Welcome to the Physical Cleanse Component of our Qi Alignment Retreat!

Here is a general meal planner for you to follow for the week. All the recipes can be interchanged so don’t feel you have to follow it to the letter. To find a recipe just click on the planner below. Change them up while following the guidelines below. If you need to snack in between have some extra fruit, left over vegetables from a meal or some nuts and seeds. There’s a great recipe here for a chickpea flatbread which is super easy to make. A lovely snack with some avocado.

Here’s the basic shopping list to get you started.

This cleanse is designed to detoxify and tone the liver and support the spleen. It is not particularly arduous, and no fasting is involved. It does however, remove certain stimulants,  acid forming foods and meat.

The most important factors when doing this cleanse is:

  • To remove substances from your diet which create toxins for your liver to process.
  • To balance acid/alkaline ratio, (yin/yang in TCM) in your body.
  • To increase the ability of the liver to detoxify, by supporting it with appropriate foods and herbs.
  • To support the function of the spleen to process and transform food.

The cleanse is based on fruits and vegetables as they are the most alkaline foods. A small amount of grain, some legumes and beans has been added for protein,  extra carbohydrate and bulk.

The cleanse will start on Monday so when you are ready, begin eliminating animal products, alcohol, drugs and caffeine from your diet and start each morning with a large glass of warm water with ½ a lemon squeezed into it. If you have one, use a dry skin brush before showering. Light brushing all over the skin for 5 – 10 minutes daily. This is a fabulous way to start the detox process as the skin is a major cleansing organ. Your skin will feel wonderful and soft after the week.

If you have a very weak digestive system, with loose bowel movements, weakness and/or fatigue, eliminate most of the raw fruits and raw vegetables recipes and replace with the cooked vegetable recipes and  a little more very well cooked grain.  Have porridge for breakfast. This will nourish your spleen and build your digestive energy.

Use the recipes below as a guide and feel free to change them to suit your own particular tastes and time. The important thing is to eat mainly fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes and nuts etc. and to reduce or eliminate completely, animal products, dairy, wheat and denatured foods. Eat as much as you need, taking care not to overeat and chewing all your food very well.

You may experience some side effects of the cleanse such as headache, tiredness, aching body etc. in the first few days. This should pass. If you continue to experience side effects, stop the cleanse and check with your doctor.

This cleanse is designed for people who have no serious health conditions. If you suffer from a health condition, please check with your health practitioner before doing this cleanse.

Optional Supplements

  • Celtic or Himalayan Sea Salt is full of minerals and is a useful addition to meals on the cleanse.
  • Seaweeds, such as kelp or kombu can be added to vegetables, grains and salads. Seaweeds help to break down the stagnation and balance the Spleen and Liver channels.
  • Magnesium, calcium, Alkaline vitamin C (calcium ascorbate or sodium ascorbate).
  • Spirulina, Chlorella or Wild Blue Green Algae in tablets or powdered form help with the detoxification process.
  • LSA mix, which is ground linseed, sunflower and almonds can be sprinkled over fruit, salads and veggies and used in smoothies. It is a good source of protein and omega 3 essential oils.

Foods to be eliminated while on the cleanse.

  • All animal products including cheese, eggs, milk and yoghurt.
  • All processed foods such as bread, cake, biscuits, fizzy drinks etc.
  • Wheat and wheat products.

Foods which can be eaten while on the cleanse.

  • All fruits including: Apples, pears, oranges, mandarins, watermelon, grapes, bananas,, lemons, limes, kiwi fruit, strawberries, avocados etc.
  • All vegetables including: Carrots, celery, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkin, sweet potato, beetroot, potato, silverbeet, spinach, chinese greens, mushrooms including Shitaki, capsicum, onion, artichoke, eggplant, asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, peas, beans, cabbage, kale.
  • Sprouts: Any kind especially mung bean and alfalfa.
  • Legumes: Aduki beans, lentils, kidney beans, butter beans, chickpeas
  • Whole grains: Millet, brown rice, quinoa.
  • Nuts and seeds: Almonds, pre soak overnight before eating, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, LSA mix, cashew, pistachios.
  • Herbal teas: Recommended are sage tea, dandelion tea or coffee, peppermint and lemon for their cleansing properties. Drink what you enjoy. A small amount of honey can be added as desired.
  • Condiments: Small amounts of sea salt, tamari, pepper, soya sauce, good quality vinegar, chilli, lime,  lemon, miso, sesame oil, extra virgin olive oil, honey, maple syrup.

Qi Alignment Meal Guidelines

Choose a breakfast, lunch and dinner from the plan above. If some appear too complicated to cook and you don’t have time, choose the easy recipes or make up your own using the allowed ingredients above. Most important is to keep it light, delicious and fun!

Here are some super simple options for breakfast below.

Super Simple Options for Breakfast

Fresh fruit and a handful of nuts OR

Fruit Salad

Cut up your favourite fruits and serve in a bowl with chopped nuts and yoghurt.

Miso Soup

1 tspn miso into some hot water (not boiling as it destroys the enzymes).  Add some spinach, carrots or spring onions.

See you in the facebook group!

Big love,

 

Michelle