"Cleansing 101" A Guide to a 7-Day Food Cleanse

A few days ago I had the chance to attend a free cleansing class my gym was offering to their members plus one guest. I am constantly looking for ways to clense and detoxify my body, so as soon as I found out this class was offered with limited seating, I made sure to secure my spot!

Offered by Richele Henry and Lucas Seipp-Williams of The Baltimore Health Coach, "Cleansing 101" had a wealth of information to offer. Richele shared with us her story of passing out on the side of the subway just after leaning over the tracks to looked for the next train. You see, she had found out that she was hyperglycemic nearly a decade before, but like so many of us, decided to throw caution to the wind in exchange for satisfying her sweet tooth. Her near death experience quickly caused her to rethink her eating habits and begin a 30 day cleanse. She noticed an increase in energy and lost ten pounds. During her final week of the clense, she managed to get ten close friends to join in for the final seven days and the future of the "7-day clense" was made.

 Here are the rules involved with the 7-Day Cleanse:

Foods that are acceptable

1. Fruits & veggies
2. Avocados, Coconuts, and Olives
3. Non-glutinous whole grains (for example, quinoa and brown rice)
4. Legumes and beans
5. Herbal teas and water
6. Meats, fish, and eggs (for vegans and vegetarians, gluten free meat substitutes like tempeh work)
7. Nuts and seeds (sunflower seeds, almonds, etc)
8. Coconut, olive, and sesame oils

Some  additional tasty options include....

1. Stevia (in liquid form)
2. Raw chocolate (cacao nibs and powder work great in smoothies!)
3. Coconut water (6 oz. per serving)
4. Seed crackers (for example "Mary's Gone Crackers"-dairy free and gluten free)

Foods that should be cut out of your diet during the clense:

1. Processed foods (hmm, who of would thunk it?)
2. Alcohol
3. Coffee and Caffeinated drinks
4. Sweeteners
5. Artificial sweeteners
6. Flour Products (yes, that means bread!)
7. Chemical Preservatives
8. Dairy (ghee may be used)
9. Soy and soy products (may however use fermented soy)
10. Glutinous grains (wheat, oat, barley)
11. White and red potatoes
12. All other oils
13. Dried fruits (they tend to be high in sugar)
14. Peanut Butter and cashews (Almond butter is okay)
15. Gum and candy

This is a plate of the yummy food samples they served us!

Consists of a Raw Kale Salad with a creamy tahini dressing, Apple Almond Fennel Salad, and Mary's Gone Crackers.

Not only is this a great cleanse, but a good outline for a way of eating all the time. Once your cleanse is over, you may find that some of the foods you once loved, you can now live without. Tastebuds can be changed and adapted over time. Have you found that some foods you didn't like as a child are now your favorites or vice versa?

It's okay if you have those times when you go off path and eat or drink something that you know you really shouldn't. The best advice I learned from this class is to stay guilt free. If you have that candy, then enjoy it, don't feel guilty (although your body may suffer temporary consequences), and then move on. It's the vicious cycle of of guilt, punishment, and comforting that people get stuck in. You feel guilty for eating the wrong foods, then punish yourself for feeling that way, causing the effect of needing comfort, and finding it in the wrong form (for example, a pint of ice cream). If we could just learn to break the cycle, then we can learn to become more balanced, in turn creating a healthier lifestyle.

Take the time to creat a "Golden Goal", an upgrade in your life. So many people think about what they don't want in their lives, "I'm going to give up carbs". Instead focus on what you will add to make yourself feel better, "I am going to enjoy more fruits!".

Ready to get started? Just remember to follow these three simple guidelines:

1. Don't diet and cleanse sesonally
2. No rules, they create resentment
3. Restriction free=guilt free

The Baltimore Health Coach has a special offer for Greenwala readers. Just $99 for what is usually a $140 cleanse. Just use code "Greenwala" when signing up online. Hurry, just 7 spots left!

Here are a few links that may help you to get started.....

Jordan Rubin, "The Maker's Diet"

Baltimore Health Coach, they are able to coach via telephone and online so you can work with them from anywhere!

Simply Raw, reverse diabetes in 30 days

The MAC, the gym that hosted the class

Laeticia is an Organic Vegan dedicated to a healthy lifestyle and the mom of a sweet little boy. She is currently studying Sign Language and has interest in pursuing a career in Nutrition and Fitness. To follow Laeticia on Twitter,  and facebook Laeticia's blog