Have you been waiting for the holidays to fade before you start an "Old Year's Detox" or a New Year's Heath Plan? Now's the time to prepare! Here's my favorite. Alejandro Junger's Clean plan eliminates the foods we're most likely to have allergies or sensitivities to and provides a list of healthy foods to eat. In the 21 day plan, which I've done successfully, you have a healthy balanced smoothie for breakfast and dinner, a healthy lunch from the allowed foods list, and just enough snacks so you don't get hungry. I know what you're thinking and yes, you can have your meal for dinner on those days you can't avoid a dinner out.
Will it work for you? If you want increased energy it will. Many people do lose some weight on the plan, especially men, but it's not a weight loss plan. I like to call it an energy creating plan. You will feel the difference once your body eliminates the caffeine (that's right, no coffee but there are lots of alternatives) and other foods that your body does better without. Supplements and shakes are available though the Clean website or you can put together your own. There is also a 7 Day Plan and a Gut Cleanse plan. Each of these plans has a book available with details and recipes. The Clean book is highly recommended. Even if you don't do the cleanse it's a great resource. Once you start the plan the website has lots of links to recipes on other sites as well. It's not one of those diets where you have to stick to the book. You'll also learn what to substitute to make your own recipes clean, part of what makes it a lifelong health change for the better. This plan also has the best support site I've seen. You can log on to the Discussion Forum to see a myriad of recipes and questions and answers as fellow cleansers work their way though the 7 or 21 days. It's a very supportive group and sure to get you through the plan. I call it a diet for life because you will continue to integrate many of it's elements into your eating habits after the cleanse is over. For example I still replace my meals with the wonderful shake recipes on occasion, and I'm always conscious of the 12 hour overnight digestion period. Plus, you'll find yourself automatically making substitutions when you cook, making your meals healthier. When you start adding other foods back into your diet after the cleanse you'll learn what foods you are particularly sensitive to so you can avoid them in the future. If you're looking for a new way of eating for your new year this is it, a "diet" for life!
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This sugar free chocolate is made with raw organic cacao powder. No soy lecithin or sugar syrups in this recipe. It's healthy and satisfying. Keep it in the refrigerator. I have successfully taken a few pieces with me to work for a snack but it's not heat stable for long periods of time.
Ingredients 3 Tb. organic grass fed salted butter 3 Tb. organic coconut oil Liquid vanilla stevia 1 cup raw organic cacao powder Directions Melt the following in a warm pan, as if you're making a chocolate sauce: 3 tablespoon organic grass fed salted butter (use palm oil if avoiding butter) 3 tablespoons organic coconut oil Gradually add about 1/2 - 3/4 cup raw organic cacao powder. You may have to experiment with the amounts, add enough cacao until the mixture is thick enough to spread into a thin layer. The more cacao the darker the chocolate. Add 3-4 droppers of liquid vanilla stevia to taste. Spread the mixture onto a piece of aluminum foil in a thin layer. Optional add-ins: Sprinkle with crushed walnuts or other seeds or nuts, acai powder, chia seed, desiccated coconut or even dried wheat grass greens. You can make this a super antioxidant treat! Sometimes I sprinkle a touch of xylitol over the top to make it a touch sweeter and give it some crunch. Place your sheet of chocolate in the freezer for about 20 minutes. After the chocolate has hardened you can break it into pieces and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy a few pieces as a healthy pick me up with some afternoon coffee or tea! |
Healthy Food
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