Why rotate your greens everyday? Day 2_Detox

I woke up really hungry, no points for guessing why. I immediately headed to the kitchen and drank two big 10-ounce glasses of warm water with lemon. 

30 minutes after I drank a cup of green tea.

For my greens I decided to go with kale today as I had had quite a bit of spinach yesterday. It is important to rotate your greens. All most all green leafy vegetables have a small amount of acid/alkaloid in it.

Has anyone ever cautioned you against eating too much spinach as it might lead to kidney stones. Well, the truth is spinach and many other leafy greens like kale, chard, parsley, collards and beet greens contain oxalic acid (also referred as oxalates).

"Oxalic acid is a naturally occurring chemical in plants and animals and is also consumed in a variety of different foods such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, most berries, certain fruits, soy and soy products, meat and dairy products. In large amounts, oxalic acid is poisonous, but toxic levels are not found in foods that we normally eat. The main controversy surrounding oxalic acid in food is whether or not they contribute to the formation of kidney stones. 

 There are a few rare medical conditions such as Primary Hyperoxaluria and Enteric Hyperoxaluria where one would need to restrict their dietary intake of oxalic acid. Also, those who are susceptible and have been treated for calcium-oxalate kidney stones, and therefore at risk of forming them again, should watch their intake of oxalate-containing foods. Otherwise, oxalic acid is not believed to be a health concern for most people. The nutritional benefits of eating oxalate-containing foods such as spinach outweigh the minute risk of forming kidney stones".

Our bodies are capable of easily detoxifying small amounts of a great many things, but it is much more difficult for the human system to get rid of a large amount of one type of poison.

The good news is that every green leafy vegetable has a different type of acid. So instead of over analyzing and thinking too much I just  buy a different green each time I go shopping and rotate my greens everyday to avoid a toxic overload of one type of acid/oxalate. 


Back to my smoothie for Day 2:

My first smoothie was
1 cup kale
2 pears
1 kiwi
3 small chunks of pineapple
1 tsp flax
1 tsp chia
1 tsp hemp
1 cup water

Day 2_Meal 1

This is one delicious combination. Infact, I am enjoying it while writing this blog. I made a huge 32 ounce jar and I couldn't finish it in one go. So I refrigerated the remaining for later use.

I had to run some errands and while on my way back home I stopped at whole foods. So instead of taking the pains of making a smoothie at home I decided to grab one from there juice bar.


I opted for Berry Nutritious and asked them to make it without the banana and non-dairy milk. The combination I got was

Kale
Strawberries
Blueberries
Water
Flax
Coconut shreds

Day 2_Meal 2

This whole food smoothie tasted good but it was a little gritty for me. Rather thicker than what I am used to. I always feel that the smoothies I make at home taste way better than the one I buy from health food stores but some times due to time crunch I have to chose the latter. 

Confession Time:

I woke up little hungry. So as I was preparing breakfast for my son I couldn't stop myself from sneaking in two-three spoons of my favorite upma. Not really a good idea as semolina is essentially wheat and its best to avoid wheat/gluten products during a detox. 

I also had that cup of tea. But it was way less that yesterday. So slowly and steadily I hope I am moving in the right direction.


Gratitude Day 2:

I thank GOD for giving us this beautiful season. It's neither too cold, nor too hot and a perfect time to go through the detox. It is so much easier to stick to the plans if the weather/ nature is on your side.

I thank the lady who helps me with cleaning my house. Because of her hard work I was able to enjoy my smoothie in a clean house and a clean kitchen


Prayer Requests for Day 3:

I request you all to please pray for all the people suffering from kidney stones and conditions like Hyperoxaluria. I pray that all of these people get healed. I also pray that most of us are able to reap the benefits of green smoothies

Prayers so that I am able to stick to my plan and do even better tomorrow.

Hopefully no cheating...


Good night. Now heading to enjoy my favorite chamomile/lavender tea.


Sources:
Russell T, "Oxalates In Spinach – Is Oxalic Acid A Green Smoothie Health Concern?", Incredible Smoothies, November 2011

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Day 1_Smoothie Detox

Day 1 started on a good note.

I enjoyed a glass full of lukewarm water with lemon upon waking up. 

This was followed  by my favorite Matcha (green tea). I have started loving the taste of matcha. It took me a while to get used to it but today I can confidently say that I am addicted to the alluring and bitter taste of this premium green tea powder from Japan.  While other green teas are grown throughout the world, matcha is unique to Japan.  It is the heart of the Japanese way of tea and has been celebrated in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony for hundreds of years. 

I also add cacao butter, cinnamon and vanilla extract to my matcha. This unique combination not only tastes great but also helps fight fat keeping me satisfied and full for few hours . 

Day 1_Meal 1_Ingredients

My first meal of the day was a green smoothie with

Spinach- 1 cup,
Pineapple-1 cup,
Blueberries- 1 cup
Hemp Seeds-1 tsp
Flax Seeds-1 tsp
Orange Juice 1 cup

I wanted to add that mango (in the pic above) too but my son wanted to eat it as is and of course I can't say no to him.


The above combination gave me about 30 ounces of smoothie

Smoothie for lunch

Look at the beautiful color. I added a cupful of spinach but we really can't see the green. This is the perfect way to sneak in greens in your child's diet. My son enjoyed it! He thought it was his favorite fruit Popsicle only melted in a mason jar. It's so exciting to find out the color your smoothie reveals once blended properly.

I had this smoothie for lunch at around noon and didn't feel hungry for another 2-3 hours.

At around 3pm while I was putting my son to sleep I had a weird craving. I actually craved for chole bhatura (chickpeas and fried bread) and not just any chole bhatura but the one available at Haldiram's in Delhi. I guess I was missing my hometown at that moment.

I then decided to prepare another smoothie. As I opened the fridge to grab the ingredients I saw a salsa jar screaming my name. I don't really like salsa and it has been sitting in my fridge for at least two weeks now but at that moment I could see my name written all over it.

Without giving much thought I gathered the ingredients and made my second smoothie. I like to call it Hawaiian Delight because of the simplicity of the ingredients.

Pineapple
Spinach
Orange
Water

That's it and you get a delicious smoothie that takes care of those weird cravings.

Hawaiian Delight_Day 1_Smoothie 2

This was good enough to keep me full till dinner time.


I decided to do a savory smoothie for dinner as I was really craving salt after having sweet smoothies throughout the day.


OK! now confession time......

I did pretty good without my chai tea in the morning  but had a cup in the afternoon. I brewed the tea leaves for 5 minutes and added raw milk (no sugar of course). I had only 1 cup which is less than what I normally consume. So hopefully I will be able to improve on this too.

I also couldn't control myself from relishing the cottage cheese and peas vegetable that I had prepared for my family for dinner.

I just had 2-3 spoons but it's worth mentioning here.

I was, however, pretty full after having just two bites of the vegetable and didn't feel like eating my dinner smoothie. I just consumed 8-ounces of raw coconut water and then ended the day with a herbal tea.

Gratitude Day 1:

I thank GOD for giving me the strength to stick to my plan. I was able to overcome most of my cravings and thank my body for helping me in this process.

I also THANK all my readers for reading my blog post and commenting on it via FB, emails and messages. It is because of you that I am able to keep myself motivated.

I thank my son for being a good boy and not troubling me too much while I was on the detox.

Prayer Requests for Day 2:

Please pray that I am able to stick and do even better tomorrow.

Good Night..

P.S. If any of you is interested in doing this detox with me, please let me know. I will mail the recipes and shopping guide. No cost, just gratitude.

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Preparing for a Green Smoothie Detox!

I am planning to go on a Green Smoothie Detox from tomorrow, Monday April 7th.

I will post an update everyday but before the D-day here are some of the ground rules I plan on following.

Taking one day at a time. Life as a mom is busy and unpredictable. So instead of deciding on the number of days I need to detox (ideally it should be 21) I will just take it one day at a time. If I can do it on Day 1 I will try Day 2 and so on.

Start the day with warm water, lemon and honey.

Limit consumption of caffeine. This will be my biggest challenge. I am so used to my morning cup of tea. I wake up to tea, tea wakes me up. During my detox I will limit if not avoid my tea consumption. I hope switching to green tea helps me. Only time will tell!

Drink, drink ,drink H2O that is. Water will keep me hydrated and also help with the occasional hunger pangs.

Consume green tea, herbal tea, warm water as and when needed. I might also consume raw coconut water once a day.

Try to get atleast 30 minutes of exercise (even if that involves taking a stroll around the block).

Drink aloevera and amla juice before going to bed.

End the day with gratitude and prayer.

Relax, take it easy and listen to my body during the detox.

Now that I have some basic rules let the detox begin...

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Back to Blogging

It's been ages since I blogged.

As a new mom, my priority was my son. I devoted the last few years in being a full time mommy. No job in this world is more important than raising a child.

Now that my son is an active and independent preschooler I can invest my time in the things I love most and one of them is connecting to my readers through my blog posts.

Stay tuned as there is lot of information on health, nutrition and lifestyle in store for you in the coming weeks!

My naughty preschooler.

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How to Stay Cool In Summers

I really enjoy summers, they are the perfect time to spend time with family and go for a vacation. However, battling the summer heat in Phoenix is far from being pleasant. In fact, a typical summer day can feel like an oven that has been put on a really high pre-heated temperature. "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 400 Americans die each year due to summer's heat. Everyone is at risk when temperatures rise above 90 degrees but the elderly and the very young are most susceptible to heat and heat-related illnesses"[1].

So, how do you cope with the heat this summer? Besides the essentials, like applying tons of sunscreen lotion and wearing loose fitting, preferably cotton clothes, here are a few tips that will keep help you keep your cool in the sweltering summer.

Drink Plenty of Fluids:

Your body's ability to sweat and cool down depends on adequate rehydration. Drink plenty of water especially during exercise even if not thirsty. Body can easily lose up to a quart of water an hour while exercising in hot weather. Drink water before, during and after exercising. Try coconut water instead of sugar loaded sports drink and juices. It is a natural cold drink. It has the same level of electrolyte, which is found in human blood. Thus, it helps in maintaining the balance of electrolytes in blood. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol, which actually promote fluid loss.

Avoid the Peak Hours

You can't stop your life because of the heat, but try to avoid the hottest times of the day if possible. Exercise in the morning or evening to avoid the most intense heat. If you are outside, wear a hat to shield you from the hot sun. If possible exercise near a water feature and carry a cooler with ice water and a washcloth in it. Wipe your face and neck with the cold wet cloth periodically to cool off. I have found that if you hold the cold wet cloth between your inner wrists for a minute or two, it cools the blood passing near the skin surface in turn cooling your upper body.

Dress for the Heat

Dress in cool, light clothes to allow circulation of air between your skin and the environment. Light colored clothing will reflect sunlight whereas darker clothing will absorb the heat. Cotton and linen are natural fabrics and will absorb the sweat and perspiration totally. Cotton cloth is a great insulator and helps to maintain the temperature inside the body. In summer when the outer temperature is high, cotton clothes helps to keep the temperature inside the attire cool.

Eat for Heat

Ayurveda describes summer as Pitta season.  Pitta is made of fire and water, and its qualities are hot, sharp, oily, and light.  During summer season you can reduce Pitta heat within your own body by eating a diet of cooling foods. "The best foods to keep you cool during summer are watermelon, cucumber, mint, coconut, summer squash, fennel, cilantro, and aloe-vera.  It's best to avoid spicy, acidic and greasy foods during summer as they will increase the heat in your body and make you feel hotter"[2]. Eating fruits can be a great way to keep you cool and replenish your body's minerals at the same time.  The best fruits for this are melons because they contain a high amount of water.  Watermelons, in particular, are 92% water, so while you are having sweet summers treat; you are also staying cool and staying hydrated.

Cool Off in the Water

Swimming is an excellent way to exercise when the weather gets hot. As opposed to other heavier forms of exercise, swimming is non weight bearing & burns much more calories without putting undue pressure on joints. Besides benefiting the body, swimming can soothe and relax the mind, taking away all the stress and tensions. Knowing how to swim improves personal safety. However, you don't need to be a swimmer to benefit from water exercise; doing a simple dog paddle at the shallow end of the pool still counts.

Watch Out For Heat Stroke

According to the American Red Cross the symptoms of heat exhaustion include headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, pale skin, heavy sweating and a high temperature. If you have any of these symptoms you must:

• find a cool place and loosen tight clothes

• drink plenty of water or fruit juice

• sponge yourself with cold water or have a cool shower.

Heatstroke can develop if heat exhaustion is left untreated -but it can also develop suddenly and without warning. The symptoms of heatstroke include hot and red skin, headaches, nausea, intense thirst, raised temperature, confusion, aggression and loss of consciousness. Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition. Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or contact your local emergency department.

Have a backup plan

If you're concerned about the heat or humidity, stay indoors. Work out at the gym, walk laps inside the mall or climb stairs inside an air-conditioned building.

Enjoying the summer vacation is important but don't let hot weather put your life at risk. I hope these ideas help you protect yourself and others from summer heat.

Originally Published in Valley India Times, June 2011

Sources:

[1]: "Beat the Heat with Red Cross Safety Tips", American Red Cross, 2008

[2]: "Ayurvedic Secrets to Keeping Cool in Summer", Bodhimed Ancient Medicine for Modern Health

 

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