GETTING JUICY TO DETOX FAST
Usually, it’s Spring that brings a good and healthy detox to mind. But there’s a great benefit to detoxing more than once a year, so why not add Fall to your cleanse schedule?
There’s nothing like the contemplative nature of Fall to bring on anticipation of days ahead. It’s a great time to take a step back, slow down the pace from your hectic summer, and get ready to head into the closing months of the year with planning and purpose.
Consider incorporating a detox as part of that plan.
And, here’s why … periodic detoxes are good for all of us. Additionally, for those of us with fibromyalgia and/or autoimmune health challenges, we are super-sensitive to toxins in our environment and toxins in our foods. It’s helpful to purge your body from these toxins through periodic cleanses. If you’d like a refresher on how a sensitive fibromyalgia (and autoimmune) body reacts to the toxins in our environment, check out my often re-posted and shared – Tuning Fork Analogy.
Seasonal cleanses are a good idea….
Detoxification is a great way
to clear away the clutter (internally) and get a fresh start.
Let’s talk about how to detox. When it comes to dining, do you feel it’s not a meal unless a fork and knife are involved? You may wish to reconsider. In fact, the FASTEST way to absorb and assimilate vital nutrients into the body is through juicing. Juicing provides an abundance of concentrated nutrients that can be consumed and bio-available to turn into energy right away.



This “pure” source of nutrients provides the body with the fuel it needs to detoxify. Being alkaline in nature, raw veggie juice helps to rid the body of the acidic wastes left from consuming the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.). While there are many ways to detox, juicing provides colossal whole body benefits. The benefits are too numerous to mention, but just a few include; improved digestion, power-packed antioxidants, a stronger immune system, clearer skin, reduced allergies, clearer thinking, better sleep, more energy, etc. All good … right? Right!
Juicing takes basic ingredients like leafy greens, seasonal veggies, and sometimes low glycemic fruits, and extracts just the juice. My favorite tasty variety uses celery, cucumbers, kale, and whatever else I have on hand. For me, no two “meals” are alike. Notice that these ingredients are familiar to most people and readily available at your local market — nothing zany or whoo-hoo.
But, of course, zany can be good, too. Add a “nub” of ginger (but be forewarned – a little bit goes a loooong way!). Add cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg, cilantro, parsley, mint or other favorite flavors. Add raw coconut for amazing health benefits all ’round. While juicing may feel like a Summer item, consider adding seeds (ground flax, chia, hemp, etc.) and coconut oil for a bit of “warmth” for the Fall.
Because juicing does take a bit of preparation (not to mention equipment), check out this All About Juicing website for more details. Click on Juicing Help, then Juicing for Ailments and scroll down to Fibromyalgia. You can even sign up for a free download of several yummy recipes and review recommendations on juicers.
If you don’t feel like (or don’t have the equipment) to make raw juice on your own, go ahead and grab one at your local health food store. Even once or twice a week can provide amazing benefits. Be very careful to ask about ingredients. Even better – purchase from a store where you see the juice made in front of you. Mass market “juice” shops like Jamba Juice may look healthy, but most of their offerings are nothing more than copious amounts of sugar in a to-go cup. I’ve noted that some of their “juices” that kids drink as a snack contain more sugar and calories than I’d have in a full day.
Remember that the juicing recommended here for detox purposes is all about the veggies.
Veggies are the main feature with fruits being the cartoon short that sometimes runs alongside.
There will be additional posts in the near future about juicing AND blending (smoothies), so stay tuned for more info.
Got a favorite juice recipe? Do share!
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I am a huge fan of juicing and of juice detox/fasts. Doing a 1 week juice fast is what really started my turn-around with regards to my Fibromyalgia symptoms. I followed that up with slowly adding foods back in and figured out that I there are some things that make me feel worse. I still juice ever day and every once in a while will throw in a 1 or 3 day juice fast.