Yes, yes, you’ve heard it before. And yes, you know they’re really, really good for you. But just how many servings are you supposed to eat a day, anyway? And, how can you make room for them in your diet?
Read moreFull fridge, full heart? Well, kind of.
To explain — the happiness I feel waking up to a refrigerator filled with the prettiest Organic Pharmer organic cold pressed juices, infused nut milks, smoothies, soups, and prepared plant-based snacks and meals is palpable. Yes, it means I’ll be fueling my body with high quality, nutrient dense foods for the next five days, but it also means disrupting the endless, sometimes stressful, cycle of food shopping, cooking, clean-up and decision making around food. It’s estimated that we make 200 food decisions each and every day? Sound crazy? It’s not. Just take a look at all the energy that goes into thinking about your morning brew. Will you have coffee or tea? Will you have it hot? Iced? Maybe a latte? Will you add Milk? Soy milk? Nut milk? What kind of nut milk? Maybe you’ll take it black? How much will you drink? Will you have it at home, take it on the road, or grab a cup at work? All this energy expended, and we haven’t even addressed breakfast yet! It feels really good to take a mental break from food decisions, yet know you’re still eating in a way that supports your health.
What does everyone want to know when they learn I am doing this 5 day program?
How is the food?
How am I feeling?
Are you hungry?
Obviously, none of it works if the food isn’t good, or I’m feeling hungry, stressed and unsatisfied. The good news is —
The food is delicious, generously portioned, filling, and there’s enough variety to keep you excited about what you’re eating. We’re talking about big Greek salads with almond milk feta; house-made coconut yogurt and granola; Mushroom & Kale Frittatas, Spring pea and basil soup, kale and cauliflower Caesar salad; cacao chia pudding. I’m also a fan of the cold pressed juices and infused nut milks on the program.
I’m feeling energized, and excited to be eating well and taking good care of myself. It feels really empowering to start the day with a refreshing, all greens juice, and end it with a warm, calming nut milk.
I’m not hungry at all. In fact, yesterday I forgot to have the bridge snack between lunch and dinner. Oops.
Yes! I’m off to a strong start. Thankful for this little self-imposed intervention. I’m feeling more grounded here on Day 2. Hope you continue to follow along this week!
To juice cleanse or not - that is the question —
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that in May I did a juice cleanse with @organic_pharmer_ny, a grab-and-go eatery in Rye Brook, NY that specializes in clean, plant-based meals, cold-pressed juices, frozen foods, and smoothies. I sat down with Darleen Gross, Culinary Director of Organic Pharmer, (also former personal chef to Gwyneth Paltrow!) to discuss all things cleansing, and how the Organic Pharmer cleanse is different from other cleanses on the market.
Here, our convo —
What is a cleanse and who is a cleanse for?
A cleanse is a process by which a person sets aside their normal eating habits for a specific length of time and instead consumes high quality, plant-based foods/drinks that facilitate the body’s natural ability to purge toxins. Cleansing is for anyone in general good health who wishes to give their body a break and strengthen their digestion + immunity.
Q) What are the best times to cleanse?
Spring is great time to cleanse, but it really depends on the individual. If he/she is facing a health challenge then it’s best to consult their physician before attempting a cleanse.
Q) I’m a health coach, eat a mainly clean, whole foods plant-based diet, and exercise regularly. Would cleansing benefit me? What can I expect from cleansing?
You can expect a feeling of lightness, more energy, mental clarity and refreshed skin.
Q) People always talk about cleansing in relationship to detoxing. What does that really mean and how does it work?
The liver’s main function is to filter toxins out of our blood, cleansing supports liver function.
Q) What is unique about Organic Pharmer cleanses. What do you take into consideration when formulating a cleanse?
Organic Pharmer cleanses are unique in that the beverages each contain an herbal or botanical infusion which support a targeted body function like digestion, immune system, inflammation, etc.
Q) One of my concerns with juicing has always been sugar, and how the juice alone, without the fiber, affects blood sugar and insulin levels. Where do you land on that? Blood sugar is a big concern when it comes to health and weight management. I would love to understand this better in relationship to all the benefits of juice cleansing.
As for the sugar concern, I totally understand and have kept the sugars as low as possible while still offering juices and shakes that have a wide appeal. In fact, all of our juices also contain botanical infusions which help cut the sugars and add flavor & function that sets our products apart from other bottled juices. We composed our cleanses with the need for fiber, fat & protein in mind, so we added the protein shakes and nut milks to keep the cleanses balanced.
Q) How does cleansing fit into a larger wellness plan? How often should a person cleanse?
This is highly individual. A generally healthy person could cleanse up to once a month, but I would recommend at least once a season, even if only for one day.
Q) Do you have any tips or cleanse hacks to make the cleansing process easier, in particular the easing off of caffeine?
Easing off caffeine seems to be the most difficult for people. I would say try to reduce your caffeine intake for a week before starting the cleanse, then replace with a lower caffeine tea like Matcha or an herbal tea or mushroom coffee both of which have great antioxidant qualities. Also, and this may seem obvious, make sure to drink plenty of water and get enough rest!
Q) What is the cost of an Organic Pharmer Cleanse?
The Organic Pharmer has five individual cleans: Reboot, Power Play, Beauty, Liver Love, Muscle and Joints. You can choose do a one day cleanse, or combine them to do a longer cleanse. Each cleanse includes fresh pressed infused juices, protein shakes and infused almond milks.
5 Day Cleanse: $325
3 Day Cleanse: $195
Single Day Cleanses listed below may be combined for a customized cleanse experience, or enjoyed on their own.
Reboot: $65
Power Play: $65
Beauty: $65
Liver Love: $65
Muscle + Joints: $65
prices correct at 9.5.2019
Read about my experience with an Organic Pharmer cleanse here —