Namaste

                                                                                     

It has been 21 days since I started my cleansing fast and the effect that this detox has had on my body, mind and spirit is incredible. My energy level, creativity and inner peace have increased exponentially. Some days I even feel as if I am walking on air. Like, today! There is a lightness about me and a buoyancy in my step. I am certain that all the days of fasting, juicing, eating living foods, doing Yoga and meditating have purified my body, freed my mind and allowed my spirit to soar. The heights to which my spirit is soaring, I could not have predicted when I began. But, Oh, am I thankful and full of gratitude for this opening, this expansion. If there were a Yoga pose called Thank You, it would probably look like this.

Namaste (The divine in me salutes the divine in you) is actually a symbol of gratitude and this pose fits my sentiment well. After my morning Yoga, I was so inspired that I went on a passion filled, soap-making frenzy. These are all organic, pure and natural soaps and they are made with so much Love! Have a vicarious sample of the Kenyan Clove and Lesotho Lavender pictured here. I just want to bathe all day with these gems. They smell so rich and lather so soothingly. As always, I just can't wait to give some away. That special reader who through email or comment introduces me to their most loved African country will receive one of these sweet soaps!

Now that I have reached the 21 day mark on my detox path, I am going to venture into the cooked foods arena. Eating Raw is great for cleansing and rejuvenating, but sometimes you want to broaden your repertoire in the kitchen. I love to cook healthy, soul-satisfying delicious foods. So, here are some suggestions for amazing, healthful and organic high quality seafood, dairy and more. If you like pasta, but understand the detrimental effects of too much wheat gluten, try this Brown Rice Pasta from Trader Joes. The spiral shaped ones are beyond good!

For a more traditional pasta with a smidgen of wheat, these Eden brand Udon and Soba noodles are so absolutely, astonishing good. Trust me, you will not need any other pasta after you try this.

I mix them with Toasted Sesame Oil and Braggs Liguid Aminos , a little Cayenne Pepper and Oh, is it outstanding.

If you want to try some top of the line Seafood, that has not been farmed or injected with colorants, this Smoked Salmon is the best. Have it with some cherry tomatoes and you will be in for some pure taste delights. I love the Grindstone Neck of Maine and Blue Hill Bay varieties.

I still like to eat lots of living raw foods throughout the day to add that much needed enzymatic activity to the workings of my digestive system. A wonderful and large delicious salad packed with greens and reds and purples is always the order of the day.

And of course, lots of organic fruit for snacks. Apples, Pears and Satsuma mandarins, mmmmmm! Believe it or not, you can actually eat the Meyer Lemon like an orange. I do. They are one of nature's best kept secrets!

And for dessert in the evening, a nice Raw Ice Cream or Gelato invariably hits the spot. This stuff is so good, so rich and so scrumptious, you will have a tendency to skip regular ice cream in pursuit of it. Better still, it is made not with dairy, but with cashew cream. I grew up eating ice cream every night before bed, so I understand the addiction and the subsequent asthma, allergies, acne and mucous congestion. And this is why I am so grateful for the people at Organic Nectars who make this. The Pistachio and Chocolate Hazelnut are my favorites.

I know, sometimes you may want the real thing. In this case, the best dairy to have is that which comes from the humble goat. Yes, goat milk, goat cheese and this amazing Goat Milk Yogurt. I love to mix it with bananas and enjoy its luscious consistency and tangy flavor. I was introduced to this Redwood Hill Farm yogurt years ago at a farmer's market in Berkeley, CA. The company was small and relatively new, but now you can practically find this star product anywhere! I love the Wildflower Honey and the Strawberry.

For more excellent recommendations for meals that support a detoxed body, take a look at this wonderful book, Blissful Detox.

 

Thank you again to Temari O9 on flicker for the wonderful painting!