Cucumber, celery and green apple. (right) Carrot and beetroot juice

I recently took a four-day sojourn to the good old USA and got a bit carried away, as we often do, with their mega portions and enticing menus. I succeeded in packing away a ton of very heavy, unhealthy food and felt so grossly turned off upon my return that I decided to transform my diet and go completely healthy for one month. Feeling very eager to detoxify, I decided to increase the amount of vegetables in my diet, by starting my day with a glass of au natural raw vegetable juice blend. The minute the glass was poured, I took one look at the tall green beverage and went straight into my head, "Oh dear." but the minute the first sip hit my mouth I was instantly in heaven. The freshest, cleanest and purest taste went down like a dream and I felt light, clean and immediately healthy.

The blends I have been experimenting with are:
Carrot and beetroot - which was actually too sweet for my palate;
Cucumber, celery and green apple;
Cucumber and pineapple (just a small slice or two of pine does the trick);
Cucumber, lime and beetroot;
This week I am going to experiment with callaloo.
This is what I have noticed so far:

My palate has been cleansed. I no longer crave rich foods, neither salty or sweet, I only crave clean, fresh foods.
I am getting such a pick-me-up that my addiction to coffee in the morning is merely mind over matter - I am clear-minded not jittery.

I start my day with a healthy space, I don't want to spoil it by putting unhealthy foods in my body.
My skin has cleared up and people are telling me I look rested, glowing and youthful.

My energy is way up and I am focused even though I am operating on less sleep.
My sinuses have been clear.
My eyesight is better.
My stomach has been flat and perfectly in order.
My addiction to sugar has been tamed.

A drink of Go-Go Juice in the morning for me has been like a mantra, setting me up for perfect health at the start of every day. It gives me all of my daily vitamins and minerals in one shot, immunity to any antibodies potentially coming my way and all from nature's source. Drinking my juice before exercising has been the best source of instant energy I have ever had, and it's the easiest thing for the body to digest very quickly. You get all of your kicks without the stitch!

My body was once dependent on strong kickers like sugar and coffee. The more I had the more I needed. I realised that this dependency was mostly in my head and that sugar, much like a drug, was causing my blood sugar to spike and then soon thereafter to crash, causing the cravings to start up again. I was in a recurring cycle, and until I took that first step in the right direction first thing in the morning, I was a victim of the sugar ride. By the end of the first week my system was so cleansed and energised, just one glass of wine was too much for the system. The best part about it is. it's not complicated. Grabbing breakfast has never been so simple and swift, all you need is a blender or a juicer and your favourite raw fruits and vegetables to have your get up and "go-go" everyday.

Selena Deleon is a certified personal trainer and weight loss consultant.

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