A couple of weeks ago, talking about health issues with a friend, she suggested a detox diet and sent me this series of videos to watch. After watching the videos with Jonny, we decided to try it. It’s a 26-day detox and we are almost through the first two weeks. The first few days were really hard, full of “smoothies” (I feel like it’s a stretch to describe them that way) containing only raw greens, water, and lemon juice. They were drinkable but nasty. There was also plain oatmeal for breakfast and steamed broccoli and cauliflower with only a bit of salt-free seasoning for lunch. I went to bed hungry every night. I started “cheating” on day four, deciding that I needed a little protein. My cheats may have ruined the whole thing for me but I’m okay with that. My diet has been heavy in animal fats and proteins for the past year, which seemed to be working for me for awhile, but lately I’ve not been feeling great. The detox diet is vegan, so quite different. I’ve eaten more raw vegetables in the past two weeks than I thought possible and that alone seems like a really positive step. I’ve never liked beets, but now I drink them in smoothies! Jonny has done a much better job of sticking with the program though we both plan to stop in a couple of days rather than see it through to the final detoxing stages. I feel like I’ve learned a lot, and discovered some great new recipes. My favorite food right now is a raw cabbage salad. I’ll share the recipe at the end of this post so you can try it too! It’s economical and filling and it makes me feel so healthy to eat it! Now I want to hunt down some cookbooks with more recipes like this one. My longterm plan is simply to add more vegetables, both cooked and raw, to my diet.
(Amazon links are affiliate links)
We’ve been reading so many good books lately! I just finished reading The Sign of the Beaver to Larkspur and Beatrix, and our new read aloud is A Papa Like Everyone Else (By the author of All-of-a-Kind Family). Jonny is reading the second book in The Wilderking Trilogy to Silas and Job. I started reading My Father’s Dragon to them the other day, and now they are listening to it on audiobook. I’m reading Devil Water, by Anya Seton, and love it. I really enjoy her historical fiction. (The Winthrop Woman and Katherine are a couple of her other books that I have liked.) Jonny is finally reading The Shepherd’s Life.
Jonny painted Larkspur and Beatrix’s room last week. The color is Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments, a color that I read you can’t go wrong with. It’s true! It’s so pretty! Now he’s working to replace their flooring, and he’s almost finished. It’s exciting to have these major projects underway. I’ve been working on projects as well, mainly knitting and dyeing. I’ve just listed some playsilks in my shop, and have a few different Valentine’s Day sets available as well as rainbow sets. It feels good to be easing back into some work. I also started a new knitting project, a wild rabbit, that I hope will be really cute. I don’t knit many toys, but this pattern really grabbed my attention. I’m still working on my shawl, but right now I am in the mood for small, fun projects. February will be here in a few days, and it calls for that sort of knitting.
Cabbage Salad (adapted from a recipe called Purple Heaven from The Green Smoothie Girl’s 26 day detox)
2 cups shredded red cabbage
2 cups shredded green cabbage (I use a bagged cole slaw mix containing green cabbage and carrots for the green cabbage to make things easier.)
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
Mix above ingredients and then serve with the following dressing:
Dressing
2 T maple syrup
2 T red wine vinegar
2 T olive oil
1 clove garlic minced or pressed through a garlic press
Joan Benson says
I always love your photography and enjoy reading about your family and projects. That bunny pattern is the cutest I’ve ever seen for knit animals. I bet this designer has other cute patterns, too. It looks really hard and I am a beginner with knitting. So adorable. I would love to give one to my two youngest granddaughters.
Always a good idea to do a detox. Have you heard about fasting mimicking diets. A company called Prolon has a five day fasting mimicking diet that sends you everything you need to eat each day in packets – mostly soups, bars, crackers, etc. It is supposed to undo cell damage and initiate cell repair. It has to be prescribed by a doctor. Costs $150. It is pretty easy to do and just five days. They have a website.
Beth says
We love Benjamin Moore’s Quiet Moments! It was my bedroom color in our old house and is the color for most of the main level in our new house! I haven’t gotten tired of it after 6 years now. I get so many compliments on it when people come over, several friends have painted rooms in their homes with it because they like it so much.
Ginny says
It’s a really great color!!!
Bee says
Yay for trying new recipes and feeling good! I’m going to try that cabbage salad. I also like this version, which is more of a spring/summer dish (to me at least):
– shredded red cabbage
– spring onions
– white grapes (also called green grapes depending on where you are)
– walnuts
Dressing:
– one spoon of olive oil
– half a spoon of honey
– juice of about half an orange
– pepper and salt
Optional: feta or goat cheese.
It’s so good! 🙂 hope you’ll find more recipes you like. And stay warm! Hope the polar vortex is not too near you!
Ginny says
This recipe sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing it!
Rita Moeller says
My daughter had a really out-of-whack thyroid and went on a detox diet suggested by a holistic doctor that she found to help her after regular medical doctors couldn’t. It turned out–as she eliminated so many foods and then slowly reintroduced them–that she had Celiac’s disease. She cannot eat gluten at all! And that gluten affects one’s thyroid, which was making her so much worse. She also found out she was lactose intolerant–gas and pain were daily in her life pre-detox. She is ever so much healthier since that detox diet and recommends it to anyone who just doesn’t feel well, or even feels a little bit below par. So GOOD FOR YOU, GIRL!
Ginny says
I eat gluten free and mostly dairy free because of thyroid issues as well. I’m so glad that your daughter figured out the changes she needed to make to feel better!
Elizabeth says
I need to get better at eating more veg. myself! I am so glad to see you all reading, that you were able to do some more knitting + rooms being painted + more work for your shop. Wonderful. God bless you dear! and your family!
Elizabeth says
that was me above (my name did not link properly to my blog!) many blessings to you!
Joan says
Your new diet sounds like a winner for you. Beatrix and Larkspur’s room is going to be like a new one when it is finished.
Happy Dieting
Joan
karen says
look at you drinking green goop!! I try my best to eat lots of vegetables and some fruits (not a big fruit fan). I’m sure you will feel better in no time at all. Look up Dr Mark Hyman who believes in foods healing the body – my dad sent me a dvd of a pbs special about diet and it was compelling to watch.
Ginny says
That name sounds familiar! I will look him up. Thanks, Karen!
Marion says
Ginny you sure have been busy. i am going to start doing Marie Osmond’s Body Gym.
Wishing you well with your new diet.
Marion
Marilyn says
I am in the process of reading “Villette” by Charlotte Bronte’. It s a slow read and dark. Critics have said it is better than”Jane Eyre”. I do not share their opinion so far. I am determined to finish the book.
Marilyn
Kim says
Here’s something we recently discovered that you might give some consideration:
celeryjuice.com
I don’t think you need to do the full amt. right away, work up to it. Consistency is more the key…
Ginny says
Too funny! It was me talking about trying celery juice that led my friend to suggest the detox! I’m still thinking about buying a juicer in the future.
Donna says
Hi Jenny. Have you heard of Moringa tree? In Africa they call it ‘the never die tree’. You may want to read about it. I am going to try it by making capsules of it, to take. I do not like drinking green drinks. From all I have read about it, it has very high nutritional value. People in other countries eat this Moringa. Almost all of the tree is edible. But the benefits to health are many, they say. Just thought you may want to read about it.
Ginny says
I just saw that at Costco! Maybe I’ll try it!
Kate says
I’ve been eating pretty clean for almost a year – GF, no sugar, and a lot more veggies. One of the reasons I started on this path was that I wanted to lose weight and had awful GI issues. I’ve been taking many good supplements too. That regime really helped for about 8 months and then my GI issues reappeared. Doing research, it seems like my problem might be low stomach acid. What I was doing was changing my gut flora in a positive way, but it got to a point where I needed more help with digestion. Without enough stomach acid, I can eat well and take supplements, but nothing will break down adequately and be absorbed well. I started drinking apple cider vinegar a few times a day and it’s helping. I might need to supplement with HCL after I check with my doctor.
I’ve never been a fan of beets since my mom served canned beets. I’d been reading about how nutritious they are so I decided to give them a try again. I found beet chunks in the frozen section at Trader Joe’s. I put olive oil and some seasonings on them and roasted them in the oven for 20 minutes. They were delicious! I think it’s my new addiction.
Thank you for recommending “A Papa Like Everyone Else.” We loved the All-of-a- Kind Family books, so this should be enjoyable.
Ginny says
I’ve been in a similar place-though I fell off eating enough veggies. I take betaine hcl with high protein meals and digestive enzymes with most other and it seems to help. My sister is doing the ACV in the morning and it’s helping her. I need to try that! I’m worried I have some sort of gut dysbiosis right now which might be causing me problems. It’s exhausting trying to figure it all out!!! What to eat, what not to eat. What supplements are best, etc. I’m going to try beets that way! My kids like them raw. Not me!
Julie says
Thanks for the recipe! Looks yummy. I too need to add more veggies to my diet.
I love the paint color too! Thanks for sharing. We’ve had the same color on our walls for about 8 years. Might be time for a change. I’d love to see a pic of the finished room! The floors look great!
Andrea says
Those play silks always look lovely, but are especially so on this dreary January day! Like spring and summer tucked into a basket. So good!
Lou says
You sound wonderful. I’m so glad things are looking up. I make a raw broccoli salad nearly the same way and use a little Liquid Aminos with a vinegar and olive oil dressing. I throw in whatever I have on hand also like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded raw golden beets and definitely toasted pumpkin seeds. YUM! It’s also very economical. I really like the paint color. We like Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl also for a soothing, neutral in bedrooms.
Ginny says
Your salad sounds great! I need to pick up some liquid aminos.
Maria says
Poor Ginny, you don’t look too thrilled with that green smoothie! Hope the benefits outweigh the taste. Thanks for the kids’ book recommendations, I have added several to my list!
Ginny says
It got so much better on day four when we added frozen berries! I am feeling better, so definitely worth it! 🙂
Tracy Pittman says
That’s my word of the year – Self Care !
And yes , it is hard ..
Ginny can I ask .. did you need a juicer to do this detox program?
Ginny says
No, you don’t need one! There is a “level 2” option that requires one, but we did level one.
Nancy Mosley says
I almost considered the Green Smoothie diet for my Hashimotos but I have leaky gut and need to heal that first. I had read raw veggies wouldn’t be great for that if you don’t heal first. So I did a 21 AIP elimination. Almost everything it called to do. And I’m beginning to reintroduce foods. Keeping a food journal. I did lose 5 lbs in my gut so I’m happy with that. We shall see. That’s great Johnny will support you and also do the diet with you. Definitely not easy to do. I had 3 friends also trying to heal so we’ve been texting each other to keep us going. ? Hang in there.
Ginny says
Hi Nancy! Elimination diets are challenging but worth it! Definitely good to have friends on board.
Ita says
Ginny, are you familiar with the Deliciously Ella cookbooks? She also has an IG account and a recipe app. I discovered her last summer and have been using quite a lot of her recipes, even my husband admits they’re really delicious! 🙂
Ginny says
Yes! I have her first cookbook. I’d forgotten about it! I just followed her on IG. Thanks for reminding me of her!
Liz says
That bunny is sooo cute!!! It looks exactly like our Flemish Giant!
Rain says
That wild rabbit pattern is gorgeous! I love the look of your slaw too. Have you found it hard to digest the raw cabbage with Hashimoto’s. I was told to avoid it but wonder if it was just a myth?
Ginny says
It’s been a bit of an adjustment to digest so much raw food in general, but I’m doing pretty well. I just came across this article about Hashimoto’s myths: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-7-hashimotos-food-myths/ She addresses cruciferous vegetables. 🙂
Rain says
Oh, such a good article! Thanks.
Hannah says
Small positive steps for January. I’m going to take on the more fruit and veg intention too. So often I get to the end of the day and while I’ve taken care with my children’s diets, when I look back at what’s gone into my body I didn’t give that quite the same attention! There’s always so much to do with a larger family. Self care is a real challenge, don’t you think? I feel like I’m continuously re-evaluating and reiventing the wheel of my family life to try and get all the needs met! Every day is fresh with no mistakes in it (yet!). You inspire me to keep on carving out time for the things that matter. Thank you, and may God bless you and your family.
Ginny says
Yes, self care is so hard! I’m always re evaluating as well. Small steps!!!