Recipes and Protein Info for Evolve

Hello everyone.  So far I've only heard back from a handful of you, but many are planning on giving up all five items for the cleanse.  Some of you have started already!  You guys are an eager group ready to dive right in.  

I wanted to share a few resources here that can help you figure out your new diet for the next few weeks.  Here is a link to Oprah's website that will show you her menu plan and recipes from when she did this cleanse a couple years ago.  You will also find some interesting things regarding the cleanse and Kathy Freston, its creator. 
http://www.oprah.com/food/Oprahs-21-Day-Cleanse-Menu-Plans http://www.oprah.com/food/Recipes-From-Oprahs-Cleanse

Speaking of Kathy Freson, her website would be a great resource for you as well.  Here is a link to a page on her site specifically introducing the cleanse.

http://www.kathyfreston.com/kathy_freston_intro_to_quantum_wellness_cleanse.html

Another question people have is if you will get enough protein on the cleanse.  Although there are differences of opinion on this point, many respected nutrition scientists say we eat protein far in excess of our actual need, which is about 5% of caloric intake from protein.  Consider that the fastest time of growth for any human being is when we are babies, and the healthiest food for a growing baby is mother's milk.  Human milk is only about 5% protein by calorie.  If one is eating whole foods, plant based diet you will certainly get this amount if not quite a bit more.  Here is a link to a video by Dr. Janet Bruno MD discussing our actual protein needs: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=6X_IvjVhzLA&feature=player_embedded
She has many other wonderful videos on her site regarding the benefits of a whole foods, plant based diet very much like what you will be eating over the next three weeks. 

Finally, it is important to know that by partaking in a cleanse like this we are really giving ourselves and opportunity to feel more like we are thriving, as opposed to just surviving in our lives.  This sense comes from breaking old habits, making new choices and committing to nourishing ourselves, but it also comes from shifting the neuro-chemical pathways of our brains.  I think you would agree that pleasure is not the same thing as happiness, and scientists now know enough about how our brains work to see that those two states operate by different pathways in our brains. 

All the foods we abstain from on the cleanse can actually can create what is called the "pleasure trap" or an addictive response.  The more we are stuck on these foods the more your brain is wired for quick pleasure and not lasting happiness and contentment.  Here are a couple of links to videos by Dr. Doug Lisle which explain this process in more detail:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2btaDOBK8  This is about 20 minutes. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxf4kj8Rb6Y  This one's about an hour.

I'm looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday and hearing how your cleanse is going.  Please feel free to contact Elizabeth or me with any questions or concerns you might have.  Take care! 

Lindsay

P.S.  Here are a couple of links about some MMA (mixed martial arts) fighters who are vegan/vegetarian.  These guys are tough as nails, so for those of you who thought you needed animal protein to be strong, think again...

http://www.thestylus.net/vegan-diet-pumps-up-mma-fighters-1.2587591#.UP7QTaVTvFI

http://www.mikemahler.com/online-library/articles/mma-training/ufc-fighter-mac-danzig-vegan-diet.html