Midsummer Detox - How to successfully complete a mini cleanse

Do you ever get to a point where you actually start to crave healthy food instead of "bad" food?  This is where Makoto and I found ourselves this weekend.


We have been very happily indulging in summer BBQs, amazing local summer fruit pies, pitchers of sangrias, mini kegs of beer (how can you resist that mini keg of Heineken at LCBO?!?!) and endless wine and cheese summer parties.  We've also been slacking on going to the gym as we somehow convinced ourselves that walking and sweating back and forth to work in the sweltering heat counts as a workout.  So we decided that it's time for a much needed week long mini detox.


Detox doesn't have to be complicated.  Just think of it as a rest for your digestive tract and resetting your system.  Makoto opted for his favorite Thorne MediClear Detox using a whole foods and brown rice diet.  I decided to go on a detox heavy on fruits and vegetables with juicing as it's backbone.  Both of us are going vegan this week and also keeping away from common allergens (dairy, wheat, corn and eggs), caffeine and alcohol (whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!).


Here are some of our must-haves and tips to get us through our mini-detox:




1.  Prep - plan out roughly what you will eat for the week and make sure to buy everything you need.  The key to a successful detox, no matter what the length, is to have everything ready so that you don't get tempted to veer off path.   Roast a huge casserole dish of veggies with olive oil, chop up veggies for snacks, wash berries and freeze them for smoothies, toast nuts to sprinkle on your salads.


2. Mum's 100% Organic Hemp Protein Powder - this is the absolute most DELICIOUS protein powder...EVER. It has 6.5g of protein per Tbsp and blends perfectly into smoothies...promise!! It also doesn't give you 'sweaters' on your teeth like many other protein powders do. When detoxing, it's important to make sure to stabilize your glucose levels to prevent hypoglycemia symptoms like headaches and nausea....protein will help to do this.


3.  Super Duper Smoothies - These will save you.  My staples in the smoothies include coconut milk, frozen fruit (mangoes, bananas and blueberries are my fave), 100% pomegranate juice, 2 Tbsp of Mum's Hemp Protein and a heaping tsp of extra virgin olive oil or NutraSea fish oil.  It's not uncommon to have 4-5 mason jars of these smoothies littered in my office everyday of the detox.


4.  Fruit and Veggie Wash - Juicing uses a load of veggies so it can get super exensive to buy organic veggies only.  Enter my trusted Fruit and Veggie wash (you can buy them at any health food store).  They are made with natural surfactants and help to dissolve pesticides and other chemicals sprayed onto produce.  Make sure to wash all fruits and veggies (including organic) thoroughly whether you are detoxing or not!!


5.  Keep things low key for the week - try not to plan any major social events (although we are going out to our fave detox friendly restaurant with friends this week, Fresh Restaurant).  Plan to catch up on sleep, rent that movie you've been dying to see, go for a massage, have a wicked workout and steam and do whatever it takes to ground yourself again.


Mini detoxes like these are cleansing for both the body and the soul!