L.O.V.E. Fast

Countless times I have slowly walked by Organic Avenue, a tiny store on Stanton and Ludlow, peering in with curiosity. I finally decided to make my way in, survey all the products-from organic clothing to raw nuts and body creams-and I decided to inquire about the L.O.V.E. fast: Live Organic Vegan Experience. I was sold after hearing about it from the enthusiastic sales associate, and it is something I have wanted to try for some time now.

The program is five days long and I pick up my fresh food every morning. Although it may seem like a week of deprivation and mild starvation, it is actually a LOT of food. Most of it is 16 oz. juices, smoothies, soups and salads and the point is to detoxify and cleanse your body. I'm learning through this program that we hold emotions in the body, and in every cell we hold memory. The liver holds anger, the kidneys hold fear, the gallbladder holds grief. When we cleanse, these emotions can have the opportunity to be released. The body is an amazing miracle, and is always going towards healing.

LOVE Fast Day 1:

8am - Energy Elixir, E3-Live. It tasted kind of like an algae or wheatgrass shot, it wasn't too bad.

9am - Fresh Pressed Pear Juice. Yummmm is all I have to say.

11am - Fresh Pressed Green Vibrance. (Collards, kale, chard, spinach, cucumber, celery, parsley, apple & lemon). Bitter tasting, and a bit hard to choke down!

1pm - Goji Berry Smoothie. (Strawberries, banana, goji berries, apple juice, & coconut oil). It was really tasty! Very thick and very filling. I love the texture of goji berries, and they are one of the highest anti-oxidant fruits available.

4pm - Cucumber Mint Soup. (Coconut meat and water, cucumber juice, avocado, garlic, & mint).

The cold soup was light and refreshing, but the aftertaste was as if I had eaten an entire raw clove of garlic! (I probably did)!

6pm - Kale Dulse Salad. (Kale, dulse, olives, red bell pepper, lemon, ginger, pine nuts, nama shoyu, & olive oil).

8pm - Coconut Mylk. (Coconut meat, coconut water, vanilla). This was a very interesting way to end the day. It was creamy and thick, dessert-like, very filling and high in calories; however, coconut is full of enzymes and minerals, including iodine which is good for the thyroid gland. It is supposed to have positive effects on metabolism, provide a defense against parasites and cleanses blood. Who knew?

At the end of the first day, I felt very full and had an enormous headache. One of the symptoms of cleansing is that you can feel the toxins releasing from your body. So, I considered these side effects to be normal, and went right to sleep!