Blogging about the Cleanse
The Contents:
Intro: some important information
1. my personal reflections
2. the recipes and guidelines for the cleanse
3. websites to visit for further information
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Intro: some important information
1. my personal reflections
2. the recipes and guidelines for the cleanse
3. websites to visit for further information
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Intro:
As we are all aware there are many cleanses and fasting ideas out there! I've been contemplating on this subject for many years and my own experience includes juice fasts, raw food fasts and short-grain-brown-rice-only fasts. In all cases I found that they were VERY hard, and it was impossible not to binge eat afterwards. This seemed to counteract all of the hard work I'd just accomplished. I would end a fast feeling incredibly triumphant and then almost immediately, very disappointed in myself.
So, the idea of this ayurvedic cleanse is quite the opposite. It's about simplicity, but not extremity. It is a gentle way of cleansing your body and helping make changes which will endure. In my opinion, the best learning tool it gives is that of being able to distinguish a craving from a real need.
Here's a quote from a website that I thought very apt:
Contrary to popular opinion, working with food cravings is not about developing greater will power. It is about engaging food with awareness and beginning to become aware of potential choices we may not be making. Often we will be using food to bury something else -- a memory; a hope; a craving for truth, beauty, fairness, companionship; a reality more to our liking. When cravings arise, the trick is to stay awake, rather than go numb. (http://www.amadeamorningstar.com/)
1. My personal reflections
It started with myself, my boyfriend Ronnie, my roommates Mahdi, Luis and his girlfriend Andrea. We began the 10 day Ayurvedic Fall Cleanse with much courage. But I admit I was a little nervous because although I'd done a lot of reading and studying on the subject, it had been 3 years since I attempted a cleanse and this was something very different than what I'd done before. I was using myself and my loved ones as experimental subjects...
It got complicated almost immediately with me trying to cook for 5 people and keep everyone from panicking about such a mushy and pallid diet. I wanted to try all of the recipes I'd encountered during my research and some were more popular than others (I've only included those that went over successfully in the recipes and guidelines part of this blog).
Everyone was very patient and open minded. Diligently drinking the strange morning concoctions I handed them. Ghee and psyllium do not necessarily have natural (to us) textures or tastes. Ronnie announced that the psyllium-in-water contained strange floating objects not unlike "lung-biscuits". Andrea looked like she might cry as she sipped tentatively at the butter tea. Luis, always the optimist, commented that it smelled like popcorn. Mahdi escaped to his room.
The mung bean dal was uniformly appreciated by everyone.
Overall I would call the cleanse a real success.
Not everyone loved it. Not everyone stayed with it for the full 10 days. But I think we would all agree that we learned a lot and the experience has seriously changed our opinions about the food we put into our bodies and the habits we have developed with respect to food consumption.
The great aspects included feeling very calm and lucid. Also, there were many reports of less digestive problems, and a more vibrant feeling in the body overall. We all shed some extra pounds (but nothing excessive because this cleanse is all about balance rather than dramatic shifts). We all gained a greater understanding of what our bodies need and are accustomed to where food/drink are concerned.
Difficulties we encountered included feeling very emotional and sensitive, frustration, anger, fatigue, headaches, some nausea, bloating and constipation.
Some of these problems are normal in my opinion and due to the detoxification process. Others were due to the fact that it is very hard to cleanse and keep up with a very busy work schedule. It's best to find a time where you can take it easy for the length of the cleanse. Lastly, I think it is very important to keep in mind that although it's good to follow the "rules" of the cleanse, it's very important to listen to your own body and you may have to adapt things slightly to make sure you're comfortable (more on this below). Some of us needed to have included more fruit and vegetables early on in the fast to avoid the constipation, for example.
2. The recipe and guideline for the cleanse
5-10 days in length
Main food item: Kitcheri (Mung Bean Dal). It's a mung bean and rice stew spiced with cinnamon, tumeric, ginger and cumin
Use the first days to ease yourself into the diet and use the last few days to ease yourself out of it. In the middle try to take one or two days to really simplify and cleanse: eat only one meal of kitcheri (lots of herbal teas and water). Ultimately listen to your own body and don't be too harsh. ESPECIALLY if this is your first time doing this kind of thing.
Eat porridge every day for breakfast (plus fruit)
Eat Kitcheri every day for lunch and supper along with steamed vegetables
Try to eat only what makes you full. Never overeat and allow yourself to digest thoroughly between meals. If possible, eat a larger portion midday and a smaller portion in the evening. Drink plenty of water and herbal teas (suggestions are below).
*buy organic ingredients because given that this is a chance to detox, there is no point buying foods full of chemicals
Kitcheri
2 parts mung beans
1 part rice (white basmati or short grain brown rice...Lundenberg is a great brand)
olive oil
fresh ginger grated
tumeric
cumin seeds
cinnamon
salt
(a nice big pinch of all the spices)
Porridge ( one very tasty option )
whole oats
dried fruit
roasted nuts
ginger
cinnamon
maple syrup
*simplify this recipe and cut out the nuts, fruit and maple syrup as the cleanse progresses
Vegetables to Steam (or eat raw)
broccoli
spinach
carrots
squash
turnips
Digestive Tea #1
fresh ginger sliced into chunks
cardamom pods
honey
(boil for 5 minutes, let steep for 20 minutes and add honey to taste)
Digestive Tea #2
ground cumin
ground fennel
dried oregano
cinnamon
(same instructions as above)
Other good snacks:
-dried prunes, figs, cranberries and apricots
-rice cakes with almond butter and honey
-cashews, almonds and pumpkin seeds
For the next week after the cleanse here are foods to avoid and to re-introduce slowly and gradually:
-wheat
-caffeine
-sugar
-alcohol
-meat
-dairy
-tomatoes
-potatoes
3. Websites for further information
http://www.tridosha.com/ayurveda.cfm
http://www.haelan.co.uk/Remedies-Detoxing.shtml#whole
http://www.vedicsociety.org/10-day-ayurvedic-balancing-detoxing-fast-a-298.html
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The end (or perhaps the beginning...)
The end (or perhaps the beginning...)
