Cucumbers are a rich source of antioxidants, like vitamin C and beta-carotene; manganese; Vitamin K; and flavonoids, like quercetin, a natural “anti-histamine”, and cancer-fighting kaempferol

Exerting a natural cooling effect, cucumbers are great for the skin. Animal studies suggest that cucumber extract may help reduce inflammation by inhibiting the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes. Their cooling nature makes them a popular ingredient in many skincare products. Sliced or juiced, cucumbers can be used as a natural beauty aid for reducing puffiness under the eyes and as a facial toner or mask to enhance the complexion. The silicon and sulfur in cucumber juice may also help promote hair growth.

As a food, cucumbers are versatile. You can eat them raw, pickled or cooked. Thinly sliced, they’re perfect in salads, sushi rolls or simply plain with a sprinkle of sea salt. Add diced cucumber to a creamy raita and serve with grilled chicken or fish. I also like cucumbers grated and tossed with cellophane noodles, olive oil and a generous handful of cilantro.

To maximize the health benefits of cucumbers, be mindful of eating only organic cucumbers. Unfortunately, thin-skinned cucumbers rank #9 on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list of produce that retains the most pesticide residue.

Cucumbers sold in supermarkets are often coated with a waxy residue. This wax, supposedly food-grade and safe, can come from one of four sources: carnabu wax (from the carnauba palm tree), beeswax, shellac (from a beetle) and petroleum-based waxes (not good, nor desirable!). Natural or not, I don’t care for the waxy texture, so I only buy unwaxed cucumbers at the farmers’ market. (Historically, I’ve also raided my neighbor’s garden for cucumbers!).

One delicious way to enjoy cucumber—and beat the summer heat—is to make a creamy, no-cook cucumber soup from my seasonal Clean Eating Cleanse program; recipe below.

Creamy Raw Cucumber Soup

Serves 2

2 large organic cucumbers, peeled, de-seeded and roughly chopped
1 avocado
Juice of half a lemon
Handful of cilantro, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt

Blend all the ingredients—cucumbers, avocado, fresh cilantro, lemon juice and sea salt—in a high-powered blender or food processor.

Serve—and enjoy!

Good news!  Whether your health goal is weight loss, clearer skin or more energy—you can get back on track with a guided 7-Day Body Reset whole foods cleanse.

True or false?

If you do a whole foods cleanse:

…You’ll only be drinking green juices and water.

…You’ll have to manage feeling starved, exhausted and weak.

…You’lll feel deprived and cheated of your favorite foods.

…You’ll endure uncomfortable treatments, like a colonic irrigation that “washes out” the large bowel via a hose and lots of water.

All false.

A guided whole foods cleanse is none of these things.

A whole foods cleanse is a way to support and enhance the body’s natural detoxification pathways (the liver and kidneys). It entails “cleaning up” your diet, modifying your lifestyle habits to include enough sleep, restorative movement, relaxation exercises, and herbal supplements, if necessary, to help the body remove toxins more efficiently. It’s an opportunity to be mindful of self-care.

Why cleanse?

Even if we typically eat “healthy”, we tend to relax our standards between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. We indulge in sugary treats more than usual. We pour wine or our favorite tipple more freely over the holidays. We succumb to pressure from family, friends and colleagues—and eat more than we otherwise might. Alcohol. Sugar. Wheat. Dairy. Refined carbohydrates. Processed foods. Artificial sweeteners (in foods and soda).  These wreak havoc on our digestive system, where over 70% of our immune system resides.

Stress and the toxins, to which we are exposed in our air, food, water, personal care products, cosmetics and home, also take a toll on the body.

When our normal detox organs, the liver and kidneys, become overwhelmed, symptoms can manifest. Signs that your body is experiencing toxicity—and could benefit from a cleanse—include weight gain, fatigue, joint pain, anxiety and depression, headaches, and food allergies or sensitivities, among others.

The 7-Day Body Reset Cleanse addresses this problem with a structured clean eating program that removes irritating and hard-to-digest foods and supports improved digestion.

Recharge or heal your body

How did I start off the New Year several pounds lighter than at the beginning of the holiday season? Because I listened to my body rather than resist what it was telling me. When I found myself rundown and fatigued at several points between my birthday (December 11^th) and New Year’s, I heeded an organic urge to embark on a clean eating cleanse. Meaning…I lost my appetite for caffeine, restaurant meals, and anything sugar, including grains (which convert to sugar in the body—my occasional favorites being wild rice and buckwheat), dark chocolate and alcohol. Instead, I found myself craving nourishing, home-cooked, easy-to-digest foods, such as bone broth, pumpkin puree, braised greens and long, slow-cooked grass-fed meats.

Rather than willfully “power through” my malaise and exhaustion with stimulants (coffee, sugar, chocolate), I made self-care a priority. I drank plenty of water and bone broth. I engaged in gentle movement (walking). And I made sure to sleep at least 8 hours a night.

The result? This mindfulness expedited the healing process, and my clean eating cleanse reset my body, resulting in natural weight release—without dietary restriction, calorie counting, or logging in hours of exercise. It bolstered my immune system and primed my body for clean eating, keeping me on track in January, a time when pledges to eat healthy have been made—and broken—more than a few times.

Uncover food allergies and sensitivities

Do you suspect that you have food allergies or sensitivities?
Why you should know. Having a food allergy or sensitivity—but not realizing it—yet, continuing to eat that food(s) regularly causes inflammation in your body. It can be the hidden cause of health problems, including weight gain, migraines, digestive problems, eczema and many others.

Beyond a food allergy blood test (which I can offer to those who live or work New York City), a whole foods cleanse is an excellent way to play detective in uncovering hidden food sensitivities. Because it eliminates primary “trigger foods” that can cause allergies, sensitivities and digestive distress, including dairy, eggs, wheat, gluten, grains, soy, corn, sugar, artificial sweeteners, yeast, as well as processed foods, sugar, caffeine and alcohol, you can better pinpoint offending foods.
If you’d like to experience the benefits of a clean eating cleanse, check out my 7-Day Body Reset Cleanse.