Body Cleansing Juice Feast Day 10

Summary of my ten-day juice fast

Mama and
Sophia Annabelle

There is conflicting information whether a juice fast is healthy for a baby or not. This was my biggest concern before starting and I'm convinced that other nursing mamas feel the same way.Some say, when the body releases stored toxins, they transport into the milk making it unpalatable and unhealthy for the baby. Others say, they had milk more abundantly and their babies thrived more than ever. I can only speak from my experience.

The first few days of my fast was difficult with general signs of detoxification, such as a headache, exhaustion, along with a decline in my milk supply. For this reason, Sophia Annabelle slept only a couple of hours at a time and required fewer diaper changes; however, she did not show any signs of unpleasantness in the milk. My baby girl was happy and was fed on demand. Because of more frequent feedings, I felt more tired than ever. On the second day, I increased my water intake, which made a difference. The following day my body adjusted; my milk supply increased and stabilized. Her sleep patterns returned to normal, as well as her bowel movements.

Body Cleansing Juice Feast Day 9

Spring is here...

Spring is in the air; at least it is here on the California Central Coast. The kiddos and I spent most of our time outside playing and rearranging our potted geraniums and daydreamed about my vegetable garden.

Growing my own veggies

I love fresh, organic, locally grown produce. We've considered growing our own veggies for a while, but because of lack of time, we didn't act on it until now.

This weekend, Finally, I will be planting some lettuce, chard, parsley, cilantro, cauliflower and beets. I will sow some seeds as well, kale, celery, fennel, zucchini, Swiss chard and collards. I am so excited about this and because I couldn't wait until this weekend, I spread some lettuce seeds in one of my containers in the front yard.

Body Cleansing Juice Feast Day 7

In this post, I'll review the benefits of parsley on our health. Because of it's potent medicinal qualities and strong flavor, we don't have to use more than 4-5 sprigs in our juice.

Parsley is an excellent medicinal herb; it improves digestion, relieves gas and constipation, lowers blood pressure, and stimulates hair growth.  It's a great diuretic, therefore it benefits people with edema. Parsley is used for the inflammation of kidneys and bladder; both root and leaf is excellent for the liver and spleen. Parsley is high in Vitamin A, beta-carotene, Vitamin C and K. It is used for treating anemia because of its high iron content.

Body Cleansing Juice Feast - Day 6

I decided to feature kale in this post. I use Kale mainly to make Raw Kale Chips; it takes a lot of kale to make a cup of juice so I've been avoiding juicing it.

This leafy green has been getting much attention lately. The health benefits of kale is so great, that it's worth talking about. The absorbable calcium and potassium contents in kale, benefits the heart, skin, muscles, kidneys and nerves, and the Vitamin A is beneficial for our eyes, hair, skin and teeth. Kale is high in iron, Vitamin K and C. It's full of antioxidants, and has great anti-inflammatory properties. With all the vitamin and mineral contents, kale strengthens our immune system, it helps our bodies' detox, and boosts weight loss.

Body Cleanser Juice Feast Day 4

Today I added fennel to my juicing. It is an herb that is meant to be smelled and savored before swallowing. The aroma and juice of fennel has a calming effect on our brains; we could say that it's nature's anti-anxiety medicine.

According to Dr. Heinerman, in his book "Encyclopedia of Healing Juices", fennel juice triggers endorphin production, which has an opium effect, leaving one in a state of euphoria. The aroma and juice of fennel is recommended for those who suffer mental attacks of fear and suspicion. To get the most benefit of this herb, juice freshly picked leaves and flowers.

This day was easier than the previous ones. I am not as hungry and for this reason, I need to force myself to remember to juice. Drinking enough juice will ensure that I not only get enough nutrients, but most importantly, I produce enough milk. Today I've been nursing more frequently on demand. That seems to keep my girl calm and sleeping. Here is the list of juices for today.

Body Cleansing Juice Feast Day 3

My husband was kind enough today to prepare my morning and dinner juice for me. I started my day with the Spicy Green Juice, but because of a pretty busy day, I was not able to prepare as much juice as I did on my previous days.

My baby girl has only been sleeping 3 to 4 hours at a time, which leads me to believe that my milk supply did in fact decline and she's getting hungry more frequently. Because of this, I was a little more tired than usual, but as I started my day, I regained energy. My mental clarity has slightly improved, although that should get better on the fifth and sixth day.

Body Cleansing Juice Feast Day 2

Efficiency of our bodies are slowed down from all the processed foods and toxins, which leave us in an acidic state. In this state, our bodies start to deteriorate and we will begin to experience illnesses, aches, pains, lack of sleep, poor memory, lack of concentration, weight gain and low energy. Greens and vegetables have alkaline properties which neutralizes our body's acid state, restoring our health and energy.

One of the benefits of a juice fast is enhancing the immune system, which keeps us from getting ill. Regular fasting will help cleanse our colons, restore proper digestive functions, improves liver function, increases mental clarity, clears completion, increases libido and weight loss.

My second day of juicing was tougher than the first day, feeling more hunger, however my energy level was high and headache was gone by morning. My milk supply seemed to have decreased slightly, although it hasn't affected my baby girl mood.

Body Cleansing Juice Feast Day 1

Juice "Feast"

This morning I started a ten day juice "feast". It is called a feast instead of fast, because the body is given an abundance of nutrients instead of starvation. This is my first juice body cleanse in 14 months; my baby girl is almost five months old, so I thought I would give it a try.