Chiu on this

I am starting a 10-day detox tomorrow. After months of some pretty darn good food and wine, it’s time to hit reset. Before I go further, I should explain I am not attempting anything as drastic as the Master Cleanse (aka cayenne pepper cleanse). I’m not that brave.

Instead, I’ll be doing a natropathic detox. I’ll be cutting out sugars, processed foods, all meat except fish and organic chicken, dairy, some grains (wheat, rye, kamut, spelt,) alcohol and (gasp) caffeine. It may seem daunting, especially the last two, but the list of things I can eat is also very long: all fruits and vegetables (except corn and grapefruit), chicken, fish, green and herbal teas, some grains (brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, steel-cut oats), beans, olive oil, herbs and spices.

I’m not sure what to expect except that everyone who has done this or a similar detox has praised its results. They report increased energy and an appreciation for new foods. It’ll be an interesting challenge to see what kind of meals I can make without dairy or what I come up with when quinoa’s the main ingredient.

I’m always excited by the challenge of a new project and now that I’ve typed out this blog entry and have tweeted about it, I have no choice but to stick with this detox. Hold me accountable, dear readers! My self-control will be tested.

Question: Have you done a detox or cleanse? Which one and what did you think of it?