Simple Guidelines to Get You Back on Track

You may have already tried a detox or weight-loss program, or have thought of starting one.  If so, I would really like to encourage you to remember that slow and steady wins the race!  Remember there are no silver bullets - no quick fixes - so before you embark on any eating program, ask yourself if you can eat like that for the rest of your life. If the answer is no, then it's not the right one for you!  If you are unhappy with your health or you've put on a few extra pounds, remember that change takes time.  It happens by simply building new habits in your mind and doing them over and over again until they become ingrained in your life.  Try to focus on adding the healthy foods, one small thing at a time! Focus on how far you have come and not how far you still have to go.

For 18 years now, I have made sure that I nourish, replenish and cleanse my body on a daily basis. It's simple.  

First, it's very important to NOURISH our bodies with real, whole foods, especially green foods. We are simply not eating enough greens in our diets. Consider sautéing some green onions or leeks with sliced kale, swiss chard and spinach. Add a zested lemon rind with some fresh parsley and serve as a side.  Serve at breakfast topped with a poached egg! Take time to prepare a delicious green salad or a nutritious Avolicious green smoothie!

Secondly, we need to CLEANSE! No matter what the disease, the road to health begins with cleansing and detoxification! A simple way to make sure our bowels are moving at least one to three times per day (which is normal), is to eat sufficient fiber. Fiber increases the bulk of stools, allowing the colon to excrete more efficiently, and binds excess cholesterol and estrogens and escorts them from the body.  Consider adding a tablespoon of chia seeds to your morning smoothie or oatmeal or if you want to clean deeper, one of my favorites I use to "clean house" and I never travel without it, is the AIM Herbal Fiber Blend.  

Third, we need to REPLENISH with the good fats! Remember, sugar makes fat! Eating low-fat foods can increase your chances of eating more sugar! Sugar is added to make a food taste more like the original food. Don't be fooled!   Consider eating more of the omega 3s which the body cannot make.  It helps reduce inflammation and is the perfect brain food.  Omega 3 fats are found in the oily fish (tuna, mackerel, herring, sardines, trout and Alaskan salmon (not farm-raised)). Raw walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds etc., are also an excellent source.  If you feel you need an essential fatty acid supplement, I recommend AIMega, which is the perfect ratio of omega 3, 6 and 9. Your hair, skin and nails will rejoice!

A quick smoothie is a great way to nourish the body. Throw together 8 oz unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 tsp chia seeds, 1 tsp almond or peanut butter and a scoop of plant-based, soy-free protein powder. Add all of this to a blender, blend with some ice and enjoy. Remember raw almonds and cashew nuts can also be added to your smoothie.  My favorite protein powder is  AIM ProPeas. There is no protein powder to beat this! It is non-GMO, certified vegan, and one of the cleanest vegan protein powders out there!