Tag Archives: nutrition

3 key diet changes to become more energetic, grounded, and mindful

In my previous post on mindful habits, I highlighted the changes I made to my daily practice in order to gain clarity, effectiveness, and mindfulness in my day.

What I neglected to mention is that not all change has come from habits alone.

Diet has been an extremely important component to my state of mind, state of health, and wellness of being. In fact, I maintain that it’s the most important part. All life force comes of energy, and (the majority of) ours is obtained through the fluids and foods we consume.

Using this nutritional awareness I obtained a couple of years ago through research and self-experiment, I’ve determined 3 key nutritional components to reduce and (almost) eliminate from my diet that have led to exponential increases in clarity, energy, positivity, and a decrease in depression and anxious tendencies. If you are having problems with focus, stress, anxiety, depression, and energy levels, I encourage you to read further and try my suggestions for yourself.

I’ve found great personal value in reducing the following, I hope you do too.

1. Caffeine from coffee

The world as it stands, revolves around the consumption of coffee.

As I write this post, from the balcony of my hotel in Bali, I watch other guests and the staff all consume coffee. It seems to be a daily ritual for most of the developed world. A way to fight the fatigue of daily life and ‘push through’ mental blocks, increasing productivity.

I’ve found completely the opposite to be true.

Below are two main reasons I advocate ‘kicking coffee’, despite how yummy it is.

Coffee blocks nutritional intake

There is much research that has been published on the topic, and a quick google search will highlight this, so I won’t delve into facts.

I’ve done enough research (and experimented enough) to be of the understanding that caffeine blocks receptors in my intestines and hampers the ability to absorb nutrients during digestion.

During my time of depression and general unhappiness, I was consuming 3 cups of coffee a day. I noted I would regularly be ‘run down’, have mild cases of the flu, and be mentally fatigued very quickly during the morning, even after restful sleep.

I’m confident that my body was starved of nutrient because of the caffeine.

Coffee messed with my head

This I know for sure.

I’m so glad I awoke to the effects of coffee on mental health, as since reducing coffee to once a week, I can feel the effects ever more. For example, I accidentally ordered a large flat white at a cafe, and my brain was a mess for the rest of the day. I couldn’t focus, had trouble with conversation, and was jittery and anxious. It wasn’t a fun feeling.

I’m confident it affects many others in a similar way. You may not realise it however, because you are constantly consuming coffee and have not experienced a ‘cleansed’ state without it in your blood.

When I first cleansed myself of caffeine from coffee, it took 10 days for the completion of the detox. Since then (over 12 months now), I rarely consume moe than 1 coffee a week, and have not looked back. I turn to green teas (high in antioxidants and contain a different strand of caffeine at lower doses) for a pleasant daily drink, and consume plenty of quality filtered water throughout the day. It’s far more refreshing and nutritious for my body.

2. Dairy products

The most widely consumed product in western society – milk (and subsidiary products) – is now beginning to be proven an unhealthy addition to our diets. Research is suggesting that humans are not designed to consume milk products past infancy.

Research aside, when I made the hard decision to remove dairy from my every day diet, I noticed a huge difference in my health.

Yoghurt was my vice. I would consume about 1.5kg of yoghurt per week, and splurge on a milkshake or two for a protein hit after a workout. After the decision to remove it, I noticed that I would no longer feel bloated, my digestion ‘felt’ better, and I was much clearer of mind.

I have not eliminated milk products altogether, as I see important benefits in occasional consumption to ensure I don’t develop an intolerance.

I don’t miss dairy, even the yoghurt (which was my favourite food!). The benefits of going without are definitely worth it.

3. Animal meat

Animal lovers and vegetarian advocates will love me for this one.

It’s true, I feel many time healthier when I don’t eat meat. My diet still contains large amounts of fish, and small portions of meat approximately 2 times a week, but the rest I fill with wholesome, plant based alternatives.

Stomach heaviness, constipation, lethargy, and sleep troubles, are all symptoms I developed when consuming meat daily.

Reducing meat alleviates strain on my body, and I’m doing my bit for the planet too. Animal farming is highly resource intensive, so less consumption means less production, and less burden on our stressed environment.

Am I getting enough nutrients and vitamins? Sure I am. What’s in meat can be found in vegetable products (B12 vitamins, protein, iron) which I ensure are an addition to my diet.

It’s true that there is immense improvement that can be made to your health and wellbeing through the way you think and behave, and I find equal benefit in addressing what you consume as your daily nutritional intake. Since reducing these 3 food types I’ve discussed:

  1. Coffee
  2. Dairy; and
  3. Meat

I’ve noticed significant improvement to the quality of my health, and the purity of my mindset.

If you’re experiencing a ‘slump’, lethargy, anxiety, or a general lack of wellness, I encourage you to try reducing your daily consumption of one (or all) of the above to see if there’s any benefit for you.

It’s all about making choices that work for you. You’ve got nothing to lose, so why not give it a shot!

 

Are there any foods you’ve eliminated from your diet that have had a profound impact on your life? Are there any particular food habits you have that work for you? Let me know via the comments below, I’d be very interested to hear from you!

Disclaimer – I am not a medical professional and do not write this piece on the basis of prescribing medical advice. I simply write about my own experiences, which maybe you can relate. Should you be experiencing strong cases of depression, anxiety, or any other, I recommend you seek professional medical advice from a certified practitioner.

Thanks for reading my work.

Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.

Until next time…..

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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Chia seeds – 3 reasons I add them to my meals

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I’ve been experimenting with a number of different food types in recent years, and I now find myself eating mostly vegetarian. This means I am always looking for interesting, wholesome, cost effective ingredients to add to my meals.

Welcome Chia seeds.

Today I’d like to share with you what Chia seeds are, why I choose to include this superfood into my diet, and also why they are best used in moderation.

What are Chia seeds?

Chia seeds come from a flowering plant of the same family as mint. It’s native to Mexico and Guatemala, and history suggests it was an important crop for the Aztecs.

It’s benefits have only recently come to light, as the title “superfoods” is branded more and more across the health food scene.

Chia is extremely easy to add to your diet. The seeds are tasteless, so they won’t affect the flavour of your food.

How can you use them?

Sprinkle on top of salads or toast, or add them to smoothies and soups etc. to add nutrition and volume.

3 reasons Chia is good to add to meals

1. They’re high in Omega 3 and protein

A 28-gram serve of Chia has approximately 4.4 grams of plant-based protein.

Chia seeds are also packed with omega-3 fatty acids, with nearly five grams in a 28-gram serving. Amongst other things, these fats are important for brain health.

2. Chia seed is packed full of fibre, antioxidants, and essential minerals

Chia seeds are well known for being high in nutritional content. Some of the biggest benefits are:

  • Fibre – 7-grams per 28-gram serve.
  • Antioxidants – Chia is so rich in antioxidants that the seeds don’t deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid.
  • Minerals – Calcium, manganese, and phosphorus are all present in large quantities for a plant-based source. Magnesium, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc are also present in smaller quantities.

3. They’re filling, and can help regulate appetite and blood sugar levels

The amino acid Tryptophan, which helps regulate appetite, sleep and improve mood, is found in Chia seeds.

Going hand in hand with an ability to regulate your hunger cravings, Chia has the ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and fight insulin resistance which can be associated with an increase in belly fat, according to this article by Live Strong.

 

But wait – The fine print

The benefits of consuming Chia seed are plentiful, and there are many health advocates out there claiming so.

Are Chia seeds really a golden superfood?

Yes, I believe so, in moderate quantities.

Since starting work at my local Paleo Cafe, I have been doing research into the Paleo diet and discovered contradictory research on the health benefit of Chia consumption. Unfortunately, like most nuts and seeds, Chia contains phytic acid.

Chia seed is not healthy in large amounts due to it’s high phytic acid content.

Phytic acid is an antinutrient that binds many minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper) making them unavailable for absorption. 

So for all the good stuff, there must be a balance of the bad. In moderate consumption, Chia can be a good nutritional source. Just don’t go overboard!

Well, there you have it. One of the latest superfood crazes going on out there.

Chia seeds.

As I continue to explore nutrition and how it makes me feel, I will play with this wondrous seed further. To date, I have been consuming lots of them daily. Although I have seen no abnormal adverse effects, I am now more aware of the potential downside of this level of consumption.

What can you take away from this post?

The importance of a balanced, healthy, varied diet. One with many vegetables, fruits, and protein sources.

Chia seeds are a great nutritional source, and they are not the only one out there!

Variety is the spice of life. Make sure you put a little zest in your meals too 🙂

I appreciate you taking time to read my work. If you like it, please share it with your friends on social media using the buttons below.

The more people I can help, the happier I’ll be.

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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Getting sick with the flu? Here’s 3 things you must do to fight back

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It’s dark, and you’re woken by an insistent, loud, vibrating alarm on your bedside table.

Drowsy, you pull yourself upright and go about your morning routine. But wait, something is different.

There’s a cloud in front of you. Hold on, you notice a tingle in the back of your nose. Oh no.

“Damn it, I’m getting the flu!”

It’s the time of year again, winter (well, at least in Australia anyway), where it’s almost expected that we get the flu.

It’s annoying, disruptive, and disgusting.

I know all too well.

As I write this, I myself am fighting back the beginning of the flu, so I thought I’d share my experience and what I am observing, trialling, and learning.

The good news is, I am fighting it off well, and am confident of a fast recovery.

I want a speedy recovery for you too.

In this post, I’ll cover my recent battle with the flu (a.k.a ‘Mr Hanky’) and how I fought back. I’ll share with you the early warning signs (I failed to recognise), how to fight off the symptoms using simple, natural remedies, and, of course, what I’ve learnt and will do better next time.

With this information, you’ll be able to build a strong defence plan when (or if) the time comes, and assist your body in a speedy recovery.

The onset: My early warning signs

Looking back, I can see that I started feeling the effects of an immune system attack around 2 weeks ago.

Why didn’t I act back then?

I didn’t believe I was getting sick.

Sure, I felt a bit ‘off’, but I was still functioning well enough to kick goals.

Had I listened closely, I would have recognised and acted upon the following early warning signs:

  • Increased fatigue – This is the first thing I noticed. I started becoming unusually tired during the day, with decreased energy for exercise and, ahem, extra curricular activity. 
  • Abnormal morning grogginess – Following daily and evening fatigue, I experienced a morning fog that, in some cases, made me a danger to society! Forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, and disorientation started to take place amongst my morning routine. 
  • Poor concentration and mental drive –  With the fog came a reduced concentration on things like conversation, work, and driving (some close calls avoided last minute). I noticed a reduced mental ability and focus too. Those ‘thinking’ tasks became way too much effort. Better to sit and stare………
  • Muscle aches – Exercise became gradually harder to recover from. “Aching back? I don’t remember working those muscles?” Even with low impact exercise, the recovery was notably slower (and more painful).

Fight against flu: 3 ways to strengthen your counter attack

I’ve had some good teachers in recent times (honourable mention to you Mona 🙂 ) whom have increased my awareness of what is good recovery ‘fuel’.

The good news is, it isn’t complicated.

It’s important to recognise that when your body is getting sick, it’s battling with a lack of energy to fight the intruder, to fight the flu.

So how do we get the better of the flu?

The key is to give your body the energy to fight back!

I hope you have your notebook ready.

1. Take it easy

Sounds logical right?

It’s amazing how so many people (including myself in the past) get this wrong.

Our body is struggling with a lack of energy, so why would we continue to deprive it?

If you start feeling a bit low, here’s some good things to avoid:

  • Stressful tasks – Fancy cooking, balancing financial accounts, trip planning, meetings etc. Leave anything that is unnecessary until later. If it compromises your health, it can wait.
  • Odd jobs – cleaning the car, fixing the lawnmower, readying the bike for the next tour. These can turn stressful very easily if not completed or if problems occur.
  • Strenuous exercise – Put the marathon training on hold, drop those weights NOW. Heavy exercise is very draining on the body and will only fuel the progression of the flu.

2. Get good sleep

Sleep. It’s how your body recovers. To get better, you need to be in a space that nurtures recovery.

You need to get quality sleep.

Get rid of the TV, put down that book that you can’t let go of, say no to that dinner date.

This is where you need to exercise diligence, and in many ways the ability to say no.

It’s that simple.

3. Use natural remedies and avoid complex food

Put down that burger and fries, lay off the store bought chocolate, hold back on the daily coffee shop visits, hold off on that trip to the drug store.

During your time of energy deficiency, don’t turn to drugs.

In food lies the answer to treatment.

Drugs act as a band aid, giving you a short term wellness feeling which you can mistake for recovery. You then continue your hectic life as normal – running 10km three times a week, socialising with friends, late nights with loved ones…

Two weeks later, you’re still sick. Why?

The drug acted as a placebo, masking the real problems.

Since you need to eat, why not use this as a natural way to assist in the healing process?

Consume foods that are easy to digest and vitamin rich.

Here are some things I’ve been doing:

  • Liquid echinacea –  I take 10-15 drops of this with water at least twice a day when I feel a flu may be coming on, and always have it handy. It’s my insurance.
  • Green drink – Vital Greens & wheatgrass. This stuff is packed full of vitamins and minerals, and is alkaline in nature. Energising and revitalising, it’s just what your body needs as fuel. You can read more about my previous experience with green drink here.
  • Warm Cacao and Maca drinks – These ancient superfoods are loaded with antioxidant goodness, and when combined with coconut and warm water provide a delicious, energising, vitamin and mineral packed drink to warm you up and make you feel good.
  • Vitamin C – A tried and true favourite. Get as much of this as you can. I take supplements as well as consume foods rich in this wondrous vitamin.
  • Ginger, lime and honey tea – full of vitamin C and many other minerals that aid in your fight against flu.

There you go. I continue to learn more about my body and it’s fighting potential with each flu experience that I have.

A key take away is to trust in nature, and don’t turn to drugs as a quick fix. Instead, be smart and invest in yourself.

Eat right, take a break, and get more sleep.

Getting the flu isn’t all bad. In fact, I see it as an opportunity for you and your body to learn to fight back better and stronger next time.

I know I’m more equipped, and I hope you are too.

I appreciate you taking time to read my work. If you like it, please share it with your friends on social media using the buttons below.

The more people I can help, the happier I’ll be.

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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I got shredded with tea! Another detox experiment

Shredtea Package

Got a stubborn waistline that even 1,000 crunches hasn’t moved?

Sick of looking down at your stomach, rather than your feet?

Want to burn fat fast? 

I didn’t. In fact, I’m not convinced I lost anything, but I believe there’s nothing stopping you from achieving a body transformation.

I wasn’t chasing fat loss, so that’s not why I’m writing this. 🙂

I came across Shredtea through a friend of mine who tried it and claimed to achieve results.

How I wondered?

I have never tried a product like this before, and since it was Australian, I decided to put it to the test to see what effect it would have on my body.

To be clear, I didn’t aim to achieve weight loss using this product. I didn’t need or want to lose weight. It was simply another interesting journey I experienced.

To give you a ‘try before you buy’ perspective, this post will give you an insight into the Shredtea experience – how their detox plan works, and how you might benefit.

You’ll have all you need to get started “shredding”.

What is Shredtea?

Shredtea is an all natural herbal tea designed to have you shed excess water weight, and fat when combined with an eating plan and moderate exercise daily.

It is advertised as a 14 day (2 week) offering, where the “shredder” a.k.a you, undergoes a #14dayshred body transformation should you follow the guidelines provided with the tea.

There is some great material that you are provided to ensure you get maximum benefit from the detox. The meal guide provides excellent nutritional knowledge to help you loose fat, links to external inspiration and educational sources, and also some great lifestyle tips too.

There;s apparently a workout guide to follow in the near future as well. Stay tuned for that development.

Sounds good.

How much does it cost?

It’s $50 USD for a starter pack, which gives you 2 packets of tea (a morning and an evening blend) and guidelines to follow – everything you need for 14 days of detox.

You can buy supplement packets of the tea individually from $25 USD.

Why is an Australian company selling in USD? Good question. I’m guessing the primary target market is the USA.

All prices include delivery, which is a nice surprise.

Why did I choose to ‘shred’?

I wasn’t trying to lose weight by trialling Shredtea.

I looked at it from a health and well-being perspective, seeing what the detox effect was like in comparison to my recent juice detox.

I wanted to experience how drinking a ‘prescribed’ selection of tea would leave me feeling, and if my body would ‘shred’ – lose water weight and fat (even though I didn’t follow the eating plan and exercise guidelines).

What did I think of Shredtea?

I can summarise shredtea by saying it was a pleasant tasting, bowel-moving, body cleansing herbal infusion.

During the 14 day detox program (#14dayshred), I was left feeling clean, clear minded, energised, and definitely lighter in the bowel soon after waking.

Based on this experience, I think had I have followed a more stringent eating plan and more regular exercise, I would have certainly “shredded” some kilos.

Yep, I believe it works. 

Beside that, I noted the following observations while consuming my daily tea.

Taste

The taste of the tea can only be described as being literally like a fruity glass of grass and leaves.

Trust me, it’s not as bad as it sounds.

There are two tea types:

  • #14dayshred – This tea, taken before bed, is bitter initially but pleasant as you drink. It’s sweetened with a delicious liquorice after taste, sort of like an after dinner mint, served with a side of grass. It’s an interesting mix, and more pleasant as consumption increased.
  • #dailyshred – This tea provided an excellent start to the day. It had a crisp, fresh taste with the blend of ginger, cinnamon, and lemon myrtle, responsible for this. A seriously great, cleansing, mind-clearing start to the day.

Feeling

How did I feel?

Clean, clear minded, energised, and lighter in the bowel after some extreme movement first thing after waking!

Specifically:

  • Lighter and cleaner on the inside
  • Less bloated, and no gas
  • More energy, without the sluggish feeling when you have a bowel full of ‘crap’ (excuse the pun).

Laxative effect

This is where the tea is able to prove its claims most strongly.

No joke, it makes you poo.

Like clockwork, I would rise from bed and experience extreme rumbling. That’s when I knew.

Time to find a bathroom!

Yep, it was certainly a cleansing experience, having the following effect on my body:

  • Regular bowel movements – I found myself rushing to the bathroom shortly after waking, every day. Sometimes twice a day!
  • No pains or cramps – despite the effective laxative effect, I didn’t experience anything noticeably bad

TIP: Make sure you are sleeping somewhere with good access to a bathroom for the duration of the #14dayshred detox. You’ll need it in the morning.

What did Shredtea do for me?

Undertaking a Shredtea #14dayshred detox made me feel great.

Mentally easier to complete than a juice fast detox, taking the tea each day was a simple implementation to my daily routine.

Really, it gave me a good feeling while I was taking it. Here’s why:

  • I had at least 1 to 2 solid bowel movements, one first thing upon rising, and another occasionally in the late afternoon.
  • I experienced a ‘clean’ feeling of a detox
  • I had improved mental alertness
  • Improved quality sleep, feeling more restful upon waking.

Did I notice any physical change?

Hard to say, so I’ll let you make up your mind with the following before and after pics.

 

Body shot before Shredtea

Photo BEFORE the #14dayshred

Body shot after Shredtea

Photo AFTER 14 days on Shredtea

Again, I was happy with my physique before undertaking the trial of Shredtea, so I am not focusing on this as a personal indicator of this products effectiveness.

It made me feel great, and I’m happy with that.

Well, there you have it, my #Shredtea experience.

I enjoyed it, and found myself feeling clean, clear minded, energised at the end of the experience.

If you’re reading this and are having troubles loosing  a few extra kg’s or just want to cleanse yourself, I encourage you to give it a try.

I got something out of it, and I am sure you can too.

I hope this helps you with your body transformation aspirations.

Thanks for reading my work.

Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.

Until next time…..

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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What a cauliflower pizza reminded me about sharing (and a yummy recipe to try)

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Yep, you read right. Cauliflower pizza!

Well, actually it was a cauliflower pizza base 🙂

I absolutely love this substitute for a simple, healthy, wholesome pizza base. It uses no flour either, which is great for those who are aiming to reduce or avoid gluten in their diets. I consciously make an effort to reduce my gluten intake as much as possible for 6 out of my 7 day weeks, as I follow a cyclic carbohydrate eating plan.

This post isn’t all about pizza though.

The greater act of joining another to create this masterpiece in the kitchen, highlighted something even more important in my life that I was oblivious to.

The act of sharing.

Along with a super yummy pizza base recipe, in this post I would like to share (!) the importance of sharing with others, and ways I add this simple act to my life. Not only will you have a take-home dinner idea to impress, you’ll also become aware of sharing and how it can enhance the quality of relationships in your life.

 

Sharing – How can I indulge?

Sharing, giving, contribution, quality time…..

However you refer to it, sharing is a fundamental experience that we as humans were designed to have. In fact, it isn’t just humans that were designed to share.

It is a fundamental principal of nature.

Take any organism for example. Oxygen is used to create energy which is shared with the cells that require it.

Sharing is everywhere. You just have to look.

What forms of sharing am I talking about, and how can you create a sharing experience for yourself?

Consider the following, my favourite forms of sharing:

  • Knowledge – collaborating books, information, experiences.
  • Resources – exchanging tools, equipment, physical resources required to achieve a common goal
  • Time – devoting attention, a pair of listening ears, a pair of helping hands, a shoulder to cry on.
  • Space – the physical sense of being in the presence of another, whether it be an animal or human.

You can see that in its many forms, sharing helps us grow – emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

There are many ways you can enhance your life experience through sharing. My example is through the teaching of a yummy new recipe.

 

Cooking, food, and the ultimate sharing experience

Now I can provide a link between cauliflower pizza and the act of sharing.

I like to use cooking, preparing, and enjoying fine food as a way for me to indulge in sharing.

After all, food is such an important gift that every living animal on the earth shares as a common need.

To me, it is a way I can satisfy all of my forms of sharing – knowledge, resources, time and space, at once. Not only is it efficient, it is extremely rewarding.

Let me explain.

I invited my girlfriend over for a cooking date, as I wanted to spend quality time with her (away from TV and other distractions) in person alone (space). I decided to teach her a yummy recipe which she had not tried before (transfer of knowledge), using my own hands and ingredients I had supplied for us (my resources).

Needless to say, I got a lot out of the experience, and so did she.

Cooking. I love it, and it’s a great way to share.

 

My yummy cauliflower pizza base recipe

Now for the recipe!

How did I create the chemistry of sharing through food? I added this awesome and fun recipe for healthy pizza 🙂

 

Servings: Makes 1 large family size pizza

Preparation time: 30 min (including pre-cooking)

Ingredients

  • Half a head of a large cauliflower
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup of shredded melting cheese (Colby, Mozzarella etc.)

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Wash cauliflower in cool water and separate florets from the head. Leave to drip dry.
  2. Use a food processor to grind cauliflower to a fine consistency, similar to oats or breadcrumbs.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, add the cauliflower, eggs, and cheese. Combine well.
  4. Spread the mixture evenly over a large oven tray, making it as thick (or thin) as you like. Use baking paper to avoid the base sticking to the tray.
  5. Place in heated oven and cook for 20 min or until browned and slightly crisp to touch.

Once cooked, simply prepare your pizza as normal, adding your favourite toppings as desired.

Simple!

 

Now you can see how I applied cooking as a way to experience my primary forms of sharing, which were through knowledge, resources, time, and space. 

I hope in reading this, it has given you a new awareness to the forms and ways that sharing can potentially enhance your life experience, and your relationships.

Go on. Get out there and share something with a person close to you. I want to hear your experiences!

Thanks for reading my work.

Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.

Until next time…..

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

 

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What I learnt from my 5 day Juice Detox, and what I plan to do different next time

Health & Wellbeing, , , , , , ,

I hope you enjoyed the last posts on why I chose to juice detox, and how I did it. It isn’t scientific (you can find heaps of that all over the web), as much as it is a recount of the personal, physiological, and emotional effects I encountered.

Wow. What an experience.

As I write this, 2 weeks after the completion of the detox experiment, I still find myself influenced by the experience.

I’m more appreciative, thankful, thoughtful, and concious of the wonderful foods I eat.

In this post, I will give you more of an insight into what I gained from it, and what I will do differently next time. This will hopefully give you (and I) closure, and wrap the experience up with some excellent take-home messages.

 

My summary of the 5 days on juice

Day 1 was an adjustment to the absence of food

Energy levels were good, but breakfast was, well, a bore. Lunch was coming. Yay! Oh, wait, I’m not allowed to eat. Hunger pains, so maybe I should just reach for a tasty snack….. of yet another juice. So, so much fluid!

Day 2 was all about struggle

Struggle with the impulsive need to chew on something, and with the reduction in energy levels as my body adjusted to this new energy source. I became less and less “hungry” as I turned to replenishments of juice every 30 minutes or so, which left me surprisingly satisfied. 

Despite this, I was noticeably clearer in thought and more relaxed. The juicing was having good effect.

Day 3 was revelation and hell, all in one

I awoke with good energy levels, feeling energetic and with no desire to eat anything. At this point, I had reached peace with the absence of solids in my diet. I felt great for the most part of the day, having great mental focus and energy. I was realising my desire to eat was less about satisfying a hunger, the juice was taking care of that. It was more to satisfy the habit of eating. 

Then, it started.

By mid afternoon, I would find myself feeling mildly dizzy, or even “drunk”. Happy drunk though. I would stand up and have to pause, taking deep breaths to wait for the room to stop spinning. It would take longer for me to conclude my thoughts, despite having a clear mind. Life was in the slow lane.

Time for another juice, which helped restore energy momentarily.

At this point, I really questioned my reason for undertaking such a cause. My integrity and desire to complete pushed me through.

Day 4 – welcome to cloud land

After a stressful day prior, and a dramatic loss of body fluid overnight, my body was out of sorts, and the symptoms of slow thought and dizziness mildly intensified. 

I was living in a cloud.

At this point, I made the executive decision to include protein supplement more frequently in an attempt to provide an energy boost. My energy returned, and I was no longer interested in the idea of food.

My commitment was strong and my desire to prove to myself that I could make the 5 day duration was empowering.

Day 5 and the joy of an immanent end

Gratitude, elation, and excitement at the prospect of food! With energy levels and my spirit high, the final day was all about reflection and focus on the delicacies to come.

A short day to end a long week without food!

 

What I learnt from the 5 days of juice detox

If you read the first post in this series, you’ll know that I did this juice detox not to lose weight, but to cleanse my body and reconnect with my food.

The juice detoxing experience provided me exposure to a new way of being, which didn’t include the nutritious munchies that I surrounded myself with daily.

More than anything, It highlighted just how much my life revolves around food.

If you think long and hard, I’m sure you’ll agree.

With all that goes on in life, it took isolation from food to regain an appreciation for it’s place as part of my being.

A new appreciation for:

  • The meditative effect of food preparation  – Preparing your meal is exciting, calming, soothing, and satisfying. To share the experience with another is to add a whole other (most enjoyable) dimension. I realised that food preparation offered a meaningful distraction from my worries, fears, and insecurities, and provided a social setting to connect with those I care for most. 
  • The consumption of food is a joyous experience to cherish – I had become numb to the experience of food consumption. It had become a necessity – to fuel the activity that I surrounded myself with daily. Once removed, the wonders of texture, sight, smell, and taste, became ever so apparent to me. Prior to the detox, repetitive meals, lacking in variety, were not doing the potential experience justice. 
  • It takes time – In order to experience any joy from food, there must be ample time available! Meal time had become a rushed chore that stood in the way of bigger and better things. I realised there is nothing more important than food, so I should devote more time to being grateful, appreciative, and respectful of the gift I am given each and every day.

Without food, there is no life.

I now can see that to enjoy the experience of food first of all with myself, then with others, is the most important thing I have.

In future, I plan to appreciate these, and more.

 

What I will do different next time

Committing to 5 day of juice detox was an enlightening experience, and an achievement I am proud to have completed.

If you have made it this far, and have read the first and second posts, you will appreciate the open minded way that I conducted the detox experiment. As this was my first time, there are, of course, improvements that I would like to make to have the experience even more effective.

In fact, there are 3.

1. Duration of the detox

As I have hinted throughout, I loved the juice detox experience, and I will be doing it again.

In fact, to continually remind myself of the joy of food and provide my body with a cleanse, I am committing to a 3 day juice detox at the beginning of every month.

Why 3 days?

I found that I achieved the most value from my juice detox experience by the end of the third day. The subsequent days were draining; spent floating around waiting for permission to chew into a juicy lentil burger.

2. Higher dosage of juice

My single heaped teaspoon of Vital Greens wasn’t enough. To combat this, I was consuming many more glasses (and hence more water) to achieve the nutrition level my body required.

I believe the excess water had a dilution effect, and I wasn’t getting the full benefit of the nutrient I was consuming.

Next time, I am going to do one of the following to increase the nutrient content:

  • a minimum 2 teaspoon dose of Vital Greens; or
  • mix Vital Greens with another green drink such as barley grass or wheatgrass.

3. Include a plant based protein source first thing in the morning

As I found in my results, I required something in addition to fuel my body through the detox process.

I chose pea protein.

The main reasons for choosing this was because it is plant based, and dissolves in water (so requires low amounts of energy for digestion).

In future, I will be experimenting with the inclusion of either half an avocado or 30-60g of pea protein first thing in the morning to supplement the detox.

I believe this will provide the energy I felt I lacked, and the ability to complete the detox without caving to the temptation of a quick fix.

 

There you have it! The end of my 5 days on a juice detox.

I totally loved the experience, and I think there are many more people out there, including you, that would love it too.

If you ever needed any more inspiration to give it a go, check out the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. It really highlights that all types of people can get something out of the experience.

Please, if you liked this story, share it with someone who you think might benefit. I hope I can be an inspiration to the well being of others, and show just how easy you can make something which seems so radical.

Thanks for reading my work.

Like it? Please share with your friends on social media. The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.

Until next time…..

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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