GUEST POST from Neighborhood Coordinator Mary Brooks:
Do you want to feel more alive, have more energy and feel less bloated? Many of us lead busy lives where we forget to feed our bodies properly. When we rely on processed foods, manufactured foods and foods that rely on chemicals for taste, our bodies do not perform as well as they should. Signs that you may need a detox include headaches, poor sleep, low energy, weight gain, and even anxiety and depression.
Do you want to feel more alive, have more energy and feel less bloated? Many of us lead busy lives where we forget to feed our bodies properly. When we rely on processed foods, manufactured foods and foods that rely on chemicals for taste, our bodies do not perform as well as they should. Signs that you may need a detox include headaches, poor sleep, low energy, weight gain, and even anxiety and depression.
The best way to remedy this is with whole foods, especially organic, pesticide free leafy greens, vegetables and fruits. The nutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables are the most bio-available to your body. While canned or frozen may be convenient, many enzymes and nutrients are altered. There is great benefit to eating what is in season, just picked and locally grown. You can rev up your metabolism and rid yourself from toxins using your Produce Box!
Here are three quick recipes using local, whole ingredients from The Produce Box that will help detoxify your liver and kidneys (these are the cleaners for your body). These recipes have immune boosting properties and will help knock back inflammation. They also have potent free radical fighting properties, which help with cellular repair, anti-aging and fighting illness.
Breakfast Juice
1 Cucumber, 1 handful of Kale, one small bunch of mint, 1 small handful of parsley
Wash all your ingredients. After juicing, add a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Breakfast Smoothie
1 cup of coconut milk, 1 cup of fresh watermelon (or 1 cup of cantaloupe) 1 tsp of chia seeds, 1 handful of bibb lettuce (or other leafy greens), ice.
Blend all ingredients. You can add a scoop of your favorite protein powder.
Detox Salad
2 cups of leafy greens, 2 tablespoons of hemp hulls, 1/2 cup of berries, 1/2 cup of thinly sliced cabbage, 1/2 cup of diced cucumber, 1/2 cup of chopped tomato, fresh basil or parsley. Top with fresh lemon and a drizzle of olive oil. You can add a clean protein like organic chicken, tuna or lean steak.
About Mary
Mary Brooks is an Integrative Nutrition Coach, and a Neighborhood Coordinator with The Produce Box. She helps clients improve their health with whole foods nutrition. Her areas of specialization are auto-immune conditions (asthma, MS, RA), balancing hormones, and thyroid and endocrine issues. She holds guided nutritional clean eating programs and offers personal coaching including lab interpretation. For more information contact her at marybrookshealthcoach@gmail.com or go to her website http://www.sustainablenutrition.net