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Welcome to the November Newsletter
Can you believe we are in November already? We are well into Spring and are a matter of weeks away from it officially being Summer! Spring is typically a time where the seeds sown from Winter are beginning to sprout. So the big question is - what seeds did you sow in the past? If you ate lots of heavy, fatty and sugary foods during that time you may be thinking a spring clean is in order!
Why Detox?
Detoxing has many benefits for the body and the mind. Its well known across several cultures that it is ideal to do this twice a year to help the body unload the build up of waste that is accumulated unnecessarily! Some of the benefits are:
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Remove the build up of toxins in the body
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Shed excess weight
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Cleanse mucous, congestion, fermentation, inflammation in our digestive tract
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Purify the blood
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Strengthen our immune system
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Give us more energy and motivation
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Brings about a sense of happiness and balance
7 Ways to Detox
1. Drink x2 vegetable juices a day
This will fill the body full of nutrients and help cleanse your digestive system from any excess build up (mucous, congestion, fermentation etc..) plus it will energise you! A great combination is: x2 celery sticks, 1/2 cucumber, x1 carrot and 1/4 piece of beetroot plus add 1/3 cup of water to dilute it slightly as this helps with better absorption.
2. Take Chlorella & Spirulina supplements
Spirulina is nourishing and purifies the blood. Chlorella binds to toxins and heavy metals, both of which are vital in detoxing. These super foods come in tablet form which can be bought in any good health store or at the Healthy Eating Australia online store.
3. Take a week off from dead foods
Dead foods are those which are not alive in any way what so ever. This includes: meat, dairy, refined sugar and refined bread and pasta. These foods can create havoc on the body if eaten in excess and also help in gaining weight. By taking a week off from these foods you will notice dramatic changes in your energy and vitality.
4. Eat an abundance of fresh Vegetables!
Your body is organic and natural therefore for it to survive and perform the most basic of tasks it needs alive foods that contain vitamins and minerals which you get from vegetables.
According to the NHMRC each year 40% of all deaths can be attributed to disease of the circulatory system and 27% to cancer costing $4 billion and $2 billion in health care costs!
Scientific surveys have also be done around the world which have consistently proven that people who regularly eat vegetables (inc. fruit and legumes) have substantially lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, several major cancers, possibly hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cataracts, and macular degeneration of the eyes.
5. Eat wholegrains & lentils
Grains and lentils are the main fuel for our bodies and are a great source of complex carbohydrates which break down slowly and provide sustained energy which keeps us full for longer. They are a great source of fiber and also contain many vitamins and minerals.
When it comes to grains gluten free is the way to go as gluten can tend to "clog" up the intestinal track and cause all kinds of digestive upsets. For a list of gluten and non gluten alternatives click here
6. Drink plenty of filtered water (2-3L)
Our body is 70% water. Every organ in the body depends on it, its where most of the chemical reacts occur (ie. breaking down food into smaller particles) and without it we would die. It's actually more important than food as without it food cannot be digested! Water suppresses the appetite naturally, helps the body metabolize stored fat and helps cleanse the body from built up waste and toxins. Drinking 2 to 3 litres every day is very important.
7. Be kind to yourself
Beginning a detox can be difficult which is why doing it gently is ideal. You may experience cravings, pallet changes and even mental issues may come up such as feeling lowly and unmotivated. This is all natural and it doesn't last long... definitely worth going through as afterwards you will feel much healthier, motivated, energised, awake and happier!
Ideas of what to eat when on Detox
Breakfast:
1 cup of soaked muesli with 1-2 serves of diced fruit
Fruit Salad (melons, banana, berries, apple etc...)
Green Smoothie (spinach, green apple, banana, psyllium husk and water)
Morning Tea:
Vegetable Juice
Lunch:
Gluten free wrap with falafel, hommus and salad
Salad with beans or lentils
Stir fry vegetables with quinoa
Afternoon Tea:
Vegetable Juice
Dinner:
Roast Vegetables with a small piece of salmon (roasted in olive oil & spices)
Stir Fry vegetables with rice and tofu (stir fried with vegetable seasoning)
Warm Salad with chickpeas (lemon, black pepper & olive oil as dressing)
Drinks in between:
Lots of filtered water (2.5 to 3 litres)
Herbal teas
Questions & Answers
Question:
I have a question about the raw spinich that gives off oxalic acid, I didn't know about oxalic acid, so this means that bady spincih in a salad wouldnt be so good for you, and the cooking of it would decrease all the goodies in it, so is there a way of having it raw without it binding the calcium?
Answer:
Raw spinach does have oxalic acid which can prevent some of the calcium in your body to be absorbed, however eating it in moderation is fine. Spinach has many qualities which outweigh the negative. There are hundreds of food items that do worse than this to the body. Something you can do is wilt it slightly such as letting it sit in the sun (if your a raw foodie) or slightly steam, which will reduce the oxalic acid content.
If you have a question you would like answered in the next newsletter please email: louise@healthyeatingaustralia.com.au
www.healthyeatingaustralia.com
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