The Mama Edna Project

I am not one to go without solid food for long, but I do realize the health benefits of a juice cleanse on occasion. I choose to do a more gentle approach. I do a one day juice cleanse every other week or so, along with a a 90 massage on one of those cleanse days, followed by a 30 minute Epsom salt bath.

Here’s the drill: In the morning, I make a cranberry lemonade and drink it all down within an hour or so.

2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries

1 apple like Granny Smith or Gala (avoid Red or Golden Delicious as these apples are over bred for beauty, not for flavor nor nutrition)

1 lemon, peel on

16 ounces filtered water (I use reverse osmosis water)

Juice in the order listed. Enjoy. This juice is very sour. It gets easier over time. But the sourness helps get the bile moving in your body to begin the detox process. Drink a glass of water every hour (Stop drinking fluids about two hours before your massage if you have small bladder syndrome like I do.)

Next up, make a green juice.

Breakfast Green Juice

1 large cucumber, unpeeled if organic, 4 medium carrots, 4 stalks of celery, 1 1/2 inch knuckle of ginger root, peeled, 1 medium turmeric root, 2-3 slices of lemon, peel on, 1 to 2 apples, depending on sweetness desired. 1/2 to one container of prewashed “boxed” organic greens (rotate the type of greens every four days), and 1 container fresh wheatgrass, clipped into inch pieces. Sometimes I throw in a clove of garlic or a beet for variety and additional detoxification. Wash all produce in a sink of water with 1/4 cup of vinegar for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and dry. I use a “slow” or masticating juicer. So for this type of machine, chop produce into pieces under 2 inches square. I sometimes chop into even smaller pieces for harder produce. Process through the juicer. Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight glass jar for up to 6 hours, leaving as little head room as possible to avoid oxidation of the juice. Get your green buzz going!

Drink more water.

Go have a massage. Come home and drink two glasses of water.

Fill your bath tub with fairly hot water and add two cups of Epsom salt and perhaps some lavender essential oil for relaxation. Soak for 30 minutes. Rinse off under cool water using no soap or shampoo, just cool water. Dry off and chill out with another couple of glasses of water. For dinner, choose mostly a vegan meal with lots of green veggies and minimal protein. If you wish, have a small portion of good fish or a small chicken burger. But eat light. Get a good nights rest and feel refreshed.

Repeat the cleanse at least every other week. Have a monthly massage. (If you need a great massage therapist, let me know. I have an awesome one.) And do the Epsom salt bath weekly. Feel refreshed!

Thawed organic cranberries.

Cranberry lemonade.

Green juice ingredients.

Green juice.