Spring is almost here but more importantly Tempe is almost here.
As such, it is time to clean our homes and our bodies...so to speak. Recently, Pearl and I did a cleanse - okay, Pearl did and I failed after 6 days due to family reasons - and we both got inundated with a lot of questions so I figure why not post about it and our experiences. So for the rest of the weak (haha get it?) I will blog about ways to detoxify your body.
This is NOT a requirement of Space Dragons but something fun and different to do that may or may not improve your health. I highly recommend starting after Superbowl Sunday(and Mammoth if you are going) but well in advance of Tempe - When one goes detoxing , it's hard to motivate yourself to workout (more so than usual) though the Princess went to ALL of the SD practices while on the plan...Did you when you weren't?
The idea behind it, is that we put all these processed foods into our bodies every day and it takes a lot of effort for our kidneys and liver to clean our bodies from the possible toxins that we maybe putting in. By doing a cleanse, one eats helthier food - or no food that will give the kidneys and liver a break so that these organs can clean the rest of our bodies (blood other organs etc.) rather than keeping up with what we put in. Theoretically, this means you end up with more energy, feel more lively, and other general health benefits by the end of it. Even if it is heebyjeeby science, if you believe it, the placebo affect will surely work somewhat...Note these cleanses, though they are diets, are NOT intended to loose weight. All the weight you lose is a side effect of the cleanse and most likely you will gain it back. That said, the numbers on the scale are pretty impressive and maybe you will strive harder not to gain it back by better dietary choices
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When life gives you lemons...make lemonade!
While you are probably wondering what the heck is up with these wack ingredients, Sure the maple syrup gives you some calories so you aren't too much of an anorexic, but where are all the nutrients?
As it turns out the maple syrup gives you the calories AND some of your nutrients. The rest of your nutrients come from the lemon juice (vitamin C anyone?) and the cayenne pepper (ouchie so spicie!)
But Lemons, why Lemons? After all, you can get vitamin C from an orange, an apple, a banana or most any other type of fruit and lemons are SUPER sour....ahh but did you kow lemons are a super fruit? (Neither did I but Pearl bought a book on lemons so we got to use it somehow right?)
Benefits of Lemons
+Lemon juice is a great digestive agent due to its high citric acid content.
Drinking lemon juice in the morning makes it a tonic for the liver, stimulating the liver to produce bile so that it is ready to digest the day’s foods.
+Lemon juice stimulates the production of digestive enzymes, such as pepsin, which break down the protein components in foods. Hence a sprinkle of lemon juice on your meats, poultry, fish, beans and eggs will help one digest them more effectively.
+Lemon is rich in pectin, a great source of fiber. Consumption of pectin makes you feel satisfied longer. Pectin also helps to cut cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
+Lemon juice has one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C. Two and a half lemons worth of juice provides the average daily requirement of vitamin C.
+Lemon juice contains high levels of bioflavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants and have antiviral, anticancer and antiallergenic actions.
+Lemon is a good source of calcium.
Aside from being a healthy food ingredient, lemons have long been used as a natural ingredient for beauty such as a cleanser, toner, skin smoother, and hair conditioner. In various forms, lemons could be used to cure a variety of conditions including acne, anxiety, bloating, cankers, cellulite, chills and fevers, cold sores, colds, corns, diarrhea, eczema, fatigue, gout, gum disease, halitosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insect bites, insomnia, nosebleeds, rheumatism, stomach upsets, and varicose and spider veins.
Ooolala...note that though this was published in a book - results have not been SD verified so we can't claim it's 100% true - but at least it worked on someone out there. So take a lemon, squeeze out some fresh juice in the morning and/or before meals, have a slice with your water or tea, a wedge with your hef, and enjoy one of the finest fruits of mother nature...
