes in the third week. My conclusion from this unpleasant experience is that everyday detox using real food is superior to extreme and intense short bouts of detox. Read more
Category: Detox
Standard Process 21-Day Purification Review Part 1 of 3
I am no stranger to detoxing, so when my new integrative and holistic medicine doctor recommended a 21-day detox, I readily agreed. In the past, I’ve done two food-based and five juice-based detoxes, with varying levels of noticeable benefits to my body and mind. Currently, I’m in the first phase of the cleanse which is more restrictive in allowed foods. This series will be about the initial prep and execution of the program, how my husband and I felt throughout, and how Standard Process compares to other detox programs I’ve done. Read more
Cashew Milk Recipe & Hunger Busters
Call it “dinner,” call it the best part of the cleanse. The evening serving of raw cashew milk provides a potent mix of antioxidants and minerals. It’s creamy, fragrant, and satisfying. First, you’ll want to make sure you have truly raw organic cashews. Trader Joe’s admits that their “raw” nuts are steam-treated, so they are not truly raw. The problem with steaming, roasting, or otherwise processing raw nuts is that it destroys delicate enzymes and nutrients. Read more
Spicy Lemonade Recipe & Hydration Tips
Juice #4 of the multiple-day juice cleanse is many people’s favorite, spicy lemonade. Apart from the obvious high Vitamin C levels, lemon is great because it has an alkalizing effect inside the body, despite being acidic outside of it. Lemon is also a natural expectorant, so don’t be surprised if you start feeling the need to clear your throat or even cough after you drink this. Read more
Green Juice Recipe & Why You Should Love Ginger
Green juice is an awesome way to start the day, and it’s the main part of any serious juice cleanse. The emphasis on the color green is not just trendy, but a reflection of the chlorophyll-rich and alkalizing properties of juice that is physically green, as opposed to red, yellow, purple, etc.
Here is my green juice recipe inspired by BluePrint Green. I also make this every morning when I’m not cleansing. Read more
DIY Juice Cleanse: Worth It?!
Since regular juice cleansing/fasting is now part of my life, my latest experiment was to see if I could replicate a five-day BluePrint Cleanse on my own. It was a resounding success. I will show you step-by-step how I planned it and how I made the juices. Read more
“Drop Acid, Go Alkaline” – BluePrint Cleanse Review: Part 2 of 2
In Part 1 of my review, I discuss why I decided to do a juice cleanse, the pros and cons of BluePrint Cleanse, and my experience testing the limits of their customer service. The verdict is in: BluePrint Cleanse is a good baseline experience for beginners. But how exactly did the juices change my health? Read more
“We Think, You Drink” – BluePrint Cleanse Review: Part 1 of 2
As I have shared, I did my first juice cleanse in October 2012. It was revolutionary for my health, and as a result I did two more juice cleanses in November 2012 and January 2013. All three times, I ordered my juices from BluePrint Cleanse and did the three-day Excavation. Read more