Coming Clean: A Week of Whole Foods

Have the slower, colder winter months got you feeling sluggish…a little pudgy…as if there’s stuff that you need to clear out of your system? Are you needing some inspiration to stay with those New Year's Resolutions.  If so, you’ve come to the right place because after you follow this seven-day plan for eating nothing but nourishing, unprocessed whole foods your insides will do a dance of joy. Oh, yeah!
 
It’s extremely beneficial to periodically feed your body nothing but food in its natural state—in other words, food that it will immediately recognize and know how to break down without any additional effort. In the process, you’ll be releasing toxins, which can cause you to feel a little blah, but you’ll come out the other end cleaner and lighter than you went in. To help sweep toxins from your system, spend some time in the sauna or take a hot Epsom salt bath before bed. You’ll feel tired after you do this—plan to sleep like a baby!
 
Here are the guidelines to follow for this oh-so-gently detox, which involves staying away from several foods and sticking to a handful of healthy ones, instead. Ready?

• AVOID foods that contain, or were manufactured with anything related to a fungus, yeast, or mold, such as: cheese, vinegar, wine, beer, alcoholic drinks, MSG, mushrooms, pickled or smoked mealts, malted products, bread, fruit juices, and vitamins derived from yeast.
• AVOID foods to which you have known sensitivities or allergies.
• AVOID dairy (cow’s milk, cheese, and yogurt only).
• AVOID sugar and other simple refined carbohydrates, such as honey, corn syrup, sucrose, maltose, lactose, maple syrup, white flour, potato chips, and corn chips. Choose your carbs wisely by choosing those lowest in sugar and highest in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Eat one serving of carbohydrate with each meal but not more.

• EAT organic animal protein, beans, raw organic nuts, or nut butters or eggs with every meal.
• EAT water based (non-starchy) vegetables at every meal. Consume leafy greens such as kale, collards, chard, mustard greens, field greens, and fresh spinach daily.
• EAT fruit moderately. Wash well and/or peel before eating to remove mold. Apples, pears, and berries are best. In general fruit should be with other foods. Nuts and fruit are ideal and make a great snack food, but moderation is key.
• EAT the freshest food possible. Do not eat any leftovers that have been in the refrigerator longer than 24 hours.

• Specific foods to incorporate:
• Beverage: Almond milk, chamomile tea, sesame milk, soy milk
• Cereal: Amaranth porridge, barley flakes, buckwheat groats, corn cereal, corn grits, Cream of Rice, oat bran, oatmeal, puffed corn, puffed rice
• Dairy: Goat cheeses, goat yogurt, goat milk
• Fruit: Apple, blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, grapefruit, lemon, lime, papaya, strawberry
• Grain: Amaranth, barley, buckwheat, oat, rice, rye, spelt
• Legume: Alfalfa, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans, green beans, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, navy beans, peas, pinto beans, soybeans
• Nut: Almond, hazelnut, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds
• Organic Protein: Beef, chicken, cornish hen, duck, eggs, lamb, tofu, turkey, veal
• Seafood: All seafood is fair game!
• Vegetable: Asparagus, avocado (technically a fruit, but it’s low in sugar), broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collard greens, cucumber, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, okra, onion, parsley, peppers (bell and chili), radish, scallions, spinach, turnip, turnip greens, zucchini
• Starchy Vegetables: Artichoke, beet, jicama, parsnip, pumpkin, sweet potato, turnip, winter squash

 
Make sure you are drinking ample water throughout the day to continue flushing toxins from your system. If you want to continue this protocol beyond a week, you can for up to a month and see great results!  As always, make sure you are making time to move your body.  Walks are free and so is Pilates mat, so no excuses!
 
Author’s content used under license, © Sprouted Content, LLC