Emma’s Detox

Today I feel the changes of detox beginning – I feel less bloated, more energetic, and definitely calmer. I tend to go at a caffeine induced frenetic pace and detox forces me to slow down, concentrate on self care and really nourish myself on all levels. It allows me to stop and assess everything that has occurred in the last 6 months, whether I am aligned with my goals and if I need to adjust anything. I believe that simply connecting with yourself allows change to happen. Often patients will echo this belief, saying that they noticed many shifts occur during detox. Perhaps it is an ongoing problem that gets resolved, perhaps it is a negative self belief that lifts – everyone is different but everyone feels the shift in some way or another!Today, I tackled the gym first thing. Research shows that if you exercise early morning you actually burn more calories than exercising in the evening – even if you do exactly the same thing! I love morning exercise as it pumps me full of endorphins and I feel good all day long. I know it definitely improves my mood; there is no doubt about that.Breakfast was a smoothie on the run – apple juice, sheep’s milk yoghurt, frozen berries, probiotic and flax seed oil. Lunch was left over miso soup from last night. I strongly encourage you to do this as it makes life so easy. Make a little extra at dinner and voila – instant lunch! I went to the fish markets on the way home and picked up some flathead tails – this fish is perfect for kids as it has a very mild flavour and soft texture. I […]

Today I went to the organic markets early in the morning which I just love with a passion. I have been eating organic food for years and I never fail to feel inspired by fresh produce. This morning I visited the mushroom man – he grows incredible wild mushrooms in a cave near Moss Vale. I bought some enoki (my favourite) and some Swiss browns.Then I chatted to the Sprout woman – she grows lots of different sprouts and I just love the broccoli sprouts. These are packed full of sulphoraphane which induce phase 1 and 2 detox pathways in the liver. Recent research from John Hopkins University has shown that broccoli sprouts are cancer preventative. I throw them into all my salads for an extra detox hit. You can grow them at home, just plant organic broccoli seeds, wait to them to sprout them eat them when they are 3 days old!I then spotted Johnny, my favourite farmer. His farm is at Peat’s Ridge, 1 ½ hours out of Sydney and he brings down a collective of produce from the local area. He is a wealth of knowledge and as I am setting up my veggie garden I wanted to pick his brains about a few things. As usual, Johnny was full of great advice and I left feeling excited about the prospect of picking my own lettuce in a few weeks.I always buy a bunch of flowers at the market and love coming home and unpacking all my goodies. I usually cook in the same day as I shop as I tend to get into a foodie zone.  First of all I cooked split pea soup for emergency lunch/dinners which I put […]

I had a huge day at work today and thankfully I was well prepared with my food. I had a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs with parsley and zucchini. I use oat milk for this as it has a lovely flavour. I have plenty of dried apricots, tamari almonds and Brazil nuts to snack on so that kept me going between patients. Lunch comprised of some split pea soup that I made on the weekend – love those easy options!I want you to also be doing an environmental detox – assess your home, the products that are used with in it and check exactly what is in the products you are putting on your skin. Your skin is not water proof – it is a soluble surface and chemicals will be absorbed through the pores.I also bought a combined ioniser/oil burner today which I have been wanting for ages. It is firstly an essential oil diffuser but it uses ultrasonic waves at a high frequency to disperse water and oils into the air. This technique means that you don’t have to use much essential oil and the smell lasts a long time. It is, secondly, an ioniser which improves air quality through the release of negative ions in the air (which we also receive from the ocean and rainforests). This is health promoting and helps to reduce airborne toxin exposure. Thirdly it is a humidifier which combats the drying effect of heating and air conditioning. Lastly, I turn it on in the morning when I get up and it goes for 16 hours straight – no changing of candles, adding more essential oils or burning dry.

I made quinoa porridge with raspberries for breakfast today. What I love about this meal is that it takes literally 4 minutes to make. I boil the kettle, pour 1 cup of water into a saucepan, add ½ cup quinoa flakes and ½ cup frozen raspberries then simmer for 2 minutes. This is a nice high protein breakfast with a boost of antioxidants!I then had IKU for lunch as this is the most wonderful organic fast food! I rely on it quite a lot when I am working and busy. IKU is vegetarian, organic food with a focus on macrobiotic philosophies.I spent ½ hour in the steam room today and then had a cold shower directly afterwards. This is a wonderful way to open your pores to facilitate toxin release and then stimulate lymphatic flow around the body. We carry toxins in the lymph tissue and it needs to be manually moved in order to be shifted around the body. As we move, our muscles contract and this has the effect of pushing lymph. This greatly facilitates toxin removal and I can’t emphasise enough the importance of this during detox.

I am not sure if you have realised by now but organisation is the key to a successful detox. Do a pantry check – put everything you can’t eat into a box and hide it in the garage. Check the fridge/freezer and donate all “off the list” items to your friends – they will be appreciative and you won’t be tempted! Plan your weekly menu on a Saturday and then go to the market and buy everything you need for the week. Go home and spend a few hours over the weekend cooking meals for the freezer. These will prove invaluable for those nights that you are home late or for that easy lunch option. I also recommend cooking a little extra for dinner and before you dish up your plate, put some in a take away container ready for lunch the next day. So think ahead, outside the square if you need to, and use the Girl Guide motto “be prepared”!BTW, I have been taking vitamin C hourly and Andrographis compound and I feel so much better in 24 hours I can’t believe it. I also took my homeopathic acute remedy as soon as I felt congested and I think that made a world of difference. Ahh, thank goodness for natural medicine

Oh dear – day 1 can be so challenging! I must admit that I went out for dinner last night with some beautiful friends who love food as much as I do. Well, we ate and drank some amazing tastes and I farewelled all the lovely things that I was about to cease – meat, wheat, dairy, alcohol, caffeine and sugar to name the main culprits. I am used to this feeling of initial loss – it happens three times a year! I have been detoxing twice a year for a month as well as a mid winter 7 day detox for many years now.The reason I am passionate about detoxing is because of how I feel at the end – incredible energy, crystal clear mental clarity and very connected mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. You can’t buy that in a jar! It takes commitment and organisation to make it work but I have never yet had a patient say they didn’t feel much better at the end.I advise you to tell all and sundry that you are about to embark on your detox. This way, your friends and family will be less likely to sabotage your efforts. They will know that instead of going to the pub on Sunday, you will meet them for a yoga class. Keep your social duties light while detoxing – there will always be something on but don’t despair. You won’t be living in a bubble but you can socialise in different ways that are more aligned with your detoxification goals.So, today is a day to drink lots of water, maybe experience a headache that is dull and annoying ( caffeine withdrawal!) and take it easy. Over the […]