Me & Mom vs. Master Cleanser: 10 Days of Detox

I’m not eating and I’m taking my mom with me.

It’s been a whole 3 months since my last (and first) fasting cleanse, and I am pleased to find myself sticking with the plan to fast at the change of every season with cleanse #2. Rumored benefits of this are improved immune system functioning and improved mindfulness.

For ages I avoided the Master Cleanser because I thought it was some fad detox that was only popular because of Beyonce. I turned up my snooty health-nut nose until this blog intercepted me. When I went to a seminar for my Master’s just a week or two ago, the houseful of people putting me up for the night were abuzz about the cleanse, which has been featured in a recent Natural Awakenings article.

Oh my god! People actually talking about detoxing and I hadn’t already guinea-pigged myself out as a science project to see what it’s like? Obviously this had to be rectified. Fad or legit? Me & mamma are about to find out.

So here I am, the night before beginning 10 days of the Master Cleanser. Yesterday and today were raw food only, to ease into the lemonade-cayenne-maple syrup mix that will be our sustenance for the next week and a half. Somehow, I’m really not sure how, I’ve convinced my mom to join me for an adventure that is going to turn her world upside down. Having fasted before, I’m committed to the full 10 days of the detox. My mom, new to detox, is shooting for 5 days. I’m so proud of her, since she has a host of diet-related issues that this may help her with, including fatigue, low energy levels, and moodiness. I’m aiming to shave off the 20+ toxin-laden pounds that are keeping me out of my ideal BMI range, and work toward the low-calorie levels that have been shown (with science!) to help lengthen life. As per my 2100 challenge, I gotta get on it ASAP.

So what exactly does this Master Cleanser entail?

Well, the detox was invented 30 or so years ago by this guy Stanley Burroughs. Apparently the lemonade, cayenne pepper, distilled water and grade-B organic maple syrup mixture you drink every day does a Mr. Clean worthy job of scrubbing the junk out of your insides. One book I’ve been reading on it tell us that over time, your colon forms a thick mucous membrane between what gets through and what’s stuck to the walls, kind of like plaque in you arteries. The Master Cleanser is supposed to hack into that layer, as well as boost metabolism so that you can burn away fat, which is the primo site for storing the gunk in our food, air and water that isn’t suppose to get into to healthy human bodies.
Technically this isn’t much of a fast, since we’ll be getting a healthy dose of calories from the lemonade, but no solid food still counts as fasting in my book. Here’s a breakdown of what we’re doing:

-Drink a quart of saltwater in the morning (to jump-start the digestive system)

-drink 60 oz of the lemonade/cayenne/maple syrup drink a day

-finish out the evening with a laxative tea…yum…

-we’re adding wheat grass supplements for protein, which was OK-ed by the Master Cleanse Secrets book mom got for us online. I suppose that was supposed to be a secret? Whoops…

So tomorrow the adventure begins! The first 3 days are supposed to be hell, and then everything’s uphill from there. So I’ll be reporting back tomorrow, live from hell! (don’t blame me for cranky posts, please…)

Getting Real about Eating Raw

Ok. So you’re an average American, doing your thing, when you somehow find yourself down a path not tread by most of the other 300 million citizens of this country.
You’re reading the nutritional information on the back of packaged foods you buy.
You know what an antioxidant is, and you want more of them.
You are becoming more and more health-conscious, and you know the pain of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps to change bad eating patterns.

Perhaps, if you have come far enough in the journey, you’ve taken the common knowledge that lots of fresh fruits and veggies are good for you to the next level: you want to go raw.
To the uninformed, average American you used to be, this sounds, well, kinda crazy. It’s food, you’re supposed to cook it. Who wants to eat a bunch of carrot sticks, you (fill in the blank:[anorexic/hippie/masochist/weirdo]).
Yes, my unfortunate traveler, all of the research, self-determination, and guile it took you to make changes to improve your life have lead to this. Weird looks when your turn down the cheese dip, name-calling, in short, everyone is giving you grief.
Whether it’s a concerned family, skeptical friends, or that one guy at work, it can be hard to stand up to the social norms that have caused an obesity epidemic in our country. To do what is best for you, you are going to have to stand up for yourself. Explain your seemingly odd diet to those who think the donuts on the top of the food pyramid mean you’re supposed to eat one every day.

For those who choose to go raw, here talking points from several perspectives on eating raw that highlight options and benefits. And hey! This list is a good raw beginners guide to how and why one would eat raw too:

“The reason I don’t cook food when I eat raw is because cooking breaks down the enzymes in produce.”

“Enzymes are proteins that speed chemical reactions. So, when you eat all kinds of chemical reactions are happening inside of you, and the natural enzymes in plants help digestion happen really well.”

“No, it’s not at all like I just buy produce and go home and eat it exactly like I just got it. You can prepare you raw food all kinds of great ways. We Like it Raw has great raw recipes, and so do bloggers (like this one awesome Raw Chef) all over. Just google it.”




Eating raw food does not equal eating nothing but salads



“One great thing about raw food is it means you eat tons of fruits and veggies, which means I feel super-powered from all the nutrients.”

“Yes, I get plenty of protein-raw nuts and seeds are powerhouses of it.”

“Green Smoothies in the morning are a great way to change up the way I prepare food and taste sooo great”

“Raw food doesn’t have as many calories as cooked food, so I eat a LOT, which I love!”

and hopefully this will be as true for you as it is for me…

“I just feel great when I eat raw…tons of energy, and I don’t get sick as often!”

Here are some links to good sources with the real lowdown on eating raw.

The Best of Raw Food

Raw Food Life

This Guy seems cool, and has a great list of enzymes found in common foods.

My own interest in raw foods sprang up after I got into green smoothies. I recently went raw on a roadtrip in solidarity with my parents, who wanted to go raw for health reasons, just when was about to go out of town. I can’t say enough good things about raw eating, although personally I like to dip in and out of it when I need an energy or immune system boost. Try it out and see how it best fits into your life!

Raw on the Road: Raw-topia

There is heaven on Earth. They have disguised it under the name Austin, Texas, and the inhabitants are all being quiet about it and hoping no one notices.

Really though, my raw roadtrip became a raw pilgrimage when I got to Austin and realized I’d reached the equivalent of Texas’ Mecca for healthy eating.

First of all, as soon as I arrived I kidnapped my poor, diet-coke addicted sister to find a raw food restaurant.
“What do you mean a raw food restaurant? There’s no such thing!” So sorry little sis, but there is, and there are more in your city than probably the rest of the South altogether. We went to Beets Cafe and I sighed in relief knowing I could eat anything on the menu without worry.

Even the water is extra good for you...

As soon as we sat down we were served a jug of water, which turned out to be ionized, a process which may or may not be super good for your health. Beets Cafe is not taking any chances though-absolutely everything in this modern spot is sleek with a modern, clean, and simple vibe.

My sister was almost as shocked at how good our appetizer was as my mom was when I made a similar dish at the beginning of this raw food expedition. She wasn’t as impressed with the dehydrated eggplant in her ELT (eggplant, lettuce and tomato sandwich–with sprouted almond sunflower flatbread), but she’s more used to soda than sprouts.

What really made the Raw Road trip legit was my final stop before heading home at the Whole Foods on Lamar. I wanted to hide in the aisles and live there like Natalie Portman in that Wal-Mart movie.

A few perks of the Whole Foods here in heaven:

-The Green Cafe, which serves raw, vegan, and organic menu items made fresh
-The entire SECTION for raw food, including the Raw Revolution Bars I couldn’t find in ANY of the other cities I visited
-A produce section that subtly reminds one of a lush rain forest, full of exotic fruits and things you can’t even name
-All of these items, marked “specialty” in every other city, are so ho-hum here they are dirt cheap. The goji berries I would have paid $17 in Houston were $6 here. No joke.

I came home from my raw roadtrip to find 2 parents who were very relieved that our raw adventure is over, but glad we did it. I’ll be back with a full report–and that ‘Why Raw?’ bit I promised last post!

Raw on the Road: Sherman

Well, yesterday I tossed my groceries in the front and trekked up to Sherman, Texas for the teaching seminar that inspired this trip. I remember my first time alone on the road after becoming vegetarian, and thinking I could soooo easily sneak off for a cheeseburger and NO ONE WOULD KNOW. Temptation flitted by at every exit, but time on the road is also great for perspective, and thinking out just why you do the things you do.

Thought on the road: organic local grown goodies like this fig don't require as much transportation to get to your plate

Roadtrips can be tough if you tend to eat when you’re bored (me!) or to help mark the miles passing by. Raw food was GREAT at trumping this tendency because you have to munch constantly to get enough calories to not get hungry. As long as you can avoid getting hungry, the Taco Bell on the side of the road looks gross and not good.

Groceries
My store for the weekend also made good road food. For 5 hours I grazed on

-Figs
-Sundried tomatoes
-Dandelion Greens
-Boston Lettuce
-Pears
-Pink Lady Apples
-Avocado
-Green onions
-Grapefruit
-English Peas (you can taste the fiber)

The sundried tomatoes and dandelion greens went deliciously together…obviously I wasn’t slicing open avocados on the road, but knowing I was supplied for the weekend was comforting.

Refueling

When I finally reached Sher-town, I had plenty of cooped-up-in-the-car energy to make some social calls before breaking out the avocado for a tasty salad drenched in lime juice. Easy peasy so far, and I haven’t even been to the Green Market yet!

The Report from Home:

The Parental Units have been in touch and seem like they’re doing great!
Dad sounds like he’s ready to start fasting–he got full on a side salad, which is just where you want to be before you cut food out completely. Prepping your system prevents shock when you fast.
Mom called for support in saying no to a Subway sandwich yesterday, which is fantastic, since even her temptation is a healthy choice! So proud to see them taking their health into their own hands.

Next:
What to say when people give you funny looks because you’re eating raw/fasting…probably the hardest part!

Raw on the Road: Houston

So, against all odds I finally get my parents on a raw food regimen and what’s the first thing I do?

Go on a roadtrip, leaving them to fend for themselves in the raw food world with nothing but my promises I’ll stick with the plan while I’m out cavorting with friends and associates.

So, for the next few days I’ll be reporting back so that my parents know I’m sticking to my side of this raw deal, despite the deliciousness I’ll be facing in Houston and Austin (sorry, Sherman, you may be the focal point of this trip but your cuisine is far from tempting).
And if anyone else is considering going raw, I hope I can pass along some good tips for those with even the busiest of lifestyles.

1st: Raw Food Fam Update

Monday, to amazment, my parents kicked off a week of raw food/fasting. We’re taking it slow to see if they want to a full-on, no-food fast, so for the first few days (or maybe even the whole time) raw fruits, veggies, and nuts is all that’s on the menu. Dad may be fully fasting today–what’s the latest, Babo? Drop me a line!

Mom has been SHOCKED at how good the food is. Her eyes stayed the size of saucers all during dinner Monday night as she enjoyed an asian-inspired medley I prepared without grazing a frying pan.

Raw Recipe: Mango Avocado Boats
This simple and delish meal consisted of a jicama-cauliflower-parsley puree in a boat of long-leaf lettuce with sliced mango and avocado on top. Add a touch of sesame oil and a raw asian-style dressing and you don’t even notice it’s not cooked! Really tasty. I was pretty proud, since I kind of made it up on the spot. Cooking raw-or preparing, I suppose I should say-allows for lot of creativity in the kitchen.

Dad is a traditional kind of guy and for him the experimental raw food is just that-an experiment. He’d rather go for a hearty deli meat sandwhich on white bread, but he’s enjoying seeing how his energy levels and health stats have been improving since he’s been eating raw. I can’t wait to ear back about how his fast goes.

Raw on the Road: Houston

Thankfully, the first person I’m visiting on this expedition is a glowing example of human health and vitality. Here, my co-conspirator in optimum being, RAF (Renay Aaron Flores) starts our morning off with a full-bodied Kale, Dandilion Greens, Cantalope and Carrot Green Smoothie.

Step 1: Juicing carrot and cantalope

Step 2: Use a food processor or blender to add greens to juice

Step 3: Start your day it a robust riot of flavor

Aaron has described Green Smoothies as “The EASIEST habit to pick up” that also totally improves “everything else about your day.” Coming from a marathon-running, local-produce-loving beacon of supreme nutrition, that’s saying a lot.

I really couldn’t have started this trip out with a better influence. The first thing we did when I arrived among the glass skyscrapers of Houston was do a prophylactic grocery shop at Hubbel & Hudson, a premiere grocery store with a drool-worthy produce section. You’ll see just what we bought as my menu unfolds over the next few days as my raw roadtrip continues. Next stop: Sherman.

Fast Family

Really never thought I’d see it.

Mom and dad, enjoying a 100% raw and organic dinner. That’s right, me and the ‘rents are going on a green smoothie fast. This is only the warm-up day of raw fruits, nuts & veggies. To give you an idea of why this is such a surprise, here’s a clip from a facebook conversation pops and I had earlier before I went shopping for more raw veggies to feed us for a week. He was telling me he just
“Had my first green smoothie”
Me: ooooo, what was in it?
“plum,orange,bananna,green beans,spinach and lime”
Me: Mmmm! Sounds good…

Really though, I thought it sounded good.
And it definitely sounds to good to be true to hear my parents discussing how they’re going to manage resisting temptation as they challenge themselves to a cleansing week-long raw food fast. (And while raw food definitely doesn’t count as a 100% no food fast, for our detoxification and cleansing needs it’s counting for something. We originally agreed to fast, and this is our test run, you might say.)

It’s especially tempting to dad, the owner of Shrimp ‘N Stuff, a local fried-seafood landmark, to stay on a raw diet, even for a week.
“I usually check the shrimp a few times a day to make sure it’s cooked just right. That’s what Jim (The man who started the Stuff) told me to do.”
So now it seems some other unsuspecting liver will have to taste-test the sinfully-delicious fried shrimp while my dad takes a few days off to go raw.
He’s also very interested as to how eating will be when he reintroduces his normal foods back into his diet. I know I felt a big difference in how my energy fared after my first fast when I delved back into complex carbohydrates and glucose. I can’t wait to see how things turn out for them.

I’m glad for mom because we’re teaching at the same 2000 person public high school, where I’ve been watching everyone around me slowly get sick…Giving your body a week of raw food majorly boosts the immune system. It’s like the physical equivalent of the psychological treat you give yourself when you eat that luscious slice of chocolate cake.

As for me, am I ready for a WHOLE WEEK of nothing but raw food, when I was just fasting like a month ago????

Psh. Who’s live to 2100 blog you think you’re readin?

Check out how awesome dinner was:
Raw Avocado Sweet Corn Soup Recipe

Put a bunch of vine-ripened organic tomatoes,
some squeezable fresh avocados,
and a few ears of juicy sweet corn
into a blender or food processor.
Puree to preferred smoothness.
Add some Himalayan Salt and a bit of fresh pepper.

I like to spice mine up with some cayenne and paprika too, but experiment and enjoy!