Gluten-free, dairy-free, and Paleo-friendly, this recipe is really more of a tonic than a soup. It’s anti-inflammatory, very healing for the gut, and excellent for anyone undergoing a cleanse or detox.

The beets (you can use golden or regular) support the body’s natural detoxification pathways, while the broth is loaded with soothing amino acids that help heal the gut, and turmeric and ginger are both great for digestion and inflammation.

I added about 1 tsp of salt-free garlic-and-herb seasoning blend, to jazz up the flavour a bit. You can add any additional herbs or spices that you like, but I would steer clear of garlic if you know your digestion is sensitive to it.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 celery stocks, chopped
• 2 medium beets, peeled and chopped
• 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups cauliflower, chopped
• 5 cups chicken bone broth or good-quality vegetable stock
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 200 g mushrooms of choice, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups kale, destemmed and roughly chopped
• 2-3 tsp ground turmeric or 2 Tbsp fresh grated
• 1 tsp ground ginger or 1 Tbsp fresh grated
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Pink Himalayan or sea salt to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 1 tsp salt-free garlic-herb seasoning blend, optional

Directions:

Melt coconut oil in large pot over medium heat. Saute onion for about 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add carrots, celery, cauliflower, mushrooms, and beets. Saute 4-5 minutes more, or until lightly softened.

Add broth and coconut cream. Stir until creamy. Season with turmeric, ginger, salt, pepper, and garlic-and-herb seasoning (if using), and stir to blend.

Simmer over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, or until vegetables are softened. Stir in kale and simmer another 5 minutes.

Remove from heat. Add parsley and serve.

I get this question at work all the time. It’s either this, or “Do you have something that will make me lose weight?”

Let me be clear. YOU are the only thing that can make you lose weight. Does this mean that weight loss supplements are a complete waste of money? Absolutely not. But it’s important to understand exactly what they do, and what they don’t do.

They are called weight loss “aids” because they assist in accelerating the weight loss process, and help you maintain a high-functioning metabolism during times of dieting. They can be helpful for ensuring your body is burning fat and preserving lean muscle tissue, and, depending on the supplement, they may help curb cravings and appetite.

Weight loss aids are NOT, however, a magic pill. Nothing is. There is no product on the market today that is designed to work without the implementation of a proper diet and exercise plan. So, if you are scrolling through Facebook and come across an article (i.e. advertisement) claiming fast and easy results just by taking a pill, “and you can eat whatever you want!”, run the other way. Even Keto products are designed to be taken alongside a high-fat, low-carb diet (“Keto” actually stands for “Ketogenic Diet”).

So, which weight loss aids are actually worth your hard-earned cash and energy? There are a few ways you can go here:

1) Thermogenic Fat-Burners

These are your high-stimulant, preworkout-style fat burning formulas which utilize compounds such as caffeine, beta alanine and/or synephrine, among other things, to raise your heart rate and body temperature, causing you to burn calories and fat more efficiently. They are effective; however, they are not safe for everyone. I would not recommend these supplements for anyone with high blood pressure or anxiety, anyone on blood pressure or heart medication, anyone with a seizure disorder, anyone with adrenal or thyroid dysfunction, anyone taking prescription anti-depressant, anti-anxiety or sleep medication, and certainly not anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.

2) Non-Stimulant Fat-Burners

A safer, more natural way to go are the non-stimulant fat-burners, like CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid, a fatty acid that has been shown to reduce body fat, build muscle, and increase energy and endurance. This is sometimes taken in a stack along with carnitine, an amino acid which shuttles fatty acids from the blood into the mitochondria, so that the fatty acids can be burned as fuel. PGX is another natural, non-stimulant weight loss aid that is among the top 5 most effective supplements on the market. It’s a simple high dose of soluble fibre, which works by making us feel full (making it more difficult to overeat), and balancing our blood sugar, which both curbs cravings and prevents fat storage. Non-stimulant fat-burners may take longer to produce results than thermogenics, but they are safe for most people and virtually free of side effects.

3) Appetite Suppressants

Garcinia Cambogia is an herbal appetite suppressant you may have heard of. It does make a difference for some, but it’s important to keep in mind the wide variety of factors that go into appetite, from age to starting weight, hormone levels, blood sugar levels, level of physical activity, boredom, psychological factors, etc. So there is no guarantee that garcinia is going to get you results. A cheaper and simpler option which works for just about everyone is chromium. Chromium is an essential trace mineral that can improve insulin sensitivity and enhance protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism. By helping to balance blood sugar, chromium effectively suppresses appetite and prevents cravings for sweets or high-carbohydrate foods, while at the same time preventing those fat-storing insulin spikes.

It’s important to recognize that everyone’s body is different, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another, or may not work as quickly. Similarly to appetite, there are many factors that go into metabolism and effect the rate of weight loss, not least among them being age, gender, starting weight, diet, hormone levels, and your level of physical activity. So while one person may see results in a matter of weeks, it may takes months for someone else.

So, if you come into the store asking for “something to help you lose weight”, I can point you in the right direction. But without doing a full health assessment, I cannot guarantee a product’s effectiveness for you personally, nor can I tell you how fast you can expect to see results. You still need to do the work. Fortunately, this is something I CAN help you with. There is no more effective weight loss strategy than a healthy diet and exercise plan. I can create one for you, tailored to your unique needs and goals.

Why do we need to cleanse? Don’t we have body systems and organs designed to do just that? Is it unnatural or even harmful to induce these bodily processes via the use of herbs and supplements? If we exercise and eat clean, shouldn’t our bodies already be toxin-free?

It’s true that the body naturally eliminates toxins via the liver, kidneys, skin, lymphatic system, etc. And in the pre-industrial world, this was a very efficient system. Today, however, our detoxification organs are working in overdrive round-the-clock, and their workload is accumulating faster than it can process and eliminate. This is because the world we live in is a modern invention. Human beings are not.

Our bodies, which have evolved over thousands of years to withstand a certain level of toxic burden, are simply not designed to handle the 200-plus toxins we are exposed to every day before we even leave the house. Some (but not all) of these include:

• Heavy metals in the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, the cosmetics we use, etc.

• Pesticides, preservatives and other artificial food additives

• PCB’s

• Chlorine, flouride, and other chemical compounds found in municipal drinking water

• Drugs (this includes prescription medications, recreational drugs, caffeine, alcohol, and the added hormones and antibiotics in meat and dairy foods, all of which add a further strain to our detoxification systems)

• Parabens, phthalates, and other dangerous chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products

• Carcinogens, endocrine disruptors and neurotoxins in household cleaning products

• Electromagnetic pollution and radiation from our phones, computers, TV’s, wi-fi, FitBits, etc.

• Stress, which causes a release of hormones, increased acidity and inflammation (more toxicity for our bodies to process)

Left unchecked, this toxic onslaught eventually results in congestion and stagnation of the body’s vital organs, which can cause an array of health issues, from headaches, weight gain, fatigue, and skin issues to chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, dementia, and some forms of cancer. Given the long-term health implications, it’s crucial to give our detoxification systems a helping hand.

Early spring is a great time to do this. Besides being a natural time for cleansing and rejuvenation (think “Spring Cleaning”), spring is when our digestive fires and our life-force energy are waking up, getting ready to rid us of the toxic residues we accumulate during the winter. We may feel like being more physically active (which is important for detoxification), and fresh, local food is becoming more readily available.

You may choose to use a pre-formulated detox kit (the RenewLife brand has an excellent line of cleanses, a few of which I’ve personally used and love), or maybe you prefer to create your own plan. Whichever type of cleanse you choose, here are a few tips to help you achieve maximum benefits:

1) Cleanse your whole self – Don’t forget, you are more than just your physical body. A cleanse is a great time to start a meditation practice, garden, or therapy. Emotionally, detoxing helps to uncover and express fears, resentments, and toxic relationships, cleansing us of negative thought patterns and mental junk, and making space for a clearer, more purposeful future.

2) Engage in some gentle exercise – Don’t overdo it; a cleanse is a time to rest and be gentle with yourself. Your body is going through a lot, and some light walking or yoga is a great way to help it along.

3) Consume plenty of water and fibre – Fibre is nature’s broom, and adding water makes it a mop. Fibre absorbs toxins and, with adequate hydration, acts as a bulking agent, keeping the bowels moving efficiently while at the same time preventing diarrhea. Water is critically important for flushing out the system. Activated charcoal is another supplement you may want to consider, as it acts as a chelating agent, catching toxins as they are released into the bloodstream and preventing unpleasant detox systems like headaches and fatigue.

4) Avoid congesting and inflammatory foods – You can, of course, use a cleanse kit and continue to consume sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and processed, chemical-laden junk, but you’d be undoing the benefits of the cleanse. It’s best to avoid fat for this period of time (which is processed by the liver), and include plenty of light, fresh, nutrient-dense plant foods. Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents like turmeric are especially important during a cleanse.

5) Cleanse your environment – Properly preparing your work and living spaces is an important step in achieving a successful cleansing mindset. It’s a great time to clean out your closet or pantry, donate some old clothes, food or habits, making way for a new, healthier lifestyle.

6) Take an Epsom salt bath – A hot bath with Epsom salts and baking soda can be extremely cleansing, as it utilizes your body’s largest detoxification organ: your skin. You can find some great detox bath recipes here: https://wellnessmama.com/8331/detox-bath-recipes/

7) Make sure you are cleansing for the right reasons – If your primary motivation is weight-loss, there are healthier, more sustainable ways to achieve this. Most cleanses will result in some weight loss as a side-effect (we can hold 9-12 lbs of waste in our bodies), but most of this will be water-weight, not actual fat loss, and will likely come back on once the cleanse is complete. Cleansing can certainly serve as a jump-start to a healthier lifestyle, but should never be abused or repeated within a short time frame. Two to four cleanses per year is considered healthy.

During the first three days of any effective cleanse, you may experience some detox symptoms. These will likely resemble the flu and may include headaches, fatigue, inflammation, and nausea. This is nothing to be concerned about, and is a sign that the cleanse is doing its job. A cleanse should never cause diarrhea, vomiting, or severe abdominal pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, it would be a good idea to stop the cleanse and seek medical attention.

After the third day, you should experience a renewed vitality. Many people find they have a heightened mood and return to energy that they haven’t experienced since childhood, and often describe the feeling as “having had 5 cups of coffee” while actually having none.