Welcome to Day 17 of my 21 day detox. Day 17 wow, really does not seem that long. That is one of the things I like about Joshi's detox plan, it was not to painful to follow. This time last year I did Martha's Vineyard detox. I found that a lot more strict.

I have to say that Joshi's detox has certainly helped me to tame the sugar beast within. My sugar cravings went from a 5 on the Richter scale (wanting to put sugar on my pancakes) to now a manageable 2 on the Richter scale. I even made hot chocolate with white chocolate chips and whip cream for someone and didn't even sneak a sip. Actually the smell was a bit over powering. What I have noticed, is that there is so much natural sweetness in so many foods, carrots are my new doughnuts. News flash, Almonds are sweet. Seriously, Almonds are sweet. I knew that artificial sugar alters our taste buds and appetite. Wow I had not realized just how much my taste buds had been altered by sugar. FYI, if you don't find carrots crazy sweet your taste buds may be out of whack, Jack.  I can feel that my immune system feels stronger as well with out the sugar to suppress it. 

Something I am concerned with, is the ending or weening, myself off, the detox. In past detox's I have not, as slowly as I should, introduce other foods back in. It is important to slowly bring certain food back into your system, as not to flood our bodies with toxins. This is a great opportunity to learn something about your body and how it works. You really don't want to miss this bus.

As a nutritionist, I am always telling my clients to listen to your body. Our body's wisdom will tell us everything we need to know. Directly after a detox/cleanse it is critical to listen to your body and how it re-acts to the reintroduction of certain foods. Are there headaches, pains in your stomach, constipation, diarrhea, irritability and so on. Really take the time to introduce each new food slowly. One food every couple days, that kind of slow. Just because we eat a food several times a day every day does not mean that our bodies can tolerate that food. Eat the food, listen, listen, listen. Usually you will know fairly quickly if a food is our medicine or our poison.

So if a detox is 10 days long then it should take about 5 days on average to be able to get back to a full menu. So my 21 day detox is actually going to take me about 31 days to finish. This is a month well spent.

What have you done good, for your self this month? Baby steps can win the race, if you don't believe me just ask the tortist. You can reach me at susan@rachellewood.ca