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Sweeping out the gunk!

10/27/2015

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PictureWoman Sweeping, Pieter Janssens, 17th century Dutch Baroque
A few days of not so brilliant eating have me clutching my belly and begging for mercy right now and looking for clean, simple food that is gentle on the tummy.  Time for a clean sweep!  I must admit, as someone who works a minimum of 70 hours a week, and who has just a month ago begun a year-long intensive independent study program (in global health), I cannot simply not eat.  A fast will not provide me the energy and clarity that I need.  I can, however, do my stomach a huge favor by eating softer, simpler foods that nourish instead of challenge my digestion.  AND, I can still do this while maintaining the principles of a low-carb, new age paleo diet.  This is a great plan in general for fall, but is especially useful after some over-indulgences, and thus great to have in the holiday arsenal!

Three-Day Tummy Saver
  1. Breakfast: Hot water with lemon and ginger, followed by green tea; Smoothie to sip throughout early morning.  -Smoothie choices include: Pumpkin, Gingerbread spice, Mocha, or Cherry Almond 
  2. Lunch: Chicken Vegetable Soup or Butternut Squash Soup
  3. Dinner: Baked Sweet Potato (topped with butter or ghee, sea salt and cinnamon (if desired), Steamed Greens, and Chia vanilla pudding (boosted with vanilla protein powder).
  4. Snack: Another Smoothie--same choices as above with 1/4 to 1/2 apple added for fiber.
  5. Sip warm water throughout the day, green/black or white tea when caffeine needed, and one detox or licorice/mint tea a day.  Pretty simple!
The protein powder of the smoothies/puddings adds the proper amount of daily protein.  The liquid/soft forms of all the food make everything much easier on your digestion.  And the warmth of the heated foods and the spices will also provide nourishing cleansing.  The smoothies and chia pudding are easy (you just need to plan ahead with the pudding, set it up the night before).  Baked sweet potatoes require only that you give them an hour to bake.  The soup is the most time consuming, but not really difficult and a decent sized batch will last the three days.  All in all, an easy at home "spa" plan.

Gingerbread Spice Smoothie:
  • Almond milk (preferably unsweetened)
  • A coin of fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp. powdered ginger
  • A teaspoon of cinnamon
  • A pinch of nutmeg (optional)
  • A 1/2 dropper of stevia liquid (I use butter toffee flavor)--do NOT add too much!
  • 1/4 apple
  • 1/2 frozen banana
  • 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder 
Happy Sweeping!

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Look in the Mirror: More fall cleansing tips

10/6/2015

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Picture
An empty mirror and your worst

destructive habits, when they are held

up to each other,


that's when the real making begins.

That's what art and crafting are.  --From Rumi's "Childhood Friends"


I'm definitely feeling the need to do some fall cleansing this week.  My last blog outlines the principles of a gentle paleo cleanse, but I thought I'd add a few more suggestions for those who would like to go deeper and refine even more.  I love Rumi's poem "Childhood Friends" because it emphasizes that our imperfections are what makes us uniquely human--and our inclination to change and address our shortcomings.  He maintains that anyone who thinks they are "healthy enough" needs to do some work.  Now I'm not advocating perfectionism (that is its own form of arrogance and hubris) but rather a willingness to be open to the exploration that comes with cleansing.  Think about what prompts bad habits such as making the wrong food choices, getting too little sleep, not exercising, not taking time for quality reading or time spent in nature.  Cleansing is a time to step out of the realm of "overwhelm" which often leads to exhaustion or sickness.

Some additional things to incorporate into a cleanse:
  1. A saline nasal spray--to moisten the sinuses.
  2. Rubbing a bit of coconut or olive oil inside the nostrils.
  3. Running a diffuser at night with essential oil added.  For fall I am loving Plant Therapy's "Fir Needle".  Smells like autumn.
  4. Taking a bath fortified with epsom salts (to soften the muscles).
  5. Using a lovely body butter (I'm enjoying my peach one currently).
  6. Spritzing your face several times a day with Rosewater (Heritage makes an affordable one).
  7. Using squalene as a facial moisturizer.  Squalene is the oil essence of olives (or other plant/faunal material).  It will feel like a thick, dry oil on your face.  Be patient and let it sink in.  Very restorative.  You can buy it for under $5 on Amazon. 
  8. Pay extra attention to the hands.  I've been applying argan oil to the backs of them.
  9. Listen to some inspiring music.  I love Yo Yo Ma's "Goat Rodeo Sessions" this time of year, or Verdi's "Autumn"
  10. Sit outside and enjoy the changing season.  Do nothing but observe.
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    Lisabeth Robinson

    I have been an educator for 20 years.  I create, I play, I guide and I grow.  I want to share that with you too!

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