Organic Avenue
July 29, 2010
by: Kathy Hodge
Wish me luck! After blogging about Norma Kamali and how wonderful her wellness center was, and how I was planning to attempt her diet regimen, I am now about to start the plunge! While I am certainly familiar with the raw and vegan diet, I am a carnivore and while we are at it, I am addicted to chai lattes and a glass now and then of wine certainly works! But…I have wanted to try the cleansing fasts. I guess in some ways symbolic of cleansing the body as well as the soul. One that would hopefully help jump starts me to healthier habits. But I wanted a cleanse that would be healthy, and Organic Avenues’ cleanses (www.organicavenue.com) are definitely healthy and nutrious. It says that they are designed to nourish body and spirit, give your skin a remarkable glow and provide an unmatched healing experience.
For some background on Organic Avenue, it was founded by Denise Mari in 2000. Denise, who is working on her master’s degree in human nutition and is a certified phlebotomist, colon hydro-therapist and living foods lifestyle coach. An associate of Dr. Robert O. Young, author of the ph Miracle, Denise has been conducting advanced research in the “New Biology” using live and dried blood microscopy.
Organic Avenue has a few different cleansing programs. The “Love Easy” is for people relatively new to raw organic foods. It provides a truly balanced combination of juices and solid foods. It is a great way to start acclimating your body to the nutrient-dense, plant –based eating diet. The medium cleanse the one that I am starting, is the “Love Fast”. It is for those seeking the ultimate balance. It is their most popular cleansing because it features elixirs, juices and smoothies. It reduces the solid food intake and speeds up the detoxing process without going all the way to a juice only experience. Their third and most powerful cleansing experience is the “Love Deep”. It is Elixirs and juices: the ultimate juice only experience. It is a 5 day fast from solid food that should provide you with an unmatched surge of energy and incredible clarity that comes from drenching your body with vital nutrients.
An example daily diet from my “Love Fast” cleanse is; Chlorophyll Elixir, Fresh Squeezed Grapefruit Juice, Young Love Green Juice, Goji Berry Smoothie, Cauliflower Soup, Fennel Salad, and Green Mylk. Sounds pretty healthy!
I will do my prep-work for my cleanse tomorrow…….they believe that there are a few important things to know prior to fasting that will create a more beneficial outcome, make the process easier and improve my results. They are:
The day before you begin your LOVE cleanse:
1. Abstain from drinking coffee, or at least cut down considerably.
2. Avoid all refined (white and brown) sugar, salt and processed foods.
3. If you are not a vegetarian or vegan, abstain from or limit greatly your intake of meat, fish, eggs and dairy.
4. Make sure to continue your normal workout regimen.
5. Continue drinking plenty of (filtered) water.
6. Consume a cleansing diet consisting of fresh, organic (if possible) fruits and vegetables. Include green juices, wheatgrass and blended vegetable soups. This will greatly facilitate the cleansing process and set the stage for the days ahead.
The night before: DINNER:
1. Make sure to have a large green leafy salad with a wide variety of raw vegetables (no beans or grains) or lightly steamed vegetables. Fresh lemon or lime juice, high quality first cold pressed olive or avocado oil, and Himalayan/ sea salt can be added, in reasonable amounts. This will sweep the intestine because of the fiber content and prepare the body for fasting.
2. Write a list of intentions of what you would like to release from your life. When we fast or cleanse, we not only detoxify our organs but also cleanse emotions from the system (which are held in those organs) and have the potential to really shift unwanted ideas, people, circumstances and patterns, and move into a lighter more vibrant way of being.
My real goal by under taking this cleanse is to try to incorporating more fresh and organic raw food, juices, smoothies, soups and nut mylks into my normal diet. I think that it is a wonderful and necessary habit which we can all adopt. And I believe that in eating healthier, in addition to being better for my health, I believe that it jumpstarts all good habits, .i.e. working out more, getting more sleep, and doing all those things that I know I should be doing but just don’t do very often!
I will keep you up to date on my progress…let’s see, tomorrow begins no caffeine, sugar and alcohol…nope not going to be easy!