30 Days of Detox - Part 2

Warning:  This is not a 30 day detox where you eat lettuce every day or drink a homemade lemonade.  I am not knocking either of those, either.  What I have here is a list of 30 simple things you can do to cleanse and energize your life, family and home.  Each day pick one to do.  By the end of 30 days, you will have done 30 different things that are healthy and cleansing.  Many of them you will want to do everyday and make it a habit for life.  Think of the changes you can make in your body, in your home and on the earth.  And remember that April 22, tomorrow, is Earth Day.

11.  Drink Tart Cherry juice.  Tart Cherries are a superfruit that may alleviate insomnia, reduce heart disease and diabetes, help in weight loss, reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol and has more antioxidant power than drinking a glass of red wine.  Look for tart Montmorency cherry juice (I buy Indian Summer).

12.  Join the Billion Acts of Green campaign.  Go to http://act.earthday.org and pledge an action.  Create an avatar that will walk you through your daily habits and calculate your ecological footprint.  They also have great tips and suggestions that will help you reduce your use of the planet's resources.

13.  Try Fennel.   Fennel is composed of a white or pale green bulb from which closely superimposed stalks are arranged. The stalks are topped with feathery green leaves near which flowers grow and produce fennel seeds. The bulb, stalk, leaves and seeds are all edible. Fennel belongs to the Umbellifereae family and is therefore closely related to parsley, carrots, dill and coriander.  Fennel contains its own unique combination of phytonutrients with antioxidant and health-promoting effects.  Try this recipe for lunch (Makes 4 salads): Cut 2 red grapefruits into segments.  Cut 2 avocados into slices and julienne 1 large fennel bulb.  Mix those ingredients with 1/2 cup mint leaves (reserving a few mint leaves for garnish), 1 TBSP lime juice, 1/2 cup nut oil or extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp ground coriander and salt/pepper in a bowl and serve.

14.  Change your shower curtain liner to nylon.  Most shower curtain liners are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which can emit harmful gases.  Nylon liners are waterproof and easy to clean.

15.  Sweat.  Sweating is very cleansing for your body.  When you sweat, you breathe faster, your heart works more, your circulation improves and your metabolism accelerates, all in an effort to resume your normal body temperature. Because your circulation is increased during sweating, many of the toxins and impurities are able to exit your body by way of your open skin pores. This is a good reason to exercise to the point of sweating.  If you are sweating because you have been exercising, you have been burning calories.  So pick an activity and get sweating!

16.  Buy a plant.  You can grow your own clean air by putting ordinary, inexpensive houseplants like English ivy or golden pothos, which can actually filter indoor toxins in your home.  Scientist B.C. Wolverton, PhD authored "How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Plants that Purify Your Home or Office" and explains how these houseplants filter common indoor pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde.

17.  Drink lemon balm tea.  I used to have my own plant and I would rub the leaves and smell them; they smell just like a lemon!  This soothing member of the mint family helps normalize a hyperactive thyroid, relaxes anxiety, and encourages sleep.  Oh, and Saturday, May 5th is Herb Day, so get your own plant!

18.  Send a personal note to someone you haven't talked to in a while.  Sit down, write a note or letter, and mail it.  It will feel good to send a nice hello to both you and the receiver!  I use a great online service called Send Out Cards where I can really personalize my cards with pictures, etc.  Go to  www.SOCRetail.com/MVPCards to get 2 free cards!!


19.  Volunteer.  Increase your social circle by volunteering. Doing something for the good of others is also a selfless act that is good for your conscience.

20.  Say no to all junk food today.  Processed junk food full of unnatural sweeteners and chemicals pumps poison into your body, can cause you to become overweight, and negatively affects your heart health. Even diet junk-food is processed and unhealthy.

Happy Earth Day!!  See us on Facebook for the 4-week Boot Camp, Lake Geneva Get Healthy with a Hike and Lunch and Postcards from Heaven.