Fitness Friday:  Do you detox?

I recently read an article about a woman who had cancer and used a detox diet, along with whole foods and exercise to beat her illness ... twice.

Polly Noble won her battles, and she now hosts a website and blog, where she writes about ways to go on a healthy diet.

First things first - detox your body.

I admit, I have done detoxes in the past. While often very strict, I found I had more energy and felt healthier afterward. I also felt more committed to eating healthy food.

Right now, I am feeling very guilty writing to you all about doing a detox, because I know I am having pizza for dinner. But, even in a world where pizza is as much a necessity as toilet paper, the average person can do a detox.

It's just a matter of deciding to do it and carrying it out. A great time to detox would be before or after the holidays - which, if you didn't know, are right around the corner.

The before-holiday detox could mean less splurging on high fat foods - but you better get on it, since most detoxes last a week or more.

The after-holiday detox is my plan. After the holidays, I often feel guilty and bloated. It's the perfect time to get back to basics and prepare your body to shed those pounds in January.

Here are a few tips on creating your own detox program. First cut out all the over-processed foods in your life - this does include pizza, and cheeseburgers and hot dogs and fruitcake. Try to eat whole, natural foods. The more raw food, the better.

1 - The No. 1 rule of detox is to drink lots of water. Water helps flush out all the crud and keeps you hydrated so your body's metabolism can keep going.

2 - Start a juicing routine. I personally have a juicer that I rarely use. Instead I opt for a basic blender to make smoothies each morning. But, if you have one of those fancy, high-powered juicers or Vitamix machines, pull it out and wipe off the dust because it's time to juice.

Polly says to go green because adding more greens to your diet, whether eating or juicing them, will help to alkalise your body, send much needed nutrients to your cells for cleansing, repair and regeneration, and not to mention replenish those all important red blood cells.

3 - Use more herbs. Detox diets often offer simple recipes in an effort to keep fats out of our diet. To spice up those meals, add a variety of herbs. Try coriander, rosemary, thyme or oregano. I swear by oregano because it also helps boost the immune system. Polly suggests watercress or parsley because they help cleanse the liver.

4 - Exercise. During your detox, it is important to walk or exercise every day. And, I am not talking about walking to your mailbox to check for Aunt Clara's fruitcake; I am talking about an aerobic walk - make it at least a mile.

5 - Practice deep breathing. Polly says according to the ‘Tao of Breathing’ up to 70 percent of our body’s waste products are eliminated via our lungs and the rest through the urine, skin and feces. So when we shallow breathe, less oxygen is available to our cells which slows down the flow of blood carrying waste from the kidneys and lungs.

6 - Add more fiber. I recently purchased a blend of flax and Chia seeds, which I add into our morning smoothies to give the family a hit of fiber. Chia seeds are the new lovechild of the whole-foods industry because they keep people feeling full longer, balance blood sugar, add healthy omega-3s, keep you feeling energized and they can be added to so many recipes without anyone being the wiser. Also, if soaked, they turn into a gel that can be made into some delicious pudding treats.

Recipe Alert!

Chia pudding with fruit

You Will Need:

1/2 cup cashews

1 cup water

3/4 cup berries, such as raspberries, strawberries or blueberries (fresh or frozen are both fine)

3 tablespoons of honey (or agave nectar)

1 tablespoon raw cacao powder

1 vanilla bean (or 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract)

4 tablespoons of chia seeds (Reserve - do not put them in the blender!! Add at end)

Instructions:

1. Throw everything in the blender EXCEPT THE CHIA SEEDS!

2. Blend in a high-speed blender 'til very very well blended. You can't really overblend this, so feel free to go nuts.

3. Place the chia seeds in a large bowl. Slowly pour the blender concoction over the chia seeds, and stir very well.

4. Stir - Probably take the bowl with you in front of the TV and stir for 10 minutes or so. The purpose of all this stirring is to help the chia seeds declump and plump up. Remember, the chia seeds are like tapioca and they will expand in size. Try not to eat too much of the pudding now. Just take a few tiny spoonfulls and that's it!! Don't eat the whole bowl in front of the TV because it gets even better once it's been refrigerated for an hour or two!

5. Refrigerate - Once everything is nicely stirred and there are no clumps, cover and refrigerate for an hour or two. The purpose of doing this is to let the chia seeds plump up over time. You could probably let this chia seed fruit pudding sit on the counter for the same amount of time rather than refrigerate it.

Source: The Rawtarian

There are tons of other tips and meal plans out there for a detox diet, so find the one that works best for you!

Because of the holiday next week, Fitness Friday will return Friday, Nov. 30. Thanks and happy eating!