Detox - Weekly Wellness Challenge

One of the most rewarding healthy lifestyle / wellness exercises is a decent detox. It's like a reboot for your body and mind and improves energy levels, sleep, mood and memory. It can help chronic conditions including headaches, joint pain, brain fog, sinus, allergies, and skin problems, such as acne or eczema, subside or disappear altogether. The 'feel good' feeling that you get from a detox is well worth the effort and it is a great way to lose a few pounds if that may be necessary. During this time you will also have the perfect opportunity to evaluate the choices you make on a daily basis and examine your beliefs and what truly motivates you. The good news is that a detox doesn't have to be torture, we simply remove the bad stuff and replace it with good stuff and the good stuff can be enjoyed in unlimited quantities, so you don't have to go hungry or be craving all the time. Besides the numerous health benefits, a detox will leave you feeling revitalized, energetic, more positive, and asking the question: Why don't I do this all the time?

For this week's Wellness Challenge we are giving our liver and kidneys a break by reducing our consumption of toxins that they have to deal with and eating foods that naturally cleanse and detoxify the body. Ideally, try to do your detox for 10 days (or longer), but we suggest a minimum of three days. Here's a tip: Just take it one day at a time and focus on the benefits.

What to avoid:

- Sugar and any foods that form sugar, as well as artificial sweeteners.

- All products made from flour.

- Hydrogenated or trans fats.

- MSG, artificial flavorants and colorants. Basically, processed foods from a box or can.

- Alcohol

- Caffeine

- Drugs

- Salt

What to eat or drink:

Fresh and raw, whole, juiced or in smoothies.

- Apples

- Avocados

- Beets

- Blueberries

- Cabbage, Kale

- Celery and Celery Seeds

- Cranberries

- Flaxseeds / Flaxseed Oil

- Garlic

- Grapefruit

- Legumes

- Lemons

- Seaweed

- All fruit and vegetables (Veggies can be steamed)

- Nuts and seeds (For healthy fats)

- Beans