Cleanse: Day 2

So I read something very alarming. A ritual of mine is to read CNN online every morning, and I happened to come across this startling article a few weeks ago. According to a report released by a non-profit Environmental Working Group, millions of Americans in at least 31 U.S. cities could be drinking tap water contaminated with a harmful chemical hexavalent chromium. This carcinogen has been known to cause stomach cancer. Awesome. So, reading further, thinking there's no possible way it's in Salt Lake, I find the list of cities and bam. Right there, and hard to miss. Salt Lake City.

So what does one do when one learns this? Get a water filter or buy bottled water of course. But alas, a Brita water filter does nothing to rid chemicals, and there's no guarantee your bottled water doesn't come from the same source. So the only option I have left is to buy a reverse osmosis water filter. Those suckers can range from $300 to $600, depending on the kind you get. So of course I'm trying to think of ways to coax my husband into letting me get one. He's a die hard skeptic when it comes to eating organic, or vegetarian, using non-toxic cleaners, or buying a water filter. He doesn't get it. So we made a deal. Once our credit card debt is paid off we can buy ourselves a reverse osmosis water filter and then perhaps not die of stomach cancer.

What was even more alarming, after reading Dr. Junger's book, is that our body absorbs more water through our skin than by drinking it. So just buying a water filter does nothing for the water your skin absorbs taking a shower. Awesome again. I guess all I can do is what I have the power to do, and that is buy a water filter. I'll just have to wait for the government to step in and regulate our water sources for a more clean, pure shower.

To see if your city has the same chemical chilin in your water click here

Day 1: Recap

I'm not going to lie. I was pretty hungry last night. The Green Juice kept me satisfied for a couple hours then hunger crept in. Dr. Junger said hunger is normal of course, but to not fret too much, because it will decrease as your body adjusts to its intake.

Here goes day two.

Day Two: Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Exercise: 60 minute circuit training class

Breakfast:
Blueberry Smoothie with Cacao Powder
1 cup blueberries
1 1/2 cups almond milk
2 teaspoons cacao powder
1 to 2 teaspoons agave nectar
1/2 cup ice

Blend together until smooth.
Notes: Really, really tasty. The combination of almond milk, blueberries and cacao make a delightful treat.

*Notes on cacao powder



Cacao has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas. In fact, it has up to four times the quantity of antioxidants found in green tea.

Many people consider eating chocolate a “guilty pleasure.” But the reputation of chocolate as a junk food should more accurately be attributed to the harmful effects of commercial processing and refining techniques, and the other ingredients commonly added, most notably white sugar. All chocolate is made from the cacao (cocoa) bean, and cacao beans in their natural, unprocessed, unadulterated state are rich in nutrients and beneficial to health.

**Information and image found on livesuperfoods.com

Mid-morning snack:
1 avocado with sea salt

Lunch:
Warm Salmon and Asparagus Salad with Pesto




5-ounce portions of wild salmon
2 tablespoons fresh pesto
1 bunch asaparagus, woody ends trimmed off
4 cups mesclun greens or arugula
Extra virgin olive oil
Lemon

For the pesto:
2 bunches fresh basil, washed and leaves pulled from the hard stalks
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
Sea salt for seasoning

To make pesto, place basil, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor and process on medium.
Drizzle in the olive oil while the motor is running.
Season with salt.
If it is too thick, add a small amount or pure water.
Set aside in a bowl.

Brush salmon and asparagus with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Grill asparagus and salmon.
Prepare the salad. Place the greens in a bowl, toss with olive oil, salt, and lemon juice.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon of pesto over the top of each piece of salmon.
Serve while the salmon is still warm.

You may use prepared pesto as long as it doesn't contain any additives.

Notes: This dish is deeelicious. I'm in love with arugula, the pesto was divine as was the asparagus.

Dinner:
Green Juice
(recipe in previous post)



Notes for the day:
I was definitely less hungry. I actually felt full after lunch.