I’m happy to report that the 5 day Organic Avenue cleanse is complete! I started their LOVEfast cleanse last week and the fresh, organic juices were surprisingly so filling that it was not as hard as I anticipated. I love to eat and was actually able to avoid temptation for the duration of the cleanse without feeling too deprived. I was never truly hungry on the cleanse since the juices are packed with enough nutrients and healthy fats to fill you up. They are also spaced strategically throughout the day with a lighter option for breakfast, a hearty smoothie for lunch, green soup in the afternoon and small salad at dinner time. However, I DID really miss the act of eating!
The first two days of the cleanse were definitely the hardest for me, but then my body started to acclimate to the new routine and I actually enjoyed not having to think about what I was going to eat everyday and were I would get it. The juices are delivered fresh to your door each morning with a carefully mapped out schedule and motivational phrases emailed to you each day. Around day 3 I did notice myself having more energy and focus and just feeling less bogged down with toxins from my usual take out meals. I definitely had more energy to get out of bed in the morning, but this could also have been a result of going to bed earlier, an attempt to avoid late night snacking. Another nice result, a lean more toned feeling, flatter stomach and glowing skin. A colleague even commented that my skin looked better around day 4!
Overall the cleanse was a great way to remind me to really think about the foods I’m putting into my mouth rather than just blindly snacking as well as to think twice about whether I am really hungry or not. It also helped me to slow down and really enjoy the foods I was eating and erradicated my bad habits/unhealthy cravings. While I’m not going to go all vegan or organic, I definitely see the value in this lifestyle and am going to try to incorporate more of these foods into my daily life.
Want to try a cleanse and reap all of the feel good benefits without totally giving up food? Try Organic Avenue’s LOVEasy plan which offers a mix of raw foods and juices (with more food options than the LOVEfast plan). Organic Avenue also offers a LOVEsupport plan to help make the LOVE lifestyle convenient, accessible, delicious, and fun by customizing a special plan to fit your goals and needs. Overall, I was extremely impressed with the company and cleanse and will definitely be back to do it again when I start to get off track.
Below are a couple sample menus from the week. Some standouts for me were the kale salad, fresh gazpacho and blueberry smoothie. I am already missing them and will be ordering more!
To learn more about Organic Avenue and the different programs offered visit: www.organicavenue.com
Sample Menu 1
* Love Fast 1 (approx 8/9am) 1 Chlorophyll: Chlorophyll
FYI: Drink this straight as a shot, or you can mix it in some purified water. Please beware that it can leave your teeth stained green but it comes right out with water! Chlorophyll has the power to regenerate our bodies at the molecular and cellular level and is known to help cleanse the body, fight infection, help heal wounds, and promote the health of the circulatory, digestive, immune, and detoxification systems. Chlorophyll consumption increases the number of red blood cells and, therefore, increase oxygen utilization by the body.
* Love Fast 2 (approx 10/11am) 1 Orange Juice: Orange
FYI: In recent research studies, the healing properties of oranges (preferably organic as organic foods have been shown to contain higher amounts of phytonutrients)have been associated with a wide variety of phytonutrient compounds. Consuming vitamin C supplements does not provide the same protective benefits as drinking a glass of orange juice.
* Love Fast 3 (approx 11/12pm) 1 Green Love: Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Cucumber, Celery, Green Apple, lemon juice
FYI: If vegetables got grades for traditional nutrients alone, Swiss chard would be one of the vegetable valedictorians. The vitamin and mineral profile of this leafy green vegetable contains enough “excellents” to ensure its place at the head of the vegetable Dean’s List. Our rating system awards Swiss chard with excellent marks for its concentrations of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, vitamin E, and dietary fiber. Swiss chard also emerges as a very good or good source of copper, calcium, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, protein, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc, folate, biotin, niacin and pantothenic acid.
* Love Fast 4 (approx 1/2pm) 1 Lemon Lime Shake: Lemon, Lime, Coconut water, Coconut meat, Cucumber, Alkaline Water, Himalayan Salt, Avocado, Stevia
FYI:Stevia’s most obvious and notable characteristic is its sweet taste. However, the sweet taste is not due to carbohydrate-based molecules, but to several non-caloric molecules called glycosides. Individuals who cannot tolerate sugar or other sweeteners can use stevia. Stevia has been shown to inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay, making it an excellent addition to tooth pastes and mouthwashes. Many people have reported improvement in their oral health after adding stevia concentrate to their tooth paste and using it, diluted in water, as a daily mouthwash.
* Love Fast 5 (approx 3/4pm) 1 Gazpacho Soup: Lime, Carrot, Tomato, Cucumber, Celery, Himalayan Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Cilantro, Red pepper, Olive Oil, Garlic, Jalapeno, Yellow Pepper
FYI: One of the most well known tomato eating benefit is its’ Lycopene content. Lycopene is a vital anti-oxidant that helps in the fight against cancerous cell formation as well as other kinds of health complications and diseases.
* Love Fast 6 (approx 5/6pm) 1 Kale Dulse: Kale, Ginger, Himalayan Salt, Yacon Syrup, Red pepper, Olive Oil, Pine Nuts, Dulse, Olive, Bell Pepper
FYI: Kale is an excellent source of vitamin C-just one cup of this cooked vegetable supplies 88.8% of the daily value for vitamin C. Vitamin C is the primary water-soluble antioxidant in the body, disarming free radicals and preventing damage in the aqueous environment both inside and outside cells.
* Love Fast 7 (approx 7/8pm) 1 Green Mylk: Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Cucumber, Celery, Romaine, Parsley, Almond, Cinnamon, Collard Green
FYI: Almond milk is rich in Vitamin E, a known antioxidant, and thus, is believed to good for those undergoing detoxification programs.
Sample Menu 2
* Love Fast 1 (approx 8/9am) 1 Chlorophyll: Chlorophyll
FYI: Drink this straight as a shot, or you can mix it in some purified water. Please beware that it can leave your teeth stained green but it comes right out with water! Chlorophyll has the power to regenerate our bodies at the molecular and cellular level and is known to help cleanse the body, fight infection, help heal wounds, and promote the health of the circulatory, digestive, immune, and detoxification systems. Chlorophyll consumption increases the number of red blood cells and, therefore, increase oxygen utilization by the body.
* Love Fast 2 (approx 10/11am) 1 Grapefruit: Grapefruit
FYI: Although grapefruit has a sub-acid taste, its juice actually has an alkaline reaction after digestion. This has a profound effect in the treatment of acidity in the digestive system that causes a host of other health problems.
* Love Fast 3 (approx 11/12pm) 1 Carrot Juice: Carrot
FYI: Many people consider drinking carrot juice one of the healthiest lifestyle choices possible. Carrot juice is known for beta carotene which gives the body Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Vitamin E and many minerals. The health benefits of drinking carrot juice are thought to be good prenatal health, eyesight, bones and teeth, liver and nails, skin and hair as well as helping in cancer prevention.
* Love Fast 4 (approx 1/2pm) 1 Blueberry Spirulina Smoothie: Blueberry, Coconut water, Banana, Coconut Butter/ Oil, Spirulina
FYI: Spirulina weighs in with an impressive 60% all-vegetable protein, and also contains a powerful combination of important vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin E, zinc, B-complex, copper, calcium, and magnesium. It is also a rich source of the antioxidant beta-carotene and the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA).
* Love Fast 5 (approx 3/4pm) 1 Raw Green Soup: Lemon, Carrot, Cucumber, Parsley, Alkaline Water, Himalayan Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Cilantro, Pepper, Avocado, Onion
FYI: Cilantro isn’t just a commonly-used leaf and seed ingredient found in many tasty and exotic recipes, it’s also a powerful natural cleansing agent. Cilantro has been effectively used to help remove heavy metals and other toxic agents from the body.
* Love Fast 6 (approx 5/6pm) 1 Fennel Orange Salad: Lemon, Cucumber, Himalayan Salt, Orange, Pepper, Olive Oil, Fennel, Dill
FYI: Fennel bulb is an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is the body’s primary water-soluble antioxidant, able to neutralize free radicals in all aqueous environments of the body.
* Love Fast 7 (approx 7/8pm) 1 Green Mylk: Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Cucumber, Celery, Romaine, Parsley, Almond, Cinnamon, Collard Green
FYI: Almond milk is rich in Vitamin E, a known antioxidant, and thus, is believed to good for those undergoing detoxification programs.
