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We have had a lot of people asking us about "Liver Detox or Spring Detox"  Below is our thoughts and  our beliefs from our studies and experiences. Please also click on the links at the bottom of this blog for further research.   

You can see that spring is telling us what to eat.  But, Americans are clearly very disconnected to nature because they are not getting the message.  The only message humans seem to be getting is jump on the latest fad and start your spring detox and flush your system.  

Spring is not about the next new detox diet, the next fruit juice fast, etc..  Spring is the awakening of the new season to come.  It is the season to wake up from the sluggish winter and  eat bitter.  It is time to move your body more and get outside in nature.  

Feeling sluggish by spring, means you need to take better care of your body throughout the year and through winter season.  It does not mean do some radical detox and flush your body out.  

You feel sluggish because you gorged yourself with foods that were to heavy, toxic and sugary during the winter season.  

Spring brings us beauty and awakening.  If you were eating right through the winter and sleeping enough you would feel renewed.  Instead of focusing on a detox diet, focus on creating a better winter eating plan for next winter.   You need to be thinking about the long term damage to your body that your are creating , not short term quick fixes like detox/cleansing diets that really don't work and are damaging to your body.  

Spring brings us spring greens, spring edible weeds and spring herbs. Spring brings us beauty after a long dark winter.  Spring is a reminder to eat your greens , especially eat  your bitter greens, it is a reminder that you should always think about boosting your detoxifying process, not just once a year.  

Spring is not here to torture your internal organs with fad detox diets.  It is a reminder that if you feel sluggish because you made bad choices throughout the winter with heavy sugary holiday food, toxic food that maybe next winter you will make healthier choices for your body mind and spirit.  

What spring is telling you  is to wake up, take a walk out in nature, slow down your life because you refused to do it, breath more, and enjoy the beauty that the next few seasons will bring.  

Say NO to spring detox/cleansing diets, start making better choices/better life style habits and learn to eat your bitter greens.

 A life of eating to be healthy is truly about finding  balance, listening and seeing what nature  is bringing  to you.  

 Life Detox:

You are living a life that is too fast.  Slow it down.  Take deep breaths, learn to breath again.   A fast paced life gives you indigestion. Simply put, it is bad for your digestion to live a life that is fast.  Instead of a juice fast that will give you a blood sugar high, sit down under a tree with a cup of nettle tea.  

Drink nourishing bone broth made from animals that are treated beautifully and fed a non-gmo diet.

Practice being kind and learn to give instead of take

Get to bed by 10:00 PM

Cut out sugar

Find out your food allergies

Exercise is a must.  No excuses, humans need to move their bodies.  Find something you like.  It does not have to be something that is hard core.  Walking is a great way to exercise.  It is being consistent that is important.   You need to exercise at least 5 days a week.  

Eliminate chemical toxins out of your life.  Remember hair dyes and nail polish are toxic.  Eliminate products that are made from petroleum, synthetics and GMO's 

 All screens, cell phones, computer, gaming, video games, TV, I pads, kindles,  etc All of them put your body in Fight or Flight mode.  So, instead of reaching for the newest cleansing diet, turn of your screens and limit your use of them.   If you have a cell phone then only use it for emergency's or if it is job related and If you have to use it for your job then set limits right away.    Turn the ringer off.  

Stop texting and start making time to see each other.  Texting turns you off from this world and keeps you overly connected, it is stressing your digestive tract out.   You need to set limits.  

Gaming/Video games, this is one of the worst things you can do to your body.  Total fight or flight mode every time you log on.   Get gaming out of your life, it is a serious addiction to adrenaline and it turns you  off from the real world.   Set your bare feet onto the ground and drink a cup of burdock root tea.  

Be Here Now.  Simply put if you are waiting for someone or something, just be, look around, observe what is going on around you, start a conversation, smile at someone, bring a paper book to read,  just get off of your phone.  You are keeping your body in constant state of stress.  What does stress do to your digestion? 

Create community and get involved.  This gives your body happy emotions 

Smoothies are the new quick fix, and you are skipping one of the first steps to digestion by drinking your meals.   I truly feel people are having more digestion issues because of our liquid diet and the smoothie fad.   Chewing and saliva are the first steps to breaking down your food.  

Sit and eat.  Be still while you chill.  Breath while you eat.  Breakfast at the table.  No Screen time while you eat.  All of those routines are becoming extinct .  It is time to start the day by eating a balance breakfast  with cooked greens, a clean protein and a salad.   

Stop eating raw food in the winter. 

Eat more green vegetables.   To this day I have yet to meet someone who eats enough vegetables.  

Eat seasonally. It does not make sense to your body for you to go on a juice fast in the spring if you live in an area that fruit is not ripe or even growing at this time.  

 Shop local farmers markets.  They are growing the foods that you can eat seasonally.   Buy organic as much as possible.   It is important for your health to eliminate eating foods that have  chemical toxins in them.  

Drink filtered water or spring water.  Most people are not drinking enough water 

Eat Spring Greens

Wild Spring Greens, head out and harvest some spring energy

Nettle, Urtica dioica - Nutrient, diuretic, detoxifying, astringent, glactagogue, decongestant and hypoglycemic.  Highly nutritious, high in vitamins and minerals.   Great for a nourishing tonic.  They stimulate the action of the kidneys and bladder.  Nettles help cleanse the body of toxins and wastes.  In the respiratory system nettles help clear catarrhal congestion and relieve allergies such as hayfever and asthma (with a balanced, healthy, diet) 

Cleavers, Galium aparine - Diuretic, alterative, antiinflammatory, astringent, antineoplastic, tonic and refrigerant.  Cleavers cleanse and clear toxins from the system and reduce inflammation.  They are a diuretic aiding elimination of wastes and also act ot enhance the lymphatic system, promoting lymphatic drainage of toxins ans wastes.   These actions ( with a healthy balanced diet) make them excellent for fluid retention, skin problems , urinary infections, and more.  

Sheep Sorrel - click on link below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivx-B9iRcCo

Horsetail, Equisetum arvense - click on link below

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-horsetail.html

Chickweed, Stellaria media - Alterative, demulcent, refrigerant, mucilaginous, pectoral, resolvent and discutient. It is a mild diuretic and is used for water retention.  Has many nutrients, including calcium, potassium and iron.  Use as a food, it heals and soothes.  

Violet Flower and Leaf, click on links below: 

http://www.herbalistlisewolff.com/violets.html

http://www.susunweed.com/An_Article_wisewoman3e.htm

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis - Antiviral, decongestant, antihistamine, antiseptic, carminative, antispasmodic, antidepressant, nervine diaphoretic, hypotensive and bitter tonic.   Lemon balm is an excellent remedy for soothing the nerves and lifting the spirits ( a rainy spring would be a great time to make a wonderful cup of tea with this beautiful herb) It has a particular affinity with the digestive system, it calms and soothes nausea, vomiting poor appetite, colic, dysentery, colitis and any stress related digestive problems.   Make a bitters and it will gently stimulate the liver and gallbladder and enhance digestion and absorption.   It is useful for nervousness or depression.    It makes a great remedy for headaches and migraines.  A hot infusion causes sweating reducing fevers and making a good remedy for childhood infections.    This is one plant I would make sure I had growing in my garden!  

Dandelion Greens, Taraxacum officinale - Cholagogue, diuretic, antirheumatic, laxative, tonic, nutrient and detoxifying.  The whole plant ca be used medicine and is highly nutritious.   Pick the leaves in the spring and early summer.   Eat them as a bitter tonic to cleanse the body of wastes from the heavy clogging food and more sedentary habits of winter.  Dandelion eliminates toxins, wastes and pollutants through the liver and kidneys, cleansing the blood and tissues.  The bitters in both root and leaf activate the digestive tract and the liver, increasing the flow of digestive juices, enhancing the appetite, easing digestion and cleansing the liver.    So instead of reaching for the latest detox/cleansing diet, take a hike and eat some Dandelion Leaves (in a no spray area) 

Plantain, Plantago major - Leaves: demulcent, refrigerant, detoxifying, astringent, vulnerary, decongestant, expectorant, antiseptic and diuretic. 

My recommendations are this:

I won't recommended a Liver Detox tea to flush out toxins. I would never recommend a juice fast.   I will recommend that you increase your intake of green raw and cooked veggies,  I will recommend Susan Weeds Nourishing  infusions, I will recommend nutritive teas that nourish and tonify your body. There are many more recommendations that I would make.  But the most important thing I will tell you is that you need to take care of your body all the time, think about detoxifying it all the time through nourishing your body with healthy habits.   

Wild Weed Pesto: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/let-food-be-thy-medicine-and-medicine-be-thy-food-hippocrates

Trying implementing Nourishing Infusions in your daily wellness plan: 

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/September08/anti-cancer.htm

More information on Winter Detox Diet: 

http://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/winter-detox-diet.html

Herbs for your liver: 

http://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/natural-liver-cleanse.html

Where does the time fly?  We are on our 15th week and the Wellness Boxes end Oct 12th.  It just seem like yesterday that we just started our first delivery.  

This weeks box: 

Celery seed, lemon balm, nettle, comfrey, zucchini, cucumber, salad, beans, beets, swiss chard, kale, tea mix, potatoes,tomatoes, peppers, leeks, cabbage, basil, parsley, celery and onion. Also, there will be some cleavers, this is your last chance to get a tincture made.  

Celery Seed Information:

http://curezone.com/cleanse/kidney/Celery-seeds.asp

http://www.foods-healing-power.com/celery-health-benefits.html

Celery seeds are most commonly used as a diuretic, helping to clear toxins from our body system. People who are suffering from gout and arthritis may find celery seed helpful, as the diuretic properties promotes the clearing of uric acid crystals collecting in the joints. Celery seeds also have anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce the swelling and pain of the joints.

Additional benefits include the ability to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

http://www.nutrition-info.com/herbs/herbs-celeryseed.php

Provides Calcium

Fun Fall Recipes:

The pumpkins are not ripe yet, but I thought for those of you who are craving those seasonal fun drinks of the fall would like some fun recipes.   I also included a fun recipe to add rejuvenation to your skin.  Enjoy this wonderful, healing, awesome orange veggie. 

GentlePumpkin Facial Mask

Thanks to exfoliating enzymes and healing vitamins A and C, pumpkin flesh is wonderful for the skin-especially for treating acne, blackheads, age spots, or dull flaky skin. Use canned pumpkins, or cook some fresh and puree or mash it. Warm, mashed fresh pumpkin works the absolute best, feels great, and has a wonderful texture. Honey, a natural humectant, attracts moisture to skin and helps create a plump glowing complexion.

1/4 cup pumpkin puree

1 Tbls Honey 

1-2 drops lavender or geranium essential oil (optional)

Mix ingredients together and massage immediately into dry skin. (You'll get the best results if you leave it on for at least 10 minutes.) You may want to double the recipe to use as a neck decollete treatment. Rinse with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer. 

Donn't support Starbucks (big corporation that puts the little guys out of business), make your own healthier versions of their  pumpkin latte. 

Pumpkin Latte http://mamanatural.com/pumpkin-spice-latte/

Kakai Pumpkins coming soon........... 

Cucumbers 
How Sugar Affects The Body, Giving You The Lows And Highs

Tired of being wired and tired? 

Following sugar through the body.....

When a child/adult wakes up in the morning after sleeping for ten or more hours, their blood sugar is naturally low.  Even if they had protein-rich snack before they went to bed the night before, digestion has long since delivered it to the bloodstream and into the cells, and now their blood sugar has dropped down to the bottom range of normal.

One of he most common breakfast meals is favorite breakfast cereal, toast and orange juice.  Side note: Even though the cereal boasts of fortification with vitamins and minerals, the cereal contains over fifteen grams (about five teaspoons) of sugar PER SERVING.

The toast is usually covered with jam or cinnamon and sugar, which contains more sugar and other sweeteners than actual fruit.  Another five teaspoons of sugar.  Even though the orange juice does not contain added sugars, it is still pure carbohydrate, which rapidly digest down into simple sugar.  Within minutes, the entire "power breakfast" surges into the bloodstream in the form of glucose, unimpeded by slower-digesting protein or fat.  

This load of blood sugar is dangerous for the brain.  Although the brain is fueled by sugar, it can't handle excessive sugars, so the pancreas leaps to the rescue, dumping Insulin in to the bloodstream to remove excess sugars before they can "burn" the brain.  At each meal, the pancreas senses how much insulin is needed, even before digestion and absorption are complete, so an insulin reaction can happen very quickly.  Large amounts of insulin are released.  

Then just as rapidly, sugar is pulled out of the bloodstream and deposited in the liver.  When the liver is full, the excess sugar is stored as fat, contributing to the super rising epidemic of obesity in this country! 

Side note:  Even the child/adults who are thin these days are carrying to much fat.  This is also a new epidemic.

Due to the high sugar content of the breakfast the insulin response was exaggerated, so the blood sugar plummets.  It is as though someone pulled an electrical cord out of a socket, he or she will run out of steam.   Their sugar is too low and the brain starts to panic.  They get cranky, headachy, irritable, can't concentrate.   Sometimes a child will fall into a chair and star listlessly at their TV, computer or video games.  At other times their adrenal gland spits cortisol into the bloodstream in a desperate attempt to raise blood sugar.  This extra cortisol makes someone hyperactive and damages the hippocampus, their memory center.  Their energy is "false"...

At this point, child/adult reach for the frig, pantry or freezer, pulling out all the sugary foods they can get thier hands on and stuff them into their mouth, just to get their sugar up.   This will only work briefly, but insulin again kicks in and drops the sugar.

This cycle continues, all day long, daily weekly, monthly yearly unless their lifestyle eating habits change.  

I hope by reading this I have given you some motivation to stay away from sugar.  Fall is here soon and for most it starts the "Sugar Fest Of Eating" until after spring.   Challenge yourself to stay away from all the sugar holiday items this fall, winter and spring.

 Just Say "NO" To Sugar This Season! 

Getting Rid Of The Tired Bug Or The Up Down Bug

1.  Get rid of foods with added sugar, corn syrup and agave

2.  Limit fruit.  

        a.    Eat fruit for a dessert at night.  

         b.   Eat a protein with the fruit.   

         c.    Choose fruits that have less fructose in them, chart below 

3.  Exercise is a must

     a.  Adults at least 1 hour 5 days a week, this is the minimum amount 

     b. Tired after work, tough go for a walk/run/kung fu/lift weights/dance etc...

              1.  Get an exercise partner

               2.  Blog and have an audience help you keep your goals

               3.  Get private classes, this will keep on on task 

     c.  Children, tweens, teens.  At least an hour EVERYDAY.

                1.  Young children need to physically play off and on ALL DAY

                 2.  It is up to you as a parent to get your child physically moving, because                             there is not enough physical activity in school. 

4.  Limit Screen Time video games, movies, facebook, TV, social net works:

       a.   2-4 hours a week 

        b.  By limiting their screen time ( and yours) you will gain more energy 

5.  Get plenty of Protein- Organic When You Can

         a.  Eggs, nuts, seeds, cheese, meats 

          b.  Beans combined with rice, pasta or potatoes makes a complete protein

          c.  Organic protein bars

          d.  Organic protein drinks 

6.  Sleep

           a.  Lack of sleep increases health problems, add this to bad eating habits and                     you have doubled your chances of getting diabetes, heart disease etc.  

More information on sleep: 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/23/seven...

7.  Avoid these foods:  read labels

Soy, corn, canola,  non-organic wheat, artificial colors, artificial flavors, msg, corn syrup, sugar, agave, hydrogenated oil, frozen meals, campbells, most restaurants, pilsbury products, hot dogs (unless they are organic) any coffee drink with added sweeteners and artificial sweeteners! ,  no soda,  no caffeinated drinks for kids, tweens and teens!! and any food that has words you do not know what they are. 

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html

You don't have to eat less, you just have to eat right... On that note have you been to your farmers markets this week?  Have you tried some new recipes, have you tried a new veggie for the month and how about starting a family and/or single person cooking day once a month or once a week.

Last week my wellness box clients received:  nettle, tea mix of apple mint, lemon verbena and cleavers (wild edible food this week is in the tea mix, it is called cleavers), collard greens, cabbage, comfrey, zucchini, leeks, onion, potatoes, peppers, tomato, green beans, swiss chard, kale, basil, celery and salad mix.  

Tea Mix:  apple mint, lemon verbena and cleavers:  Put bag into a gallon jar fill with spring water or filtered water.  Let sit for 8 hours drain and enjoy 

Cleavers ( other names are goosegrass, grip grass, sticky Willie and Rubiaceae)

Cleavers have been widely used in herbal medicine for centuries, on account of the tonic, blood-purifying, and diuretic properties of the fresh plant.   In spring, after a starchy winter diet, the fresh green tops were made into a cleansing drink.  An infusion of cleavers is a traditional remedy for skin eruptions, while its diuretic properties are helpful for urinary problems.  Modern herbalists value cleavers tonic effect on the lymphatic system.  This encourages the elimination of toxins and explains the cleansing reputation of the herb.  

More information on Cleavers: 

http://www.eattheweeds.com/galium-aparine-goosegrass-on-the-loose-2/

Nettle Greens:  I got this recipe out of a cookbook that I have that is dated 1937

Put on your gloves to gather, wash, and cup up the nettles.  Pour boiliing water over and the sting will be gone.  Drain and chop fine.  Heat 2 tablespoons butter in saucepan, stir smooth with 2 tablespoons, flour.  Add 2 cups milk, stir and heat until thick.  Seaosn with salt, pepper, and a few dashes of nutmeg:  add chopped nettles and simmer.  This with a little cream if you wish.  This recipe serves for all greens. 

Basil Infused Organic Olive Oil:  

Basil is considered a sedative and digestive.  Hot basil tea is said to be helpful in alleviating indigestion and stomach cramps.  

Sweet and Sour Red (or green) Cabbage and Apples with Red Wine and Thyme 

2Tbls extra -virgin olive oil or coconut oil 

1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced 

1 cinnamon stick

2 bay leaves 

1 large head red cabbage (or green), cored and thinly sliced 

2 Granny smith apples cored peeled, and cut into 1/2 inch dice

1 cup spring water or filtered water 

1 cup organic red wine

1/4  cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar 

6 fresh thyme sprigs 

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 

In a large Dutch oven, heat olive or coconut oil over medium heat.  Add the onions, cinnamon, bay leaves, and salt.  Cook stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened. 

Increase the heat to medium high;  add cabbage and cook, stirring, until cabbage wilted, about 8 minutes.  Add the apple, water wine, vinegar, brown sugar and thyme sprigs.  Let come to a boil, then lower heat until simmering. 

continue to cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender, about 45 to 60 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Uncover, and let simmer, stirring until the liquid is reduced to a slightly thickened sauce. 

Makes 8 servings

No-Knead Bread:

I love to knead bread but, for some people, time is a big issue and kneading does take from your time. With this recipe I would only use Organic Wheat Flour, and better yet, if you can grind your own. Flour that you grind yourself is better for you.  I would also use organic yeast. 

 http://www.frugallivingnw.com/frugal-homemaking/amazing-no-knead-bread-step-by-step-recipe/

Peasant Bread: 

http://www.alexandracooks.com/2012/11/07/my-mothers-peasant-bread-the-best-easiest-bread-you-will-ever-make/

Why do you spend money for what is not bread, 

and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen

carefully to me and eat what is good, and delight

yourself in abundance. 

Author Unknown