A little healthier than the day before
Since I made such a big spectacle of announcing that I was going to be detoxing I thought I should fill you in now that a few days has passed.
The good news is: I'm still alive and I have not turned the colour of spinach or carrots.
After several days of snacking on rice cakes I actually find myself satisfied by them and not wishing I could top them with cheese or potato chips or chocolate or a combination of all three.
However, I did feel a bit dorky when a friend invited me to come over for dinner later this week and I told her I'd have to bring my own food. Good thing she's known me since we were 12 years old and I can comfortably get away with that kind of thing. I certainly wasn't about to give her a list of what I can and can't eat and make her go to all sorts of extra trouble, right?
I mean really.
I'm detoxing, but it doesn't mean I have to be a pain in the ass.
The big shocker was that I actually made a batch of madeleines for another friend and I swear to you not a single crumb passed my lips. I just had to have faith that they turned out right and the word on the street was that everything was a-ok.
So, I'm feeling good. That headache that had me swearing like a sailor on the first day did not reappear. This detox plan doesn't feel at all like deprivation which is key, because I would be complaining so much more if it did.
I did have a minor conniption fit when I realized that soy sauce was not allowed, especially since I planned on eating all sorts of things that just taste better with soy sauce, like tofu and rice and sashimi. But because it often contains wheat or yeast or both, and are loaded with sodium, it is considered not particularly detox-friendly. It breaks my heart, it really does.
But the miracle that is the internet led me to this product which is made from just soybeans and purified water. The website makes it sound all test tube-y and strange, but the ingredients speak for themselves. I found it at my local health food store and am happy to report that it actually does the trick. It's much better than low sodium soy sauces which just taste like someone sucked the flavour right of out it and sold me a bottle of 'bland'. After my 21 days on this detox are up I'm definitely going to keep using it. But of course, I'll keep the Kikkoman on hand for when we have guests. Come on, I'm not crazy.
So, listen, I've got 16 days to go. I'm thinking it can only get easier, right?
I'll keep you posted.
The good news is: I'm still alive and I have not turned the colour of spinach or carrots.
After several days of snacking on rice cakes I actually find myself satisfied by them and not wishing I could top them with cheese or potato chips or chocolate or a combination of all three.
However, I did feel a bit dorky when a friend invited me to come over for dinner later this week and I told her I'd have to bring my own food. Good thing she's known me since we were 12 years old and I can comfortably get away with that kind of thing. I certainly wasn't about to give her a list of what I can and can't eat and make her go to all sorts of extra trouble, right?
I mean really.
I'm detoxing, but it doesn't mean I have to be a pain in the ass.
The big shocker was that I actually made a batch of madeleines for another friend and I swear to you not a single crumb passed my lips. I just had to have faith that they turned out right and the word on the street was that everything was a-ok.
So, I'm feeling good. That headache that had me swearing like a sailor on the first day did not reappear. This detox plan doesn't feel at all like deprivation which is key, because I would be complaining so much more if it did.
I did have a minor conniption fit when I realized that soy sauce was not allowed, especially since I planned on eating all sorts of things that just taste better with soy sauce, like tofu and rice and sashimi. But because it often contains wheat or yeast or both, and are loaded with sodium, it is considered not particularly detox-friendly. It breaks my heart, it really does.
But the miracle that is the internet led me to this product which is made from just soybeans and purified water. The website makes it sound all test tube-y and strange, but the ingredients speak for themselves. I found it at my local health food store and am happy to report that it actually does the trick. It's much better than low sodium soy sauces which just taste like someone sucked the flavour right of out it and sold me a bottle of 'bland'. After my 21 days on this detox are up I'm definitely going to keep using it. But of course, I'll keep the Kikkoman on hand for when we have guests. Come on, I'm not crazy.
So, listen, I've got 16 days to go. I'm thinking it can only get easier, right?
I'll keep you posted.
posted by Michèle at 5:30 AM
14 Comments:
I'm glad the headaches stopped, know how those caffeine withdrawals can be. Hang in there!
Good for you. I've been using Bragg's for years (hippie childhood, what can I say?). It's a little different from soy sauce, but still good.
I've been thinking of doing something similar myself. Between you and Jennifer Jeffrey, I need to hop to it!
You are a strong canadian girl, so of course it will get only easier!! Glowing eyes, cheerful moods, thriving health...It's all worth it!
I feel motivated to do detoxing myself.
While reading your soy sauce dilemma, and before I got to your link thingy, I was thinking...must tell her about Bragg's. It was all the rage in my macrobiotic days. I am liking your detox reporting here, and it reminds me of all the years I ate that way. Nope, not waxing nostalgic...just remembering ;)
Are you allowed sheep's milk dairy?
Monforte Dairy cheeses (at the St. Lawrence Market on Saturdays) are really good.
Kat, I'm glad too--I was worried because that first one was a doozy!
Tea, wow I'm impressed that you have been using Braggs, I feel a bit late to the game here. I keep wondering if I go out for sushi will I be able to take my own bottle of Bragg's with me or would that be a bit dorky? Ha!
Anya, I have to admit, I woke up this morning thinking my skin did have a bit of a glow.. Let me know if you do decide to detox, I like the idea of not being the only one ;)
Alisa, well, listen you. You are not allowed to keep secrets from me especially when it comes to enlightened food products. Do you hear me? ;)
Pannifer, I am allowed it so thanks for the tip, I will check them out!
Once I started eating "normally" again, I kinda forgot about my past life food experiences :)
But now I'm wondering if I can get Braggs here....hmmmm
do you know about umabushi(sp?) plums???
Wait, I tune out for a few weeks (fighting my own flu) and now you're guzzling BRAGG'S? And detoxing? What happened to our glory days of macarons with hot cocoa chasers? I hardly knew ye, Meesh! ;(
Oh, ok, if it makes you feel better, I support it. Harumph. But BRAGG'S??
(I secretly like it, I'm just making a stink because it's fun.)
Alisa, I figured you had tried to block some of that out ;) And yes, I have heard of umeboshi and have seen it in the shops but have never actually taken it home with me. I have a vague recollection of being scared away by the sodium level again.. Are you suggesting I give it a go?
Cindy, you too? Everyone knew of Bragg's but me! And we'll still have our glory days my friend--next time we see each other I will totally break my detox for you!
Caffeine withdrawal can be pretty nasty...here's hoping you have seen the end of it!
Oh, and don't look outside today if you don't have to...winter is still hanging around unfortunately :)
Wow...
No Caffine, no alcohol, no baguettes, no chocolate? Gee, doesn't the sacrifice of these basic food groups just crumble the foundation of the food pyramid?
I've been gone for a while, but detox? The mere mention of the word spurs me to raise my eyebrows and suspiciously look over my shoulder...
Are you sure your body isn't just going through withdrawls... rebeling because your saute pans are still in transit? : )
Hey! But Kikkoman makes low-sodium soy sauce, and without wheat too! WTF just binge on shoyu for about ten days when this is over. Put it in soup, salad, etc.
DG, I have definitely seen the end of it but I still crave it which hurts worse than the withdrawal ;)
Brenda, it is very possible that I am in some state of rebellion over our VERY SLOW shipment, 9 weeks and counting.. The detox makes it easier to live without ramekins and cheese graters and gratin dishes.. Sigh..
gtangerine, yes I have tried all manner of low sodium soy sauces but I don't like them all that much! And I often buy Tamari (wheat free) but it still has a lot of sodium in it. The Braggs stuff I've been using on this detox is a good alternative, I'm quite happy with it, I just have to figure out a way to sneak some into my local sushi joint ;)
You might also try tamari sauce. It is one of two real, traditional brewed types of soy sauce. The other type is called shoyu. It is about the closest you can get to Kikkoman, it has no wheat (I don't know about yeast, though), and it is made through the process of fermentation so that the trace toxins present in unfermented soy are eradicated. Whenever I do stirfry I've gotta have tamari. :)
I love your blog. I've read it for a while, but I don't think I've ever commented before.
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