DETOX 04: Elimination diet..

Hello hello! I am so happy about the positive feedback on my little detox series. You guys really are great and it is such an inspiration to know so many of you are willing to make positive & healthy changes to your lives! Well done!! xx

Quite a few of you have sent me questions about how to find a good programme and, just in general, how to go about an effective detox. I must confess that the more detoxing journeys I embark on the more I wish to adjust my lifestyle to be clean all the time. I am already eating a 90% certified organic diet rich in nutrients, with focus on lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. However I am starting to feel an urge to phasing out things like sugar, meat, and dairy full stop. Though these are very tasty (most of the time) I really don't feel all that great after eating them. Also, as I learn more about the serious and long term damage they do to my body the more I wish to eliminate them permanently.

But that's me, and you may feel differently. In fact it is very important to remember that we are all different - we lead different lifestyles, have different body types, different needs and sensitivities. What feels like the perfect balance for my body, may leave you feeling either unchallenged or overwhelmed. A 'raw food enthusiast' may feel completely at ease embarking on a two week juice fast, whereas a 'meat & dairy lover' most probably needs to take a softer approach to start. Detoxing therefore needs to be tailored and it is important that you bear this in mind along the way.

For the benefit of this post though I will base my advice on what I deem is 'an average person'. To me this means someone who enjoys everything in moderation, and who is reasonably conscious of the most common pitfalls of an every-day diet. He/she would at times enjoy alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, and may even smoke the occasional cigarette but is by no means a heavy user of any of these substances. For such a person I would recommend starting off by doing a so called 'elimination diet'.

An elimination diet aims to remove substances that have an adverse effect on the body and thus allowing the bodily organs to rest and recharge. It's not really a formal 'detox' but shares many of the positive benefits of a full cleanse (only not to their full extent). This kind of regime is a very common and sensible starting point for a full detox and a great way to prepare the body for the next phase. I find that a well managed elimination diet gives great results in physical appearance, bodily functions, and instils a general sense of well-being. And the best part is that it can be achieved within the reams of your day-to-day life!

Elimination diets are especially handy following times of indulgence (e.g. Christmas, Easter etc), during times of stress, after prolonged illness, or after a course of prescription or non prescription drugs. It is also a great way to kick-start a healthier lifestyle and/or prepare for a formal detox or permanent food change. The programme most commonly runs between two to eight weeks, however it is very likely that you wish to continue longer due to the positive results in the way you look and feel.

If it's your very first time and you want to try this, simply remove as many of the following substances from your diet over two weeks.

1. Caffeine

2. Sugar (and sweeteners)

3. Bread, pasta, refined cereal and white rice

4. Dairy (with the exception of raw natural yogurt)

5. Red meat

6. Salt (except for good quality sea salt or Himalayan crystal salt)

7. Alcohol

8. Small goods and processed foods

9. All soft drinks incl. commercial fruit juice, cordial, lemonade etc.

10. Needless to say, if you are a smoker, user of snuff, or other recreational drugs you aim to eliminate these too. 
Don't go 'cold turkey' as this can really mess you about , instead cut down slowly over the first week until you go 'clean' the second week..

Before you start hyper-ventilating over what you can't have, sit yourself down and instill in your mind the reason you are embarking on this journey in the first place. Write them down and pin it to your bathroom mirror, fridge door, bedside table etc.
Decide to focus on what you CAN have rather than what you CAN'T have, because really there are so many foods and drinks you can enjoy during an elimination diet. And you should, because this is not a weight loss programme or one where you constantly have to be on your toes about how much you eat. The good news is that you can indulge freely in a whole raft of great foods and you won't go hungry at all. That to me is important as I am an avid believer that life should be enjoyable!

The key is to take away what harms and/or hinders your body from feeling and looking its very best. By taking them away you will become tangibly aware of the negative effect these daily pollutants have on your health, even if they taste good and make you feel good at the time you eat them. 
Of course there may be some side effects in the first few days such as head- and joint- aches, loose stools, flue like symptoms, irritability, skin rashes, and tiredness. But try to see these as a sign that the process is working. As a general rule, the worse you feel the more you need this cleanse. So hang on in there and know how great you will feel, look and be in only a matter of days!

I know that the thought of having to live without coffee or chocolate for more than a short while can be so confronting that you don't even want to try..! But really, you can do this! All you need to do is to stay focused and determined, and you will be surprised by how easy it is to establish new habits. 
Also, please try not to become overly enthusiastic and dive in the deep end by doing a rigid programme the very first time (I speak from experience here!!). Instead start with an elimination diet, set realistic goals, and take it slow. Go one week at a time and focus on the long term. It won't take that long before you find clean, nutritional, and yummy alternatives to your daily food staples and habits. Remember that Rome wasn't built in one day!!

PLANNING ahead is the key to success and I urge you to go through your pantry, fridge and freezer and remove ALL temptations before you start. Because as you can understand, there will be times you will want to cheat and if it is there you'll eat it..! Even things you may not normally be drawn to may seem tempting, so be brutal and take away anything that falls within the list of foods/drinks to avoid!

The next step is to stock up on the foods you CAN eat. Think about maximizing nutrition and make it easy for yourself to find things to eat at a short notice. This might mean making frozen smoothie icypoles, preparing your own musli mix, roasting nuts, filling a bowl with washed & ready-to eat seasonal fruits, keeping a jug with freshly squeezed juice in the fridge, cutting vegetable sticks, making guacamole to dip them in etc etc. Become your own best friend and make this journey as smooth, enjoyable and kind as possible. By preparing meal and snack plans you eliminate the pressure to think on your feet, which at the beginning can be a challenge. Rest assured that it gets easier by the day, and in week two you'll be right on track .

Last but not least, ensure you keep a PBA-free bottle of filtered water with you at all times so that you stay hydrated and refreshed. Drinking water is essential during a cleanse so get yourself a Brita filter jug and fill your fridge with yummy fruited and flavoured water. Also stock your pantry with a wardrobe of herbal teas that can replace your morning and evening hot drinks. There are plenty teas that have wonderful properties that will help your body. Some of my favourites are dandelion, camomile, fennel, cinnamon, mint and green tea. Visit your local health food store and ask for assistance when building your very own tea cupboard.

As for the foods that you CAN eat. Though there are plenty  of great alternatives I would recommend you go to HERE to find a good and straight forward eating guide. It's part of a detox programme issued by GNC, and one that I have used successfully many times. As I have mentioned before, I am not sponsored by these guys I just happen to like them. The booklet refers to the programme as a 'detox' but as you are allowed to take some animal proteins I think it falls more within a restricted or elimination diet. But terminology aside, this programme is effective, well balanced and easy to follow whilst also achieving great results.

The two key objectives of the programme is to a) eliminate toxins, and b) restore the body on a cellular level. You will no longer eat just to feel full. Instead you will eat to nourish yourself in the best way possible. When this happens your body will be happy, and will start to transform. Not only will it unfold a wonderful & healthy glow, but also a rush of life energy and an inner feeling of peaceful wellness!

Good luck everyone and please let me know how you go!

xx Charlotta xx

DETOX: 03 Reap the rewards..

Hello everyone!  We are enjoying wonderful Spring weather here in Sweden which makes me smile with my whole body! And it is in the spirit of reborn energy I want to talk to you about the positive aspects of detoxing - i.e. the rewards.

As we all know, there are a few not-so-pleasant side-effects at the start of a detox programme, but these are usually short lived. Better yet they are by far outnumbered by the positives, and the way I see it; if I can feel the detox process it means it is working, and that is good! 
It may also be comforting to know that all the good effects kick in simultaneously to the bad ones, and will continue to unfold and deepen the longer you continue. The nasties however will wear off in a matter of days, and you can also speed up the elimination process by flushing your system with lots of filtered water.

As I have mentioned before, detoxing maximizes the body's ability to clean itself, increase its absorption of nutrients, heal and generally just restore energy and stamina. It allows your body to eliminate toxic waste, medicine residue, heavy metals, parasites and congestion stored in vital organs and fatty tissue. All of which will allow your body to balance itself in every way, which leads to a deep feeling of well-being and harmony.
When this process is in action you will start noticing your appearance improve. Others will too!

For must people the external benefits are the most fun to experience, though they are of course completely reliant on the  positive effects that take place on the inside.
Your skin may start off looking a little dull, and you may even experience the odd 'break-out'. {If these are located on your chin they are most likely hormone related and if they appear on your cheeks they tend to be linked to your digestion.} Over-all try not to worry to much about this as it will pass quickly. It is just your body expelling waste through the skin, which is your body's largest organ. {You may look at it as your very own 'Brita filter'.} Once the skin has expelled the pollution that has bee released into your blood stream from your vital organs you will start to look and feel wonderful!

Though I try to keep a reasonably healthy lifestyle outside of detoxing, I notice a real difference in how I feel in the morning when I keep a 'normal' diet {which tends to include coffee BTW..}. Even if I go to bed fairly early I don't really feel completely rested in the morning. I find that I linger in bed longer, that it takes more time to 'wake up' and that I generally feel a little sluggish. During a cleanse I experience the opposite - I wake up earlier and actually feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed right from the start. I also tend to look rested which needless to say is a welcome change! :)

If you suffer dry, patchy, uneven or dull skin you will find that these problems will vastly improve. As will bloating, water retention, joint problems, digestive issues (you will be frequent during your detox..!), puffiness, and stiffness.
Your hair will also look and feel better, and you will notice you shed less during your detox simply because you eliminate toxins and replace them with vital nutrients! {This is why a 'lemon detox' is not a good idea. Your body needs nutrition to heal, something water and lemon won't provide alone!} 

Another thing you will notice after a few days of detoxing is that you smell better. Yes really! As groce as this topic may feel to some I want to bring it up.. Your perspiration, 'toilet-output', and breath will all improve. And frankly these aspects of your life should never really smell bad, they just do because they are not working properly. For instance, your digestive system is probably not working at 100% which leads to congestion in your intestines. When waste produce is not pushed through your system as quickly as it should it turns toxic and smelly. 
Same thing for your breath, which of course is reliant on your stomach being in tip top shape. As an experiment, check the colour and texture of your tongue {look way back}.. In a healthy body the tongue will be pink, moist and free from fungal residue, blisters etc.  The 'average person' who lives on a 'normal diet' will most often find their tongue has a 'coating' of varying colour - grey, white, greenish or even brown. They may also experience blisters or mouth ulcers from time to time. They may even get regular cold sores. All of this can be prevented (and treated) through keeping the bodily balance in check.
Just generally the tongue is a great measuring stick for how your body feels and looks on the inside (as are the irises of your eyes and also your skin), and it's always interesting to check before and after a detox. The difference will surprised you!

I know this post is getting long by now, but I really want to tell you about as many positive side-effects as possible.

Apart from the above external and (shall we say) 'social' benefits, you will also notice an sense of inner peace and harmony. You will feel calmer, less restless, more even in your mood, more centered, focused and in control. 
When I detox I also tend to feel more loving, positive, open and connected. In short, your 'presence' and 'energy' will improve, which often leads to positive comments.

Another welcome treat is that your senses tend to awaken - you will notice your sense of smell, taste, and hearing improve first, closely followed by an increased sense of touch, and vision. Your eyes will feel more lubricated, less itchy, brighter and clearer (they look it too!). 
If you suffer allergies or hay fever you will most definitely notice an improvement, and you may find your sinus problems lessen too. I tend to feel a real relief in my nose - as if I have used a reliever. Just a much fresher, clearer and easy flowing sensation when breathing.
If you tend to wake up with puffy eyes or dark circles (often related to liver congestion or allergies), you can look forward to a real improvement (usually after a couple of weeks). {Actually I tend to feel less puffy all over, even during that very special (or not so special) week of the month..!}

Even if stamina, flexibility, suppleness and deep breathing will improve please don't push your bodies with strenuous exercise during your detox programme. I know it's tempting to ride the surge of energy, but it is important that you allow your body to focus its energy on healing and cleaning rather than restoring itself after heavy exercise. That said, a gentle jog, brisk walk, yoga, tai chi, swimming and light pilates are great ways to support and enhance the detoxification process. In fact breaking a sweat is one of the most effective ways to expel toxins (use a sauna if you have access to one!). 
Deep breathing is also a vital way to shed toxins, and speaking of which, you will notice a real improvement in your quality of breath. Your lungs will be more fit to take in and channel oxygen to your body, and with every exhale you will shed stored pollution. So take deep and deliberate breaths people!

OK lovelies, I could go on and on about this but I'll leave it at this for today. 

I hope you enjoyed this post, and that answered some of your questions. I also hope some of the benefits I highlighted today encourages you to start your own cleansing journey.

Sunny hugs and good health to all!

xx Charlotta

DETOX: 02. Why do it?

Hello all and welcome to the second post in my 'detox series'.

When I started my very first cleanse I had only a vague vision of why I needed it. I was in my early 20s and lead an active & fun life - I still do btw :) - and really didn't delve too deeply into the matter which lead to quite a few failed attempts with poor results. 
Over the years I have gained more insight to the functions of our bodies and how these impact on our well-being and every-day health.

In an ideal world our bodies would be able to cope just fine without the aid of special diets, detoxing and supplements. In fact detoxing is part of the body's natural functions and every day it actively works to neutralize and shed itself of toxic waste through the lungs, liver, colon, kidneys, skin and lymphatic system. 

However, due to the every-day toxins and pollution we are faced with in today's world our bodies find it hard to cope. And I don't even mean the bodies of people who live in large cities, lead tangibly unhealthy lives or suffer substance abuse. I am referring to the 'average person' out there who may even be reasonably fit or eat a relatively healthy diet.

The scary truth is that the food & drinks we consume, the air we breathe, the water we wash in, the products we apply to our bodies, the medications we take and the electro-magnetic fields we surround ourselves with radically affect our health and well-being whether we like it or not. It can't be avoided because of the nature of our lives and the state our planet is in since industrialization and mass production started.

Add to this the stressful lives we lead which often drive us to compensate lack of time with 'convenience' which tends to mean eating too much processed and artificially produced foods, drink caffeinated and alcoholic drinks, as well as too much sugar and the wrong kinds of fats. 
Actually I think it is true to say that 'convenience' (even laziness and ignorance at times) is the biggest threat & enemy to good health, and by default and by nature humans tend to seek the 'easiest' route forward in lives. This means we tend to take the car when really we should walk or hop on the bike, we eat take-away when we should be cooking ourselves, we use pre-fab when we should use raw or wholefoods, we drink caffeine and eat sugar to boost energy so that we can compensate for lack of sleep & rest, we pop a painkiller to eliminate a headache that really is the result of not drinking enough water etc etc.

Slowly our bodies and health start to decline and we begin to experience a raft of symptoms that frighteningly are deemed 'normal' and part of life - fatigue, headaches, poor digestion, insomnia, depression, anxiety, mood swings, restlessness, poor memory, irritability, joint ache, rashes & skin problems, pimples, hair loss, hormone imbalances, allergies, blurred vision, dizzy spells, infertility, bloating, inflammations etc etc. The list is long and to many much too familiar..! And as our bodies signal something is wrong through all or any of the above we tend to eliminate or suppress the symptoms by consuming more of the wrong things or by taking medication. The vicious circle is closing..!

Numerous scientific studies have shown that newborn babies (in developed countries) carry somewhere between 200 and 300 known chemicals in their bodies!! All passed on to them from their parents and environment. 
With the not yet developed ability to process these poisons and waste products in their organs they run a higher risk of disease. This is part of the explanation for the rise of chronic illnesses such as asthma, cancer, inflammation, behavioural & developmental disturbances amongst children etc etc. 
To be blunt, this scares the hell out of me as a parent and I am therefore motivated to do what ever it takes to minimize the exposure to toxins in our daily lives. I also try my hardest to live life by good example as to educate my children to make better choices for their future. 'They do as you do, not as you say' is the motto I try to live by!

I really don't mean to scare you or come across as dramatic through this post, but I want to give you a truthful picture of the impact a deemed 'normal life' has on our health. And because we are already born with so much toxic waste in our system it is important imperative that we take action to support our bodies in their work to keep us healthy and well
If you don't want to do it for yourself, do it for your children or grand children. In fact science dictates that it takes 4 generations to reverse or compensate inherited damage / DNA!

THE GOOD NEWS is that our bodies are capable to clean out waste and unwanted toxins! In fact they were designed for the job and they have an impressive ability to self-heal if only we help it to do so! Some parts of our bodies can restore functions within a matter of days, where as others take longer. The importance is that it is never too late to make changes and that everyone can make them!
There are several wonderful examples of people who have been cured from serious illness by changing their diets and lifestyles. Those of you who have read books like 'The Journey' by Brandon Bays, 'Chemical Free Kids' by Dr Sarah Lantz, or Dr Alejandro Junger's 'Clean - remove restore rejuvenate' will know what I talk about here. 
If you live in Sweden I highly recommend you attend a lecture or book yourself an appointment with health guru Zarah Öberg, who you can read more about HERE. 
Also, HERE is a great reference site for healing foods that I use regularly. 

So the more I learn about all of this the more driven I become to look after myself and my loved ones. And importantly since I am not willing to compromise completely by living a raw-diet vegan life in the remote countryside in a part of the world that is least exposed to radio-magnetic pollution etc I do what I can within the reams of a relatively 'normal' life. So I try to be smart about it and aim for long term health and balance! To be honest it shouldn't have to come to a point of serious illness before we take charge and I am much more a believer in 'proactive' rather than 'reactive' health meassures. And this is why I have such passion for eating organic foods, using toxin free hygiene and cleaning products, detoxing etc. It's as simple as that really!

A good two to six week detox a couple of times a year is enough to support your body's natural ability to clean and heal. Add to that you do your best to maximize nutrition and minimize chemicals & toxins and you are well on the way! It's all common sense and the old saying 'you are what you eat' is the truth!

OK sweeties that is it for today. I know this post was heavy and full of scary facts, but it is important to have a platform to work from. From here on it will be all about the positive aspects of being healthy on the inside and how to achieve it!

Have a lovely weekend ahead and enjoy life!

xx Charlotta

DETOX: 01. Putting a Spring in my step..

Hello hello! I am sitting at my kitchen table with a view of perfect sunshine outside my window and it fills me with happy energy and the desire to dive into a raft of projects. In fact this is the reason I am writing because as of next week I am starting my second cleanse/detox for the year!

After indulging freely during our recent (and wonderful) trip to Paris, and then allowing a few hand-fulls of sneaky Easter treats to pass my lips I am personally totally geared up to give myself a 'Spring Clean'. Despite the obvious & unavoidable challenges ahead I am looking forward to the surge of energy that always comes with a good cleanse and can't wait to start!

For those of you who live in the Southern hemisphere, Autumn is an excellent time to cleanse your body in preparation for Winter and a less active outdoor life.
In fact both Spring and Autumn offer an abundance of fresh produce and usually trigger a natural drive to commence new projects and plans, so let's make the most of this positive energy people!

Parallel to my own cleanse I will launch the first post in the promised  'detox series'. I will share my personal learnings and experiences. Again, it is important that you all know that I am no expert, nor am I a medical practitioner or naturopath. I am merely a keen and eager student in the learings of a healthier and more energized life. And I want to share it with you! xx

So my darlings, I will be back in a few days with the first post and hope that you find it inspires you to launch your own cleansing journey.

xx Charlotta

Leaping into Spring..

Hi darlings.

I am so thrilled to report that there has been a real shift in the air here in Sweden and we can feel the very first signs of Spring!!

Though I am sure we might get at least one more blizzard before the sun wins over the frost, the ground is actually bare this week! And the light has returned which makes such a difference! In the not too distant future nature will explode in a parade of life and colours - the best time of the year don't you think!?! Happy happy!! :)

It has been so long since I posted properly and a lot has happened.. 

The detox went so well and I carried on strictly for about six weeks with great results. I feel cleaner, leaner & more energized, and love that many of the good habits of the detox have stayed with me. E.g. I have eliminated cow's milk and sugar in my diet. I also continue to eat wholefoods and raw foods, which add to the feeling of 'inner glow'. I will definitely go 'all raw' for a week or so later this Spring!

Your detox emails and comments have been a lovely support and with the number of questions I have received I thought I'd start a little 'detox series' where I go through my learnings over the years as well as share food tips and motivations. 
I'll kick this off soon and hope that it will inspire you to start your own journey towards a cleaner and healthier life. I can guarantee that you won't have any regrets!

I am also so excited to tell you that I was finally able to catch up with my long term and close blog sister Monika of 'Splendid Willow' when she visited Stockholm a few weeks ago. It was our very first 'real life meeting' but felt far from it. She is even lovelier in real life, and we spent a few very precious hours together.

As you know Monika also runs a brilliant e-boutique..

... click on the banner above and you will be able to enjoy a very well curated collection of hand picked Scandinavian items that will feel current for years to come!

images from Splendid Willow Avenue

 

I just purchased a pair of orange Ilse Jacobsen boots for Spring. What better colour to compliment a grey and rainy day!?

More fun news! I am so thrilled to tell you that we welcomed our beloved cat Bella Busk to Sweden a few weeks ago. 
Like a champion, she flew all the way from Sydney to Stockholm and arrived tired but well. I can't tell you how happy the kids and I are to have her with us, and now that Bella Busk is thoroughly cuddled and acclimatised, she is bushy tailed and bright eyed again!

More reasons to be happy..! 
We have booked tickets to Paris for March when Marshall comes to Sweden. Mais oui! :))

Two days in the city and two days at Disneyland Paris. Is there anything lovelier than Springtime in Paris..!?!

by Peter Rutherhagen

More great news to come this Spring I am sure.. There is simply so much to be grateful for and I am sincerely LOVING life back in my beloved Sweden!

Big hugs to all and wishes of a happy weekend ahead!

xx Charlotta