Lighten Up Your Body

Do you agree that we’ve generally put our bodies through an awful lot over the course of our lives?

We generally take them for granted and expect the world from them.

Do you remember the last time you washed and cleaned your car, took it in for an oil change, or even refueled it? Even if it’s been a while you remember, and you’ll check to see when they are next needed.

Now do you remember the last time you gave your body a tune-up, filled it with premium fuel and let it do its own internal housekeeping? I didn’t think so!

Well, that’s precisely what fresh, whole, ripe, organic plant-based foods do for our bodies. Food is one of my most favourite ways to lighten up our bodies.  They …

Hydrate. They have a high water content that we desperately need for every major function of our body. Everything works better when we are hydrated, yet most are walking around in varying states of dehydration.

Nourish. Overcooking and most cooking destroys or drastically reduces the enzyme, vitamin, fibre and mineral content of food.  Eating food that has been minimally processed gives us a wonderful shot of nutrition with every mouthful.  This is like rocket fuel for our bodies.

Clean us out. These plant-based foods are naturally high in fibre to begin with.  When they are minimally processed, their fibre remains intact and acts like an internal broom for our digestive system.

Fill us up. Because they are so rich in all of these ways, they are a complete package that our bodies recognize as food.  While your body may go through intense desires for some of these foods as it begins to nourish itself, generally speaking it’s really hard to binge out on this stuff.  Even if you are an emotional eater, I promise you you’ll know when you’ve had enough to eat of these foods!

This is a very powerful combination of forces at work, and nothing short of magic ensues when we incorporate more of this into our daily lives.  Increased energy.  Looking and feeling younger.  Weight loss.  More mental clarity and focus.  Getting your “glow” back.  Adopting greener lifestyles.

So how do you do that?

There are many theories out there on how and where to begin.  Here are some of my top tips based on personal experience over the years, and listening to and working with others:

1.  Start with the familiar. Green salads, coleslaws, marinated salads, smoothies and fresh fruit salads and fresh juices (not store bought) are already mainstream, and great beginnings.

2.  Choose organic options for your current foods.  Even if you don’t eat more fresh vegetarian foods right away, you will be lessening your “toxic load” and making an important shift for your overall health.

3.  Start meals with fresh dishes, eating cooked foods only after finishing fresh portions.  Your body takes less time to digest fresh foods, and sending them down the hatch first helps ensure that they do not get “hung up” in your system that is working harder and longer to process the cooked food.

4.  Eat one meal a day that is all fresh, uncooked and plant-based.

5.  Gradually increase the amount of raw foods in a meal or a day.

6.  Keep it simple! Complicated gourmet raw cuisine can be tasty and fun but is not necessary, and can quickly turn people off.

7.  Source the highest quality ingredients you can find.  They are not always more expensive either!Many people remark about how much time I must spend in the kitchen as a result of eating this way.  Not at all!  It only seems like that because new habits, mindsets and physical spaces aren’t established.

To experience these foods and get some personal support, check HERE for my current class schedule.