29 February 2012

My last day in Utopia

I dislike the feelings that swell up like a tide pool when I have to leave the beach. Regardless, I do have to thank my lucky stars (and planets) for my time in this little paradise: no flight delays getting here, no inclement weather and memorable experiences. 

My morning walk on the beach was bright and communal, just enough other folks with the same idea sharing a beautiful moment in time. The ocean was mirror smooth in a cool hue of aquamarine and the air was practically still-just an occasional light breeze.

The ocean invited me to sit for a while, 

So I knelt down into virasana posture to...I don’t know, 

But I closed my eyes and        sat.  

The ocean spoke slightly above a whisper:

Draw in

Draw within 

Rest your awareness 

In the first moment 

When The Spirit

Hovered over the water

And I did

And it became so quiet

Like I had slowly submerged under the water

But I still felt bright and warm from the sun

I felt like my spirit and my body temporarily separated

Experiencing calm and wonder 

Then the ocean asked me to breathe with her

And I did

Details on the Detox

Notes from my 21 day detox:

Hot dang, I made it! I was really doubting that I would be able to stick out the Whole Living Magazine’s 21 day detox plan, but I am really proud of myself for getting through the first obstacle--you know, the  ‘withdrawals’. I had several friends and family check in with me to see how I was holding up, they were interested in hearing my observations and thoughts on what food groups or ‘vices’ I thought really were not good for all of us.  Below are some thoughts that I jotted down throughout the journey:

* A little weakness day 2 and really alert and really, really hungry

*Monster headache day three, like my skull is being crushed

*Monster headache when I woke up on day 4, had to take Advil. then much better...hmmm eyes don’t look so puffy

*Feeling like I am focusing better day 5 -- still weak but my mind wants my body to workout hard, and the bod just won’t respond 

*Day 6 Feel like I have lost power- but noticing something else that I wont’t comment on just yet

* Day 7 OMG its here, I know tomorrow I can eat fish and some scrambled tofu (never eaten scrambled tofu before). Lentils and beans are on the menu as well

During week two I am low on endurance for cardio work, so I scale back, but have to continue Pilates reformer work because the sessions are already paid for. In a word, I am chapped by this turn of events; I have been working since November to increase cardio endurance in order to enjoy more intense weekend recreational activities with biking and hiking.  By Friday, I decide not to extend any more energy on workouts(recreational or otherwise), I feel that I will likely injure myself or become sick. I spend the weekend performing a different kind of detox:  cleaning out and reorganizing bookshelves and closets. I am disappointed to report that I did not get to every closet in the house, but I’m glad that I made the effort. I am flat out whining for dark chocolate... every     single    day.

Week three really is taking a a positive turn, laying off for three days allowed my body to regain some power once again. I am able to go out to a “healthy” restaurant with my husband and devour an organic vegan salad without having to prepare it. Additionally, The Cosmic Coconut and Whole Foods were able to help me out a couple of times during this week for pressed juices and a lunch that fit my detox guidelines. I can only think of chocolate, it is the one thing my body still craves...I think it is fair to say  that I could possibly commit a capital crime if I were not able to eat chocolate for the rest of my life. 

Interesting happenings post detox:

I went to Starbucks to get a hot chocolate with hazelnut and my body basically showed that treat the door. Introducing coconut milk, Almond milk, and Soy milk into my eating plan has made me realize that I can find nutritious alternatives and use less cow’s milk. I tend to be lactose intolerant at this stage of my life, and the organic cow’s milk doesn’t seem to appease my body chemistry. Yep, I snuck into Baskin Robbins too, and also treated myself to Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc. I’ve had about 5 ounces of chicken (no other meat) since I started the detox, and I am not really missing it too much on a day to day basis. I really don’t miss breads, but I miss organic crackers. 

Finally, the thing I wouldn’t comment on during week one: I saw a difference in the texture and shine of my hair...so did my husband, who rarely notices stuff like that. My eyes are a lot brighter and skin is really even-toned. I attribute these changes to raw juicing and killing the added sugars, and I also believe that there isn’t really anything (potion or procedure short of botox or facelift) on the market to match the cosmetic results from juicing. Yes, the start up cost is expensive to juice, your grocery bill will likely go up 20-30%, but you will be healthier and look better. In my opinion, the elevated costs are a wash when you don’t have to buy as many cosmetics products, hair products and probably not be as sick- reducing medical costs.

I have two suggestions for anyone considering a detox plan:

1. Don’t start a detox if you are just recovering from an illness; I felt this situation may have made it harder  on my body.

2. Don’t do heavy workouts your first week on detox, take it easy and knit, read, draw or paint. 

The first week after the detox I gave in to a few of the indulgences, but the second week of post detox had me looking back to the healthier substitutions like Coconut milk, Almond mild, soy products, Cacao, kale and other less popular vegetables that tend to be super foods. It looks like I am giving up green tea, and will opt for teas with no caffeine. I didn’t realize how much I was consuming until I got on the detox plan.  I can’t go caffeine free every day of the month, gotta have that cacao or dark chocolate- I will be managing it better now that I realize how much my cognitive memory has improved. I think processed food, added sugars and caffeine could be the culprits in robbing our memory and critical thinking. 

We yogis are blessed with enhanced body awareness and pick up on subtle actions within us, this insight is such a valuable tool when taking on detoxes and food elimination diets. Take notes if you need to in order to identify any changes that may be related to the ingesting of particular foods. Take a chance and take the plunge! (but...maybe wait until after Valentine’s Day).

Juiced for the Holidays!

I have been stopping by an Organic Juice and Smoothie shop in East Memphis called The Cosmic Coconut, and I have to tell you I am hooked on fresh pressed juices combined in extraordinary ways.  These experiences got me curious and sent me on a mission to investigate juicing machines. After speaking with a couple of local retail sales associates (Dillards and Williams Sonoma), the Juicer appears to be a strong sell this holiday season in the Mid-South. 

I admit that I am not the juicing expert and would refer you to best-juicer-reviews.com for more technical reviews. However, the Juicers that I am posting cover broad price points, which makes it a bit easier to continue your search for the best Juicer for you.

Best Budget Juicer- $75

The Hamilton Beach Bigmouth 67650 is the top pick of Consumer Reports, Food and Wine Magazine, and consumerguide.com. The reviews state that this Juicer is easy to use and easy to clean. However, some reviews note that the pulp comes out wet- a sign of inefficient juicing. Additional comments were complaints about plastic parts breaking. 

Best Endorsed Juicer- $100

The Jack Lalanne Juicer is ranked the best Juicer in several polls. For one hundred dollars at your local department store, this may be a suitable purchase for someone primarily interested in juicing fruit. It can’t juice leafy greens (wheatgrass, spinach, etc.) and oxygen gets into the juice- meaning foam in the juice. Just like the Hamilton Juicer, the lower priced Juicers have complaints about plastic parts breaking. 

Most Efficient mid range Juicer -$149

The Breville JE98XL will press eight ounces of juice in five seconds. This Juicer has a wider mouth which equates to less time involved in chopping fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces in order to load them into the Juicer. Like other mid-range Juicers, the Breville does not do a great job of juicing leafy greens or wheatgrass. As a plus, this Juicer ranked very well with consumers on Amazon. 

Price is not a factor- $379.00

The Omega-VRT350 Juicer will do just about all that you desire, without the loud noise or the enzyme killing heat and little/no foam. Yes, this premier Juicer will juice your leafy greens and wheatgrass without a second thought. Some of the other noteworthy features are:

Easy to assemble, operate and clean

High juice yield ­ very dry pulp

Two juicing screens for firm and soft produce

**Per juicingperfection.com, this Juicer weighs 25 pounds and has an unheard of 10-year warranty.  Considering the size, this is a monster small appliance that will remain on top of your counter along side the stand up KitchenAid mixer.

If a Juicer is a top pick on your wish list, let Santa know ASAP. The local Williams Sonoma outlet is already sold out of Breville Juicers, and other well rated Juicers are becoming difficult to find in our area. 

Love love Orange Cauliflower!

Whoda thunk... orange cauliflower? It is an amazing vegetable that you should try with this recipe I found from www.sundaynightdinner.com. Three out of four of my family members liked the dish (if my son had given it a thumbs up, I would have had to check his temperature).

Information for my local peeps: I found this vegetable in the organic section at Kroger-Exeter location in Germantown.

Cardamom Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

SND Note: We've added the salt before and after roasting. While it's easier to salt the vegetables before roasting, the salt draws out the moisture in the vegetables, which makes them harder to brown and caramelize. Salting the vegetables after roasting is the recommended approach.

Ingredients

•  1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus extra for greasing sheet pan

•  3 green cardamom pods

•  1-2 dried red chilies or 1 fresh Thai chili (optional)

•  1 tablespoon coriander seeds

•  1 teaspoon cumin seeds

•  1/2 teaspoon whole peppercorns

•  1 head cauliflower (2 1/2 to 3 pounds) cored and broken into medium florets

•  1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced

•  1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Directions

1.            Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a sheet pan or jellyroll pan with olive oil and set aside.

2.            Grind the cardamom pods, chilies, coriander, cumin and whole peppercorns in a coffee grinder or mini food processor until fine. Mix the spices with oil in a large bowl. Add the cauliflower florets and onions and toss to coat. Add additional oil if necessary.

3.            Transfer the vegetables to a baking pan, spread evenly. Roast until they're tender and the onions are caramelized, about 30-35 minutes, stirring halfway through. Transfer to large bowl, sprinkle with salt and toss, adjust salt to taste and serve.

Makes 4 servings as a side dish

[Adapted from American Masala by Suvir Saran]