It begins with a juice cleanse...

Since I have this lovely fitness/health nutrition blog, I thought it would be a great spot to write a little bit about my current journey to be happier and healthier.

My current goal is to reduce my sugar intake drastically- specifically refined sugar. I've been trying to do this for a while with little success. My first step was to get rid of the candy in my house. However, this just seemed to prompt more impulse buying of candy and sweets. I've also recently experienced an increasing amount of fatigue, which means the sugar and the caffeine have got to go!

SO…yesterday began my first day of my sugar nixing diet. I started with my favorite BluePrint Cleanse. I'm a big fan of the Blue Print juices because they are both organic and cold pressed (I mean what's the point of a juice cleanse if your juice is sprayed with pesticides or full of GMO's). Blue Print also has a great balance of fruit, vegetables, and a splash of protein in the form of cashew milk. For me a juice cleanse is not about weight loss, its about resetting your body from all the crap we put into it daily.

I only do single day juice cleanses with a step down process. I have a high metabolism, and it's not easy to make it through a day without solids- much less three. I also allow myself to supplement if needed with organic, raw fruit and veggies. So a couple strawberries won't ruin the whole plan. Today is my second day- which is half juice and half solids. Today I am vegan, gluten-free, and organic. This means I concentrate on fruit and vegetables. So far I've had a banana and cashews, and I'm working on my first juice. I can't wait for chips and salsa.

The third day I introduce dairy back in- not too rich though! Yogurt, a bit of light cheese, etc.  After the third day life resumes (with hopefully better choices). This time life resumes with some changes. Here are my new goals.

FOODS I WILL NOT EAT:
- cookies
- candy
- ice cream (not a problem for me)
- doughnuts (also not a problem)
- drinks with sweeteners (I'm addicted to Honest Tea right now)
- cupcakes
- bagels (not a sweet- but a ton of sugar and these seem to go hand in hand with sugar cravings)
- breakfast pastries
-milk chocolate
- cereal

FOODS THAT I ALLOW: (many of these I hope to trickle down with time)
- dark chocolate
- all fruit
- agave and honey
- fruit snacks (100% fruit juice only)

Instead of punishing myself for slipping, I've decided to simply track my performance and see how I do. I'm hoping that after a few days my energy will go back up and I will feel better than ever!

Healthy Hangover Remedies

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I bring you a few of my personal favorite healthy ways to combat the after effects of drinking. 

We all know that alcohol isn't great for our health. Sometimes our body likes to give us an unfriendly reminder the next day. Everyone has their own secret remedy from the "hair of the dog method" to hydrating sports drinks to grease laden junk food. Here are 5 healthy ways to cut the edge off of your hangover.

1. Water with sliced fruit
Water seems the obvious choice, but after a night of drinking our bodies are dehydrated past the point of just water cures. Water is best before, during, and shortly after. Once the dehydration sets in the body has to replenish electrolytes. To beef up your water grab whatever fruit you can find (citrus like lemons, limes, and grapefruit work exceptionally well), wash, slice, and throw in your water. If you stir it around a bit, the water will get slightly muddled and even tastier. Other good additions include strawberries, cucumbers, and even a few drops of peppermint oil, which aids digestion.

If you feel a bit nauseous, try the same concoction with unflavored seltzer. Seltzer gives all the benefits for hangovers that people swear by in  sugary sodas- but with no added ingredients or sugars. Drink it plain or go crazy with fruit. (On a side note I personally wouldn't try throwing peppermint oil in with seltzer.) A little bit of science for you guys.


2. Coconut Water

Coconut water has become super trendy in the last couple years, and it deserves most of the hype. This is a natural sports drink. Rich in potassium and magnesium, key electrolytes for water absorption. Unlike other drinks, the sugar in coconut water is food sourced fructose, instead of the added sucrose and dextrose in Gatorade. Zico coconut water has nearly half of the sugar and twice the potassium of lemon-lime Gatorade. Our bodies absorb vitamins and minerals better through food sources than with supplementation, so coconut water is a great way to pack in these nutrients. 

If you've never tried coconut water, I find the flavor to be a bit off putting at first- but don't give up. Different brands taste a bit cleaner than others, and there are flavor options, but be aware that these may be less healthy than the plain. For instance, the Zico brand chocolate flavor has added coconut milk, which means extra calories.

Bonus tip: Coconut oil can also be helpful. "Oil pulling," or gargling with extra virgin coconut oil, can be a great morning boost. Like mouthwash it disinfects and cleanse the mouth. The theory behind "pulling" is that the oils disinfecting properties actually help draw toxins out-something your body needs after a night of drinking. And it makes your mouth feel super clean. Make sure to gargle with extra virgin coconut oil for at least five minutes (the longer the better- I do it while I shower), and make sure not to spit it out down a sink drain- toilets and trash cans are the best option.

3. Bananas

Drinking depletes the body of sugar and water. Bananas are full of natural fructose (fruit sugar), and are one of the best food sources of potassium. Bananas are also very easy on an upset stomach. Which makes this the ideal grab and go hangover cure if you have to be somewhere the next morning. Bananas also boost the metabolism- the faster your body can metabolize all the alcohol in your body the better you feel.

4. Herbal and detox teas

Tea is a powerful detox tool, and once again a way to rehydrate (you see a pattern here). Avoid black tea, as it has higher caffeine content, and therefore can just further aggravate dehydration. If you need a caffeine fix go for green tea, however the best teas for hangovers are herbal teas with no caffeine. Try to find teas with detoxifying ingredients like dandelion, fennel, and licorice, or digestive aids like peppermint and ginger. The Japanese Kukicha twig tea is another great detox tool. My personal favorite tea for hangovers is Traditional Medicinals' Everyday Detox series. 


5. Tortilla Chips

Okay, so this is not the most healthy hangover cure- but I offer this as alternative to greasy potato chips (my personal cure for years), French fries, fried chicken, cheesy poofs, etc. The key thing for most of these food's curative power is a high sodium content. Sodium is a necessary electrolyte that alcohol depletes. Grab a bag of organic blue corn tortilla chips- for once avoid any low sodium options and dig in and enjoy the salt. Drinking a liquid while you eat them replenishes the water and electrolytes at the same time!

Runners Up for hangover cures:
-eggs (I can't handle the smell or taste when I'm hungover, but if you can keep them down- go for it!
- whole wheat toast with honey (the honey will metabolize quickly and the toast will follow)
- apples and apple sauce (similar to banana without all the potassium)