Spring Cleaning Without "Flu-Like Symptoms"

Our environments have steadily become more polluted. From fire retardants found in breast milk to parabens found in the middle of cancer tumors. Pesticides, chemicals, metals, transmissions from aliens, antibiotics- you name it. Consequently, it's become more and more important to support our natural detoxification system.

I've recently started drinking kefir water spritzers. Like milk kefir, only not, it's a slightly fermented drink that has probiotics and encourages my body to detoxify itself. If made with orange juice, it can resemble a mimosa. Perfect!! However, my daily shot of kefir water started giving me headaches.

In the past, I avoided semi-annual cleansing regimens because they didn't seem very pleasant. Kefir water attracted me because it resembled hard apple cider or mimosas. And, I could grow them in my refrigerator like sea monkeys. The headaches though, were bumming me out. I decided to do some research.

Very sensibly, nature gave our bodies an amazing detoxification system; a two stage process of cleaning then disposing of the bad stuff. It's not enough to clean out the refrigerator, you need to take the science experiment leftovers outside or they will smell the place up. The headaches, fatigue, congestion, rashes and irritability happen because SOMEBODY is too BUSY to take the garbage out (I won't name names, but it rhymes with "not me"). That's why people can get very, VERY sick when they detoxify fast and intense. Good nutrition eliminates your detox hangover by rousting, bribing, and lending a hand to your tv watching garbage taker-outer.

Here are some key nutrients to support you spring detoxification or daily dose of kefir mimosas.

Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, Selenium, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folic acid, Cysteine,Vitamin C, L-glutamine, aspartic acid, Fe, SAMe, methionine, betain, Acetyl-Co-A. You can also load up on broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts and kale. 

I get most of these nutrients from a raw food breakfast berry powder mixed with almond milk and chia seeds. It's quick, tastes pretty decent for a breakfast shake and keeps me energized for the day. Best of all, no detox hangover.

Resources

http://www.scribd.com/doc/21508289/Detoxification-Nutritional-Support

Paul Chamberlain

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia

Researching chia seeds, you find a variety of “amazing” and controversial information; can you say Chia Pets? Before Chia Scooby-Doo, for 5500+ years, Central Americans claimed chia seeds promoted wellness and energy. Cool! In the last few years, researchers have agreed.  Generally speaking, chia seeds counteract symptoms of the American diet: insulin resistance, high blood pressure, low energy, fatty liver, spare tires, irregular digestion, brain fog, systemic inflammation, calcium uptake, dehydration and heart and liver damage.  

I’ve eaten chia seeds on and off for a few years. Because I like simplicity, I substitute chia seeds for breakfast cereal. When I do, I stay alert and focused all day,  wake up energized, stay hydrated, have even digestion, lose weight and recover faster from exercise (or lack thereof). Overall, my body feels good and I’m mellow. So why don’t I eat them all the time? Like everyone, I succumb to holidays, remember bad habits and forget how alive I can really feel. Pleasantly, unlike medication, chia seeds don’t need special care and I can start eating them again anytime. They last up to two years on the counter top (a good thing in my house) because they’re high in anti-oxidants, preventing spoilage.

Without prep work, chia seeds absorb liquid, gel slightly and resemble tapioca pudding. I whisk in almond milk and they magically transform into pudding while I shower. With a light, nutty flavor, they’re good in liquids, cereals, pasta, smoothies, baked goods or straight. They add creaminess and intensify flavors making food seem richer and more delicious without adding many calories. In strenuous times, it’s said Mayans lived off of a handful a day- they called it Runners Seed. High in protein, anti-oxidants, trace minerals and omega 3-s (they preferably replace my fish oil supplement)- I see why.

Blueberry Chia Pudding
1 part Chia Seed (black or white, whole or split)
2 parts Almond, Soy or Regular Milk
Vanilla to Taste
Stevia or honey to Taste
Frozen Blueberries

Pour chia seed into a bowl and add the milk. Whisk together. Let it sit for 5 minutes and whisk again. Let it sit from 15 minutes to an hour (depending on how creamy you like it). Add vanilla, sweetener and frozen blueberries. If you prefer a smoothie, after the chia seed has soaked to your preferred consistency, blend as you would a regular smoothie.

"Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry;" Lipid redistribution by α-linolenic acid-rich chia seed inhibits stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 and induces cardiac and hepatic protection in diet-induced obese rats; Poudyal et al.; 2011

All that is transitory is but a metaphor

― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

During Christmas and New Years, our priorities shift closer to family, friends, compassion and other emotion-centered ideals. We believe peace on earth, goodwill towards all comes from donating our time, energy and finances, to stressful proportions. Therapists know all this goodwill creates truckloads of anxiety and depression.

Simultaneously, retail marketing peaks. 11 months of the year, we worry about paying bills; in December, shopping rules. Irregardless of religious beliefs, most everyone joins the retail spirit of Christmas. As our government reminds us, our economy depends less on hard facts and more on our collective state of mind.

Our state of mind influences other hard realities too. The fringe science of the sixth sense validates ancient beliefs that emotions directly influence reality. In fact, 25 years of double-blind, published studies hint of the power of shared beliefs. From group meditations affecting crime rates to strong emotions influencing random number generators. Curiously, our advanced world believes collective conscious belongs to new age hippies and uncivilized cultures. In today's educated societies, life revolves around the victim/conqueror mentality. 

I'd like to introduce a different thought; our beliefs and state of mind influence the world while the world influences our beliefs and state of mind. "All that is transitory is but a metaphor" describes how reality reflects both ME and WE. 

All life, good, bad and indifferent, as a metaphor for our personal and collective reality. At this point, spiritual leaders warn, "Be careful, your thoughts create your reality", encouraging people to fight their ego or struggle against angry or negative thoughts. Let's reflect though; powering through uncomfortable thoughts rarely changes our reality, just as thinking peaceful words rarely creates a peaceful life. Outer peace comes by appreciating and finding peace within anger, sadness, judgementalism, hypocrisy, vulnerability- all necessary and unavoidable parts of life. From the seeds of our imperfect humanity, come close relationships, good health, comfortable circumstances and peace on earth.