Winter Detox Wonderland

Hey ladies, here we are at the end of this wonderful 2009 year. December is the month to eat, drink, barely sleep and add a bit more stress, giving the extra pounds a perfect environment to add up. We add our physical health as one of our new year's resolutions; we hit the gym non-stop and hope that all the new pounds go away without any complaints. End-less hours of  cardio, a few minutes of strength machines and a few lifts of a dumbbell seem to be the answer to our new body image prayers. After a few weeks we look at what we have accomplished and we are not happy. So we turn to the next best thing, a few pills and the good old no eating diet (coffee and chocolate become our favorite things to live with). And guess what, the good old extra pounds decide to come back more stubborn than ever. So after all of this what is there to do?? I would say that a good balanced diet with exercise and enough sleep should do the trick, but as you and I know some times the slow beginning drives all of us crazy. Not knowing what to eat, what type of exercise is best for our body type and all of the other un-answered questions that nag us time and time again. And for that ladies, I have to say that a great way to start a new tradition is to learn how to detox your body at least once a year. Detoxing is best at the start of a new season. The winter season is here and the two main organs to look after are the kidneys and the adrenal glands. Drink healing teas such as Nettle tea which helps with alkalizing minerals especially helpful for kidney,cleansing and adrenal support. Shilapushpa acts as a natural diuretic promoting healthy bladder and kidney function. Don't forget to take time for you and only you, meditation, journal writing and relaxation are some of the techniques you can use. During this cold and wonderful season try to rest more.Your foods for detox should be cooked and warmed so your body's energy is released to sustain body heat and immunity. I'm adding some detox foods for the winter time have fun creating dishes that will help your wonderful body, mind and spirit.
Oils- lignan-rich flaxseed oil, sesame oil which is high in sesamol a natural antioxidant.
Lean Protein- Beef, buffalo, deer, eggs, elk, fish, seafood, and poultry.
Vegetables- Raw or steamed broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage (red, green, chinese, or bok choy), cauliflower, celery, celeriac, daikon radish, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, mushrooms (boletu, chanterelle, morel, shiitake), mustard greens, onions (chives, green, leeks, scallions, and shallots), parsley, peppers (green, red and yellow), radish and snow peas.
Fruits- apples, applesauce (unsweetened, organic 1/2 cup), cranberries, small pear, tangerine.
Filtered water- 8 glasses a day to rid the body of waste.
With or between meals- Take 1 cup of Nettle tea daily.
If you guys want more advise on what to do year round turn to my favorite lady Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D. the author of "The living detox program The revolutionary diet for each and every season of a woman's life"