Detox Story

IMPROVING health

72 | www.naturalmedicine.co.za I S S U E 8 1 M A R C H 2 0 1 2

A DETOX JOURNEYMaking a fresh start

SIRI LINN BRANDSØY is a writer and freelance journalist

who travels between Norway and South

Africa. She holds a BA in social anthropology, and it was through her major subject, medical anthropology, that she

became interested in various cultural percep-tions of body and health and the connection be-tween body and mind.

With a growing curiosity about healthy living and eating, she writes about

becoming more aware of her mindful body.

I’m standing in the check-out queue, semi-confi dently clutching a prebiotic yoghurt and rye bread, when I realise that less than fi ve minutes into my maiden detox I’m already at the fi rst hurdle. Surrounded by strategically placed shelves of chocolate and jelly beans, it seems impossible to follow the rule of ‘no sweets and additives’. More than ever I’m craving sugar.

‘During the fi rst detox I tried, I was hungry periodically, felt restricted, and

experienced cravings for the food I was told to exclude,’ confesses my detox guide Johanna Jonsson.

‘Cravings can be caused by a number of factors such as stress, fl uctuating blood sugar levels or nutritional defi ciency. But experiencing cravings is also a sign that the body is most defi nitely going to benefi t from a detox. The trick is to address the underlying factors and replenish with better nutrition that will keep you satisfi ed.’

Jonsson, a yoga teacher and complementary therapist, knows what she’s talking about. She

holds a diploma in Ayurvedic nutrition and has tailored her own detox programme called ‘The True You Cleanse’.

‘Drastic fad diets are not nutritious enough and will only send your body’s natural metabolism into a yo-yo rhythm. They give you unrealistic expectations and can lead to an unhealthy obsession with what you eat. Unfortunately there are many people, women especially, who have complex relationships with food,’ explains Jonsson.

NOT A QUICK-FIXA common misunderstanding is that a detox is a rapid weight loss diet. However, although detoxing can help you attain the shape

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www.naturalmedicine.co.za I S S U E 8 1 M A R C H 2 0 1 2 | 73

DETOX

Making a fresh start


IMPROVING health


RECIP

E 1 CREAMY & SPICY BUTTERNUT SOUP

(serves 4, takes 25 - 30 minutes)

1 large onion1 tbsp olive oil1 - 2 garlic cloves1 tsp (or more) medium curry powder 1 medium-sized butternut, peeled and chopped into cubes (fi ll a 1-litre jug with cubes)1.5 litres MSG-free vegetable stock, available at health food stores (boiled water + stock, follow instructions on pack)1 small orange! tsp nutmeg or cinnamon, or bothSalt and pepper to tasteOptional: 1 small apple

Finely chop the onion, and fry it in a little olive oil. When soft add the curry powder. Fry a little more. Add the cubed butternut and vegetable stock, the juice of the orange, and maybe some zest. Grate in an apple if you like it fruity. Add nutmeg and/or cinnamon, salt and pepper. Cook till soft – about 15 minutes – then adjust seasoning and blend until smooth. You can serve it with plain low-fat yoghurt and garnish it with chopped coriander leaves. It keeps nicely in the fridge for a day or two, as the fl avours settle with time.

you desire over time, it is not a starvation programme and should not be done as a quick-fi x. ‘Your focus should always be on what you can eat as opposed to what you can’t eat,’ stresses Jonsson.

Following her advice, I give my kitchen a healthy makeover, fi lling it with fruits, wheat-free muesli, green tea, buckwheat, vegetables, hummus, brown basmati rice and goji berries. I start drinking two litres of water a day and chomp celery, which I hate, because it’s supposed to be calming and to clear uric acid from the body. I also make an effort to stress down and go to bed early.

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DETOX

SLOWING DOWN‘It’s important to relax when you detox, as your body might fi ght back with cravings and resist the process of letting go if you’re stressed. If you change your routines, focus on yoga, meditation, nurturing dinners, calming music and comforting friends, detoxing becomes a lot easier,’ Jonsson says encouragingly.

In the beginning it is very diffi cult to break away from my routines of late nights and eating whatever seems convenient. I feel more stressed than ever. But as I slowly adapt, my sleep improves and I wake up in the morning without my alarm: a big step for a former snoozing champion.

‘At night the body slows down, meaning that the metabolism works slower. A normal evening dinner, with a combination of starches and protein, is an overload for our digestive system. By eating light at night, your sleep will be less disturbed and you will wake up feeling refreshed as your body doesn’t have to be working when it needs to rest,’ says Jonsson.

LIQUIDS ONLYHalf way through the detox I begin to receive compliments from friends telling me that my skin is glowing. This might sound like a cliché, but it makes me feel great about eating healthily. However, the glow loses its glow as I enter the liquids-only period and my stomach screams for substance.

‘The liquid period is important because it gives the digestive system a break. If it seems challenging at fi rst, start with one day of liquid food only and see how it feels. One of the main issues is the feeling of missing out on meals, but plenty of nourishing fl uids such as fresh juice, soup and smoothies should keep you fi lled up.’

I learn the art of soup making, starting off with Jonsson’s Creamy & Spicy Butternut Soup (see recipe).

Available from practitioners, leading health stores nationwide, or directly from Natural Vibrance +27 (0)21 852 3021

[email protected] | www.naturalvibrance.co.za

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by a competent health care professional. You should not use this information in diagnosing or treating a health problem. No claim or opinion is intended to be, nor should be construed to be, medical advice. If you are taking any drugs (prescribed or not), or have a medical

condition, please consult a physician or health care professional, who is aware of herb/drug interactions before taking any herbal or natural supplements.

Vibrant Health uses 100% certified organic ingredients whenever possible with whole food concentrates for maximum absorbability and efficacy.

WITH THE MASTER CLEANSE

100% ORGANIC

“LEMONADE DIET”

DETOX & WEIGHT LOSS

A LIQUID FAST THAT DETOXES THE BODY OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS AND METABOLIC WASTE, LEAVING YOU FEELING REVITALISED AND ENERGISED

Toxins build up and become embedded in our tissues and organs, causing weight gain,

illnesses, sluggishness and fatigue - all due to ever increasing industrial and environmental

pollutants, chemicals from modern medicines, additives and chemicals in our foods and heavy

metal toxicity. The accumulation of these toxins may cause metabolic stress - and affect the parathyroid,thyroid, pancreas and adrenal glands, potentially

resulting in Cancer†.

BENEFITS INCLUDE:��'HHS�GHWR[LQJ�RI�DOO�ERGLO\�FHOOV��RUJDQV��&OHDQVLQJ�RI�XULQDU\�WUDFW�DQG�ERZHOV��,QFUHDVHG�HQHUJ\�DQG�SURGXFWLYLW\��:HLJKW�ORVV��H[FHVV�ERG\�IDW�DQG�ZHLJKW� ��,QFUHDVHG�PHWDEROLVP��%UDLQ�FODULW\�DQG�UHYLWDOLVDWLRQ��)UHVKHU�EUHDWK�DQG�SHUVSLUDWLRQ��&OHDUHU��PRUH�JORZLQJ�VNLQ�DQG�H\HV��%DODQFLQJ�RI�FKROHVWHURO†��FOHDQLQJ�RI� arteries†

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IMPROVING health

1. No more processed fast food – enjoy wholesome, natural home-cooked meals.

2. Give your fridge a healthy makeover. Fill it with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Think seasonal and local – the fresher, the better for your body.

3. Add garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper to your meals. They are great detoxifiers.

4. Enjoy big hearty salads with your favourite dressing. Make a simple, tasty ’detox dressing’ with olive

oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, garlic and some chopped fresh herbs.

5. Eat omega-3-rich foods such as avocado and oily fish. They lower bad cholesterol, improve blood

circulation, and are very good mood boosters as well.

6. Start the day with freshly squeezed lemon juice in warm water, and drink lots of liquid such as purified

water, green tea, and carrot, celery and apple juice throughout the day.

7. Make sure you fill up with delicious smoothies and hearty soups during the liquids-only period.

8. Take time out to rest and recover. Go to bed early, preferably by 10. Detach yourself from technology

whenever possible – rather take soothing baths, read a good book, or find your own way of meditating (you

don’t need to sit cross-legged or attend a class). Try journal writing, yoga, a walk at the beach or gardening, and

spend time outdoors. The point is to make more time for yourself and the things you enjoy (as long as they

don’t involve late nights and alcohol!).

9. Ease into eating more substantial food as you approach the end of your detox. Think soft, cooked

food to gently awaken your digestion: mushroom risotto, brown rice and lentils, or roasted sweet potatoes with

steamed broccoli and quinoa.

10. Repeat the detox with each change of season. In Ayurveda a purification period is recommended with

every season to clear out the past, renew the body and feel fresh and revitalised for the new season. Change

of season is usually the time of infections, and a detox is believed to strengthen your immune system.

10 STEPS TO D

ETOX



DETOX

THE PERFECT OXYMORON: DETOX TRUFFLES

1 cup dates 1 cup almonds1 tbsp ground fl ax seed powder1 tbsp carob powder or raw chocolate powder! tsp cayenne pepper/cinnamon/ground ginger (or a mixture of all)Sesame seeds, desiccated coconut or chocolate powder for dusting

TIP – make a few different kinds of fl avours/dustings in the same batch for that ‘chocolate box’ treat feeling!

Soak the dates and almonds overnight. Place all the ingredients except the sesame seeds and coconut in a food processor and blend to make a creamy paste (leave a few pieces unground if you prefer a chunkier texture). Shape into walnut-sized truffl e balls (wetting your hand with cold water makes this easier) and roll them in your dusting of choice. Chill before serving.

RECIPE 2

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IMPROVING health


A STEPPING STONEWhat works best is to detox thoroughly four times a year and eat a normal, balanced diet in between, advises Jonsson. ‘It’s like giving your car a service, or spring cleaning your house. Do it properly and with good maintenance you can enjoy the benefits for long after.’

Detoxing and cleansing have been practised by humankind for thousands of years. The Native Americans used herbs and sweat lodges to purify themselves, while the Himalayan yogis’ method, Shatkarma, is a combination of exercises and vegetarian diet. However, detoxing as a mainstream health concept is more recent.

In traditional Hatha yoga it is believed that a healthy body is the first stepping stone toward higher spiritual awareness. In the modern

THE TRUE YOU CLEANSE Jonsson’s True You Cleanse is a tailor-made detox that takes your personal circumstances, physical ailments and body type into account. Though there’s a list of food to exclude, Jonsson believes that a detox should be about what you can eat, rather than what you can’t. There is plenty of hearty and tasty food to put on your menu, and with the help of a knowledgeable detox therapist it doesn’t have to be boring or restricting.

The duration of the detox varies from 3 to 21 days, depending on your constitution and individual cleansing requirements. The liquid period lasts between 1 and 3 days and will be adjusted according to your body type and specific needs.

Exclude::red meat, wheat, full-cream dairy, hard and cream cheese, processed peanut butter (look for healthier versions without added sugar and oil), butter/margarine, sugar/syrup, alcohol, sweets, chocolate, coffee, artificial additives, hydrogenated oils, preservatives and monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Include::: free-range chicken, turkey, fish, tofu, rye, rice, spelt, sprouted bread, soy or rice milk, ricotta and cottage cheese, plain probiotic yoghurt, almond and cashew nut butter, tahini, coconut oil, olive oil, agave nectar, raw honey, raw nuts, goji berries, dried fruit, freshly squeezed juice, green and ginger tea, dandelion coffee, tulsi tea and other herbal teas.

age our focus is on longevity, beauty and fitness – we are looking for physical benefits rather than deeper meanings. However, a detox can still function as a counterbalance to the stressful and unhealthy features of our modern lifestyles.

For me personally, even though it’s been hard to overcome hankerings and old habits, detoxing has been a stepping stone towards mindfulness – not only what to eat and how to take care of my health, but also to enjoy life when I really deserve it.

‘When you are not detoxing, a glass of good wine in good company or a square of high-quality dark chocolate is not bad for your health. Enjoy anything in moderation, and feel good about life,’ are Jonsson’s final words of advice.

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Detox Story

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