2 Days to Detox from Bibi Magazine by Jennifer

Have you ever had a feeling that you have consumed way more food than what your body can really use? During the winter months is when we tend to hibernate and eat more rich and savory foods in larger quantities. If this sounds familiar then maybe it is time for a short detox.

A detox is different things to different people. It can range from abstaining from all food and drink, which is commonly called fasting, to allowing juices and some solid foods, which is what I like to call a cleanse.

The practice of detoxing is nothing new. There is early evidence of Hippocrates (400 BC), the mythical Greek "Father of Medicine," prescribing fasting for patients with an oncoming disease, and a spare diet on other occasions. Buddha fasted while he was on his path to enlightenment, and to this day, most religions practice some sort of fasting usually in order to observe a holiday and to celebrate their spirituality.

Whether you are religious or not, detoxing has amazing health benefits for the body and for your head. I recently went away on a weeklong-guided detox, and not only did my body look and feel better, but I also gained mental clarity on some nagging issues that were in my life before the detox.

I am not suggesting for everyone to abstain from eating for a week, especially if you are busy working and living a stressful life like most of us do. However, even just limiting your food intake to fresh fruits and vegetables and their juices for only two days could work miracles for an overstressed body and soul.

If you are wondering what the payoff is for temporarily giving up your lattes and your french fries, then listen up. First, digesting food takes up to 10% of your energy expenditure on a given day. Wouldn't it be nice to utilize this extra energy for other things? Second, over the years your body has stored up a lot of extra junk, for lack of a better term. This junk can weigh us down energetically as well as on thescale.The junk is stored up in our intestinal track, often in the form of mucous, and is also stored in our lungs and sinuses as well. By giving the body a rest from digesting foods that do not serve us, we are letting our detoxifying organs, mainly the liver, kidneys, and lungs, to function more efficiently. We also give thelower intestine, or colon, a chance to empty out some of the previously mentioned junk.

The length of time one does a detox or cleanse, depends on the lifestyle of the individual. Part of the reason my weeklong detox was so successful was because of the peaceful environment I was in and the fact that I was participating in a program with tons of support from other participants. But for mostpeople, the easiest and safest length of time to cleanse would be two to three days.

The type of detox one chooses is also dependent on one's lifestyle and diet habits. For a "detox virgin," the best way to start is to keep it simple. Choose two or three days where you have some free time to dedicate to preparing your foods and for relaxing and reflecting. Next, stock your fridge with fresh vegetables and fruits. Choose ones you enjoy eating, but try to eat more vegetables than fruits to avoid spiking your blood sugar. You can eat the fruit or vegetables raw, or can juice them in a juicer or blender. Enjoy raw vegetables like carrots, broccoli, kale, cucumbers, celery, etc., as well as fruits that are low in sugar like bananas, apples and oranges. So, for the time that you are on your detox, avoid all other foods including refined carbohydrates like breads, pastas and noodles and all baked goods. You are also abstaining from dairy, sugar, caffeine, meat, and anything outside the realm of fresh fruits and vegetables. If you feel like you may need some additional sustenance, then consider adding some healthy fats to your detox like avocados and nuts and seeds like, almonds, walnuts,sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

One may experience some discomfort during the cleanse such as headaches, nausea or even slight skin irritations. This is most likely the body's way of getting the junk out. Certain emotional discomforts may surface as well and they could stem from addictions to certain foods or other issues where food has been used as a coping mechanism.

Once you have finished your cleanse, you will most likely have more energy than when you started. You may even shed a pound or two, but what you will definitely feel is a sense of accomplishment knowing that you did something healthy for yourself. Enjoy your new found vitality!

If you have any medical issues always seek the advice of a professional before starting your detox.

March issue of Marie Claire

"I'm not motivated to do things by myself, so I had a workout party with my boyfriend, some other friends, and personal trainer Jennifer Cassetta. She taught us martial arts moves - we even held up pads for each other to kick. It reminded me of how much I liked martial arts when I was younger. Toward the end, we were trying to keep up with her, and we were all dying, but we made it through! Then we had tea and chatted. I loved it. Plus, my boyfriend was ready to collapse at the end of it, and it made him realize how out-of-shape he is, so we're making a resolution to get healthy together. It's impossible to get someone to work out if they're not motivated to do it, but it's easy to invite someone to do something active with you."
- Kristine, 27, graphic designer

March Recipe: Creamy Broccoli Soup

Creamy Broccoli Soup (No Dairy)

6 cups of vegetable broth
2 medium potatoes, scrubbed, cubed
6 cups vegetable broth
2 medium potatoes, scrubbed and cubed
1 large head fresh broccoli, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons flour
salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried basil or curry powder (or more, to taste)

1. In a soup pot, bring broth and potatoes to a boil, then cover, reduce heat, and cook until potato is very tender, about 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a steamer basket over boiling water, steam broccoli until crisp-tender and bright green, about 5 minutes.
3. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat, add onion, and cook, stirring, until onion is golden and softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with flour, stirring until flour is slightly cooked. Remove a ladleful of broth from soup pot and add to flour-onion mixture, whisking until smooth and thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Remove potato and broth from heat, add broccoli and thickened flour-onion mixture, and dried basil or curry powder, and puree in batches in a blender or food processor until creamy.