But, more recently, my health has become more than just the wanting to fit into the shorts I've been avoiding all winter - hello white legs!! - or the sudden urge to rub coconut oil over my entire body. Grocery stores are filled with junk… and this junk is boxed up in pretty packages pretending to be healthy. Just look at the side of a box of cereal or the deceptive "all natural" packaged product sitting in your freezer. It's pretty obvious we aren't putting the best things into our bodies. Even the fruits and veggies we stock our fridge with are laced with preservatives.
Now HOLD UP! I'm not saying I'm not guilty of a quick Friday night drive-thru to McDonald's when this momma doesn't feel like cooking. But what I am saying is… we can do better when given the option.
One way to start down a healthier track is with a cleanse. Before you freak out and think this means having to drink nothing but lemon water and starve yourself for a week… hear me out. THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF CLEANSE I'M REFERRING TO.
Let me back track for just a moment and explain WHY I believe a cleanse is important.
Our bodies take in a lot and I mean A LOT of "stuff", both good and bad. After years of trying to digest all the "stuff" we ingest, our bodies get filled with gunk which ends up just hanging around. All this gunk clings to the inside of our intestines, preventing nutrients from being absorbed. Think of it like a lint trap in your dryer… when it gets too full the dryer cannot work as efficiently.
By helping your body flush out the many toxins that have built up inside, you will feel healthier, have more energy, shed some pounds, and even stop your sweet tooth cravings.
My cleanse of choice is the Advocare 10 Day Cleanse. It's a very gentle 10 day cleanse of the gut that also allows you to… you got it, EAT! We're not talking fried food and greasy hamburgers. But you will eat as green and clean as possible. Lots of fruit, veggies, lean protien, whole grains, and water water water.
The most important advice I can give before beginning a cleanse is preparation. Here is a glance into my kitchen before I start a cleanse… lots of washing, cutting, and making it easy to grab the right choices.
To give you an idea of the some of the goodies I stock up on while cleansing see below. Try to get organic when possible, if you're going to do carbs always go for whole grain, sweet potatoes, or even some good old-fashion rolled oats with a dollop of organic peanut butter can be a great snack alternative.
Veggie Wash is a great item to have on hand as you wash and prep your food. Remember we want to eat as clean as possible and this will help strip off any extra gunk hanging on the skins.
A few other tips….Stevia is a good alternative if you must sweeten anything. Coconut oil is a great substitute for butter, margarine or other oils. And who could forget the SPARK! A must have to keep momma going!!
Want to get healthier and feel better? What's stopping you?! Get up, get out, and do your body right.
Here's to a happy healthier YOU!!
- Bethany Armstrong
AdvoCare Independent Distributor
