The Good, The Bad, and The Amazing Detox

So many big things are happening right now and I am getting super excited about the up in coming program that is under way. With my last post I have been getting tons of emails and questions asking why detox, what are the benefits, and what will I experience. So I have decided that maybe I should let you all know whats so awesomely amazing about detoxing!!!

Everyday we are taking in so many toxins and chemicals it is not even funny. Some toxins we cannot help but take into our body, these are the ones that are found in our air and water. Other toxins we fully bring on ourselves with what we put in and on our body, food and body products being the biggest culprits. But have no fear!!! Getting rid of the toxins, or at least most of them, can be just as easy if you are willing to put in the time and detox. It is recommended that you do a 3 week detox even season change or a week detox every month to help your body to heal and detoxify itself on a regular basis.

Detoxing not only gets rid of toxins but it also makes your skin look amazing, balances your hormones, give you better hair, can make you sleep better though out the night, increased energy (after detox is complete), shed a few pounds, de-bloat and bring your metabolism back to where it is supposed to be when done right. These are all areas that are highly affected when we have too many toxins in our bodies, and trust me we all, even the healthiest person alive, have too many toxins that lay with in us laughing away. These toxins lay deep with in our organs and cells and build up very easily, the majority of toxins are found in the intestines and your skin.

Yummy Detox Fibre Fill

Now I suppose you are wondering why get rid of the toxins, can't we just live with them since they are all around us. And I guess my answer to that is ya sure you can but you will experience a lot of symptoms that I am guess ing you would rather live without such as; chronic illnesses, auto immune diseases, weight gain, increased risk of heart disease, chronic headaches and migraines, premature aging of skin, imbalanced hormones, chronic fatigue, and much much more. So would you rather detox every now and then or experience these symptoms.

Now detoxing is different for everyone and what you experience also depends on which detox you take part in, as there are many types to choose from. Holistic healing detox's are my favourite as they not only heal the body & mind as a whole but it also focuses on a high nutrition foods combined with mostly raw meals so that you get the most out of what you are putting in your body. With a holistic healing detox the most symptoms occur on days 3-5 as thats when your body is working it's hardest to detox. The most common symptoms that most people experience are; fatigue, headaches, dehydration like symptoms as your body needs a lot more water during this time, mood swings, mild stomach aches and mild running nose. One can also experience constipation for the first two days or loose bowels as your body is trying to get rid of what it needs to. Most of the time the last two is what scares people and they think something is wrong but nothing is wrong it is just your systems way of getting rid of the toxins, however, if you do experience the symptoms for more than 5 days please stop your detox and consult a doctor.

So now you have some basic facts about detoxing, trust me I could go on and on about this topic for hours, but I will stop where I am. Detoxing is a must for some and a choice for others but either way I suggest that everyone complete a detox at least once in there life, if not way more. If you are
curious about learning more about detoxing please feel free to contact me, and if you are wanting to take part in a detox please read my post, Exciting News, the Future is Here. Xoxo my love's!

A delish detox energizer elixir 

Creating Balance in an Unbalanced Life

So last post I talked a little about how I was trying to bring back more balance into my world along with the heart chakra and opening/balancing it. Well this last week has been all about adding even more balance again into my life and creating balance in moments that I feel the most unbalanced in. I have been using a lot of different methods from energy work, mediation, nutrition, self care, ayurvedic medicine, and knowledge to create it and today I am going to share with you some of the things that help me to balance myself and my world.

1. Meditation- this one really should not come as a surprise to you all as I am a huge advocate for meditation. Meditation gives us a time where not only can we go deep with in our selves but it also gives us insight as to what may be causing us to become unbalanced, as when we meditate we can hear our intuition the clearest. Try meditating for even just 5 minutes and you will feel a difference in how you feel.

2. Eating less processed sugar!!!!- This one for me is crazy hard but a must, as sugar feeds any kind of unbalance or negative energy that you might have within your body. A diet high in processed sugar also is linked to all sorts of cancer as it feeds the negative energy that cancer needs to thrive. This week I have been trying to limit, and in the future, get rid of processed sugar. When I get a sugar craving I have a piece of  dark chocolate made from cacao, snack on dates, have some fruit, have carrots (as organic ones are nice and sweet), or have a teaspoon of raw honey.

3. Run more- Now that the weather is getting nicer out again I have been taking my runs outside off the treadmill more! Running has always been super balancing for me but running outside is even more so as I find it highly meditatve. Also running, just like any activity where you are moving your body for more than 20 minutes, helps to move stagnate energy out of your body. You do not have to run just move your body in a way that gets your heart rate up for minimum 20 minutes.

4. Salt water baths- Now this one I will warn you takes a lot out of you, I am highly exhausted after one of these and ready for bed. Salt water baths force your body to expel out any toxins you have in your body, which we all have tons of. To have a salt water bath fill your bath tub with the hottest water you can stand, then add in 1 cup of epsom salts and 1 tsp of baking soda, and any oils you choose (I use lavender or eucalyptus), then sit and relax for minimum 30 minutes. You can listen to music, read, watch a movie, meditate or whatever during this time just make sure that you try to keep your hands and feet in the water as much as possible as thats where the toxins will be coming out of. Then when you are done take a cool shower but do not use anything that has perfumes in it! Also make sure to drink lots of water during, before and after and DO NOT  eat within an hour of doing one of these!

5. Nature Love!!!! This one I must say has really been a truly big balancer. By getting out of the unnatural light and into some natural light with nature all around you, your body naturally balances its self as it is meant to be outdoors not cooped up inside for hours. I have been getting outside as much as possible this week and even went on a winter hike to Waterton National Park with my best friend, it was such a blessing!!

6. Sleep...zZZZzzz...- This is something as a species we do not do enough of anymore. The average adult sleeps about 6 hours a night when they need and should be getting about 7-8 hours a night. I know when I am not sleeping properly things in my life get crazy, I become moody, eat junk, low energy, mind fog, and so much more. Also when we are sleeping is when our body gets a chance to process any toxins and expel them, and balance any hormone imbalances as well. If you have trouble sleeping or getting to sleep try drinking more water, more vitamin D in your diet, creating a bed time ritual, or using oils. I also give you permission to nap!!!

7. Yoga- Of course I had to put this in here! :) There is no better feeling than the blissed out, up lifting feeling you have after a yoga class...it is almost the same kind of high that you get after sex. Yoga is very balancing as it makes you mind, body, and soul all work as one unit and the best part is you do not need to go to a class to do it!! You can practice simple, advanced, or any pose right at home. I personally get up every morning and do about 30 minutes worth of poses to start my day out feeling liberated.


There are plenty more practices that I use for creating balance within myself and my life but these are just a few of the simple ones I have been focusing on lately. Our bodies and minds can become unbalanced very easily which can create unbalance and chaos with in our lives. It is important to practice some sort of balancing practice everyday to prevent this from happening. I hope that you will use one if not all of these to help you to create balance and maintain it within your life.

Tummy, Budget, and Taste Bud Pleaser

So to go along with last weeks post on food I thought I would give you two of my favourite recipes that are super easy to make, quick to make, super healthy/good for you, and also very easy on the pocket book!!! The first one is a green smoothie and I know some of the ingredients sound gross to put in or weird but trust me it is soooo amazing!!! I never would have dreamed in my wildest dreams that I would like it but I do, and it is one of my go to in a hurry snack's!! The second recipe is a vegan version of a meal a lot of people love, this was also a recipe that I was very unsure about how it was going to turn out but let me tell you I ate them 3 days in a row this week!!! Both recipes are definite tummy, taste bud, and budget pleasers :) Enjoy!

Creamy Tropical Smoothie

1 Cup of Pineapple (I buy a fresh one, cut it and then freeze it)

1/4 Avocado

1 Inch Piece of Ginger (peeled and cut into smaller pieces)

2 Handfuls of Spinach

1 Cup of Coconut Water

Combine all the ingredients  together in a blender and enjoy!! Seriously a must try! I never in a million and one years thought I would like avocado or ginger in a smoothie but it is one of the most enjoyable combinations ever!!! The avocado makes it creamy as if you have added dairy, and the ginger gives it this crazy tang that awakes your senses.

Chickpea Taco's with Homemade Guac!!!

For the Tacos:1 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 red onion, minced
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 14-oz can, drained and rinsed)
1  taco seasoning packet or make your own 

(I make my own seasoning 1/2 tbsp of chilli powder, 1/2 tsp of paprika, 1 tsp of cumin, 1/4 oregano, 1/4 salt, 1/4 pepper, 1/4 cornstarch, 1/8 cayenne pepper, 1/4 cup water)

Either Gluten Free taco Shells or Corn Shells

For the Guac:

1 Avocado

Generous Handful of Cilantro Chopped

Juice of 1 Lime

1/4 Chopped Red Onion

1/4 Chopped Tomato

1/4 Chopped Red Pepper

1. First prepare the Guac by mashing the avocado and then mixing in the other ingredents. Store in fridge until Taco's are done.

2. In a medium size skillet over medium low heat combine olive oil, chickpea's, onion, and garlic. Stir frequently and let cook uncovered.

3. When the chickpea mixture has cooked for about 10 minutes add taco seasoning and let simmer for about 5 minutes on low.

4. Prepare taco shells or corn shells as per package.

5. Fill taco shells with chickpea mixture and then top with guac and enjoy!!!!

Heal Yourself...With Your Mouth

Gluten Free Veggie Pasta and Kale Chips!!

Food, food, food!!!! Food is one of the biggest parts of our daily lives and also plays one of the biggest impacts when it comes to the health of our life. Food can not only impact our physical health but it also plays a huge impact on our mental health, spiritual connect, and emotional well-being. A lot of us do not take the time to think about what we are putting into our bodies and how it is affecting us. We tend to make decisions of what to eat out of convince rather than deciding to eat for optimal health and well being, and I was once one of these people. For those of you that know me my diet has changed many times over the years from eating crap take out all the time, to salads every day, to having a protein shake or two a day, to gluten free, and then finally to being gluten free, meat free, dairy free and consuming mostly organic foods. It took me many years to figure out what worked for me and what did not work for me in my diet and in some ways I am still figuring this out. I read tons of books and articles on food educating myself and learning why eating certain ways and items can make us feel better and others can make us feel not so great. Here are some tid-bits that I have picked up over the years from educating myself that have lead to my decisions and lead to me feeling better than I ever have felt before.

All aboard the gluten free train! Gluten is a protein that is located in most grains that include but are not limited to; wheat (this one is the biggest candidate), barely, some oats, and buckwheat. This protein was not actually located in grains 50 years ago but is actually an additive due to grains being genetically modified to keep up with the rate that the human race is consuming them, this protein also helps increase their storage life. Anyway, gluten can affect the human body in many many ways; bloating, foggy mind, fatigue, depression, chicken skin (or the little tiny red bumps that you get on your biceps and thighs), gas, IBS, vitamin deficiencies, swelling of joints/muscles and much much more. Gluten can also make certain diseases and illnesses worse; fibromyalgia, MS, IBS, Crohn's, anxiety disorders, chronic depression, and arthritis. For me, my first indicators of why I should go gluten free were; looking like I was 6 months prego every time I ate gluten, constant low energy, chicken skin, and I hate to say it but gas. Not everyone's body has a gluten intolerance but everyone can benefit from limiting the amount of gluten you ingest. I suggest trying to eliminate gluten from your diet for a week and see how you feel, some differences you might notice are; feeling lighter, more energetic and happier!! Plus lets face it there are some truly yummy g-free foods out there these days...cupcakes anyone?!

Organic vs GMO foods....this I know is sometimes a touchy subject for people because of cost and the old saying what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I understand cost is hard for some people to wrap their minds around, however, how does ingesting wax, formaldehyde and food colouring every time you bite into an apple that cost you maybe 20 cents cheaper than an organic one sound? GMO foods were created for a few reasons but the biggest one is so that the food can have a longer shelf life and grow in conditions that it was not meant to grow in. One of the best examples I can think of are blueberries; GMO blueberries have had salamander cells added to them so they can resist frost and also have blue food colouring added to them as after they have been picked they lose their colour with in the first few days. Now I do not know about you but having salamander cells crossed with my blueberries does not sound like something I want to put into my body. GMO foods contribute to many many health issues but I will only list the most common here; weight gain (yes even though you are eating your fruits and veggies you will still gain weight!), acne, seasonal allergies, vitamin deficiencies, Autism, ADHD, and many more. Now I know buying organic can be costly, and I will be honest I buy as much as I can organic but I do cheat with a few things, here is a list and link to the foods you should be buying organic as they contain the most harmful chemicals and additives: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods#slide-1.

Meat Free and Dairy Free Cabbage Rolls!!

Last but definitely not least the two touchiest subjects; meat and dairy!!! These are very very touchy subjects and once again not everyone needs to go meat free and dairy free but everyone can benefit from having less of the two in their diets. Meat is one of the biggest contributors to; hormone imbalances, infertility, immune system deficiencies, obesity, heart disease, MS, crohn's, cancer (as meat is acidic and a cancer free body needs an alkaline diet) chronic fatigue syndrome and high/low blood pressure. The Canadian Food guide recommends having 2-3 servings of lean meat/proteins a day and the average Canadian usually ingests about 3 servings of meat and about 2-3 servings of protein making that an average of 5-6 servings a day, and to top it off a serving size is about 3 ounces or the size of the palm of your hand not a 10 ounce t-bone. Unlike meat which has been included in our diets for many years, dairy was never meant to be included in our diets, it was added because humans were not getting enough vitamins from other sources and because of the creamy delicious taste. Human's had to develop a make shift enzyme in their body to even digest dairy! Ingesting dairy takes a huge toll on the body it takes about ten times longer to digest something that contains dairy than it does to ingest dairy free items. Indicators of being lactose intolerant are; acne, hormone imbalances, gas, bowel issues, phlegm in the lungs/throat area upon waking, asthma, vitamin deficiencies, etc. I know what you are thinking; but we need protein and the vitamins from meat and dairy to live, yes it is true you do need protein and vitamins, like vitamin D, to live but there are so many other ways to get these besides meat and dairy. Some excellent sources of protein that do amazing things for your body are; lentils and beans, spinach (yes I know it is true!!), nuts/seeds, broccoli, cabbage, hemp, brown rice, and my favourite quinoa. I would like to note that I did not include soya, or  edamame in the protein sources because 90% of the worlds soya and edamame is highly processed and genetically modified.  As for the vitamins that your missing from dairy try adding more greens to your diet, almonds, hemp hearts, cacao (raw chocolate!), and the easiest, spending a minimum of 30 minutes outside a day. Now like I said before I am not saying everyone needs to go meat and dairy free it is a choice you need to make for yourself, but even simply cutting back on meat and dairy and using other sources to get your nutritional requirements does wonders!! Try having two meatless days a week and switch to organic, free range meat sources and you will see a difference with just that.


Listen to your body, and not society, on what your body needs to function to its best ability.  Your body will tell you what food it can and cannot tolerate you just need to listen to it carefully. When I first started trying to figure out what kind of a diet worked for me I would take a few minutes right after each meal to do a mental scan of my body and see what was going on, then about an hour later I would do the same thing again once the digestion process had started, this helped me to really figure out what my body wanted in my diet and what it did not. Often we eat certain foods because we think we have to, its convenient or because it is socially acceptable but this leads to so many health issues that could be avoided. Not everyone needs to live a vegan gluten free life but making simple changes to how you consume food and why, could save your from a lot of physical, emotional, and mental pain down the road. Plus I must say there really are delish things you can make that are healthy, gluten free, dairy free, meat free and amazing in taste. I encourage everyone to take what you have learned here, do a little research and then figure out what it right for you, after all its all about loving your body because it is the only one that you have!