Note: The first two weeks might be all about getting your body used to cleansing. When detoxing, you may experience lack of energy and have a need to rest more in the beginning of the cleanse. The cleansing transition period hopefully will only last the first few days, but could last up to two weeks. If you are a caffeine drinker then you may experience headaches in the beginning of the cleanse. Drink lots of Yogi Tea and stay hydrated with water. Eat the cleansing food often to keep your blood sugar regulated. Eat all your meals/snacks. See the cleansing pages for ideas (Mung Beans & Rice Cleanse and The Green Cleanse).
When you are ready and the time has come to begin your cleanse or if are ready now for the benefits of this cleanse and want to start immediately you can:
- Decide on how many days you want to commit to doing it
- Mark it on your calendar. When figuring out what days to cleanse, try to avoid holidays, company in your home, family gatherings, vacations, business travel, etc. Basically avoid those time periods when you are most vulnerable to breaking your cleanse.
- Make your list of foods and items for the first 5-7 days of your cleanse.
- Write down what you will eat for those days or a rough estimate. On your list, circle what you can take on the go.
- Shop, store and preprep any food that will make your week easier. Whether it's Dr. Yogi's Green Drink , a yogic breakfast on the go that can be prepared ahead for the week and will satisfy you in a pinch. For stewed apples in the morning, purchase an apple peeler, corer and slicer (Amazon.Com) to make your job easier. If there is no time to peel the apples in the morning, you can do some apples ahead of time and freeze in small one portion quantities for a quick hot breakfast, if you grind some vitamin C powder and toss them with the prepared apples, the absorbic acid has a way of preserving the apple so they don't discolor.
- Cut up a couple of melons at a time ahead of time. If you are on the Green Cleanse, honeydew or watermelon work. If you are on the Mung Beans & Rice Cleanse any ripe melon will work. Cut into bite size pieces and store and stack in containers in your refrigerator for yourself on the go. Melons are refreshing, full of vitamins and easy to digest.
- Pre-prep your vegetables that you'll eat steamed, crispy blanched and/or raw. Prepare by washing and cutting the ends off and/or peeling so they are ready for slicing into vegetable chips or sticks for dip. If it's broccoli then go ahead and cut in dipping or bite size steaming/blanching pieces. Cut up a variety of 2-3 days worth of vegetables ahead of time and place them in an air tight container. That way they are ready to place in the steamer basket (Amazon.Com) in the quantity and variety that you enjoy, have on hand to eat raw or blanch in hot boiling water for one-two or so minutes depending on the vegetable (less with easier to cook veggies like sliced zucchini. If you are interested in having a high protein Tahini Sauce to pour on your cooked veggies, make it ahead of time so you have it on handor for dipping raw veggies in have some dips on hand. Here's a recipe for some Mung Bean Dip at Cyberparent.com website, some Green Tomatillo Salsa or Tomatillo Pistachio Salsa (with a bit of protein) or use some guacomole. You can also make up your own dip using some Garlic and Mung Beans and/or Artichokes, feel free to experiment, send me the recipe if it comes out good.
- Be sure you have salad greens on hand at all times so you can make yourself a salad easily, you can also have other raw veggies grated or cut up, carrots, onions, radishes, beets 2-3 days ahead of time and store in air tight containers to make it easier. You can also purchase already grated carrots, sliced beets and other salad items ready to top your salad with.
- Make some salad dressings ahead of time so you have on hand - here's a recipe for several Herbal Salad Dressings and here's a recipe for a few Tahini Dressings, which contains more protein to hit that empty spot.
- Be prepared if you know you will be out of the house or somewhere that you are challenged on your cleanse. Either eat before you leave the house or have your food in containers and stored in a cooler so you'll always have something that works on your cleanse on hand to eat. You are asking for trouble when you are not prepared with a supply of cleansing food.
- If doing the Green Cleanse, either the day before or the morning of make a batch of split pea, green lentil or mung bean soup.
- If doing the Mung Beans & Rice cleanse, it's optional to cook a few batches of Masala (onion, ginger, garlic and spices) and freeze in separate batch quantities. This is purely optional, it just makes it faster when it's time to cook another batch.
- If Yogurt & Ghee (Clarified Butter) is going to be part of your cleanse, make up a batch of each ahead of time or purchase, ghee can be purchased at your local Indian Grocery store.
- On the Green Cleanse, have some pumpkin seed butter purchased on Amazon on hand for that extra protein once a week or so (remember too many nuts/grains on this cleanse can give you a stomach ache). Spread on celery or you can use Mr. Krisper's an easy to digest rice cracker, you can find Mr. Krispers at the health food store or on-line. The Tamari or Salt & Pepper ones are my favorite. Also a puffed rice cracker could work nicely. Try to only use grains/nuts once a week for more protein.
- Treat yourself on your cleanse by consuming fresh organic vegetable and/or fruit juice and/or healthy fruit and/or green drinks and smoothies whenever you feel you need to take care of yourself. Either make them yourself or visit Jamba Juice type place or a local Health Food store that will accommodate your needs.
- Remember you are cleansing and you need to take special care of yourself whenever it's possible and you feel the need. That extra fresh juices/smoothies will help you get through this cleanse more easily. Get creative and have fun. You are going to feel great by putting this stuff in your body, but the first two weeks might be all about getting your body used to cleansing. You may experience lack of energy and have a need to rest more in the beginning of your cleanse. Rest if you can when you feel the need, even if it's only for a few minutes.
- Stay hydrated - it will help your cleansing. Drink more water daily and lots of herbal tea. To help your cleansing, whenever you leave the house, take a quantity of water, lemon or lime juice squeezed in with a little honey or maple syrup and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper (cayenne is good for detoxing), or lightly sweetened herbal tea. Fresh Mint Tea is refreshing.
- Make your Yogi Tea ahead of time so you have it whenever you want it for continual cleansing.
There's no fee for this cleanse, but phone appointments are available for cleanse guidance. Private cooking lessons are also available if you are local. If you are interested in making an in-person or phone appointment, call 951-696-9063 ext. 105 or email me at atmak@objectrad.com
The suggestions within this Cleanse are not medical advice. Consulting with your health practitioner is advisable before starting any food cleanse or diet modification. If you choose to participate in this cleanse, it is at your own risk. This cleanse in not recommended for pregnant or nursing moms, children or diabetics.