Dr Oz 3 Day Detox: The Shake Down

I found this cleanse surprisingly easy to do. I did not find myself fantasizing about food as I have done on some other cleanses. I found each shake (with adjustments to the lunch shake) to be tasty and well-balanced and kept me feeling full until the next meal. Here's my journal of the shakes I drank on the Dr. Oz 3-Day Detox. How did you do?

The Breakfast Shake

Here goes - Day 1, Shake 1. It is clearly way too early in the morning to have my picture taken, but what the heck. It's a breakfast shake, right? This one had a funky green color because I added a little too much spinach, and not quite enough raspberries. The subsequent breakfast shakes were a little more red.

As there weren't any fresh organic raspberries at the market, I had to use frozen ones. But it's OK to use frozen organic produce - they're picked at the height of freshness, so they don't lose much in terms of nutritional content. Also, the frozen variety tend to be less expensive.  

Bottom Line: This shake was very refreshing 1st thing in the morning. I found myself looking forward to it. 4/5 Stars.

See the Breakfast Shake ingredients and health benefits

The Lunch Shake

I have to admit that I struggled with this shake. The texture of the coconut oil threw me off. I know how important coconut oil is to your health and that it is a vital part of process, but I couldn't take it in the shake. Instead I warmed the oil up a little on the stove and took it as a shot before I drank the shake. I used a little extra of my Homemade Almond Milk to compensate for the loss moisture from leaving out the oil. It made it taste infinitely better to me.

Not everything has to be part of the shake to be a part of the cleanse. If you need to make adjustments like the one above, you can. Just make sure you're getting each element into your body in some form.

Bottom Line: Coconut oil in a smoothie just doesn't work for me, but a little homemade almond milk helped this shake redeem itself. 3/5 stars

See the Lunch Shake ingredients and health benefits

The Dinner Shake

This one was my favorite. The cayenne pepper gives it a real kick. I was a little heavy handed when I made the first dinner shake and as a result got a bigger kick than I should have. My son tried a sip and yelped "water! water!" 

The kale I used is from a frozen supply that I have. I buy lots of beautiful kale from a local organic market called The Green Thumb. I wash it and store it in the freezer in large ziplock bags. That way I have a supply to use in smoothies and soups throughout the winter.

Bottom Line: Cayenne pepper and frozen kale help make this shake a wonderful way to end the day. 5/5 stars.

See the Dinner Shake ingredients and health benefits

The... Bonus Shake?

You are supposed to choose any of the shakes and have that as your "snack" in the middle of the afternoon. Dr Oz calls it the "Bonus Shake". The first and third day I didn't have the bonus shake. I wasn't that hungry so I didn't feel like I needed it. On the 2nd day I thought I was going to kill someone if I didn't eat something. Unfortunately, I was not anywhere near home, or a blender, when the hunger struck. I managed to find a market and inhaled 2 bananas before I could say Mississippi. 

We all have to make it through the day, and if you feel like you really need to eat, then do. Just try to limit the food you consume to the foods that are on the cleanse. Eat an apple, or a bowl of berries. Or, if you're really hungry have some almond butter on celery sticks. You should not feel like you are starving! At the same time, it's important to recognize when hunger is real, vs when our minds think they need food. 

Dr. Oz 3-Day Cleanse Review

+ I lost 2 pounds and felt much more energized with clearer thinking. I already have a very clean diet and focus a lot on detoxifying my body so I was surprised that got the results that I did. 

+ I loved taking the bath every night. I felt so relaxed and found that I slept much better. I even sprayed a little lavender on my pillow.

- The evening meal was difficult. I have a husband a 2 kids to feed, so not eating the same meal as them was hard. My kids kept asking me when I was going to eat dinner.

- It's not portable. You need to be close to home, or to a blender, for the 3 days you choose to do this. 

The Bottom Line: It was easy and tasty and I never felt deprived. I will happily do it again.

Dr Oz 3 Day Detox: Dinner Shake

Mangos are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and potassium. Rich in pre-biotic dietary fibers, mangos aid they body in proper digestion of nutrients.

Kale The King of Greens. Kale is on a scale all of it’s own. Pound for pound it is one  the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. It has high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and phytonutrients. This fiber in this powerhouse also helps to bind and neutralize bile toxins which helps to keep cholesterol levels low.

Coconut Water is an excellent source of Potassium and Vitamin C. It also contains BioActive Enzymes which help with digestion and metabolism. The best part is they are a rich source of electrolytes. Deemed "Nature's Sports Drink", Coconut water hydrates and replenishes the body without the sugar and dyes of the manmade variety.

Blueberries are little blue superstars. They have the highest antioxidant level of all fruit. Blueberries are low in sugar and have been shown to improve both memory and metabolism.

Lemon contains Vitamins C and B as well as phosphorous protiens which help to strengthen the immune system, and enable the body to fight disease. The acidity in lemon juice helps to purify and cleanse the colon, while the acid helps to break up any food, toxins or nutrients hanging out in your digestive system. Lemons stimulate the release of enzymes and help convert toxins into a water-soluble form that can be easily excreted from the body.

\

Avocados are an excellent source of plant based protein and fat. Even though they are green, they pack a whopping dose of Carotenoids which enhance the functioning of the immune system. Because Carotenoids needs fat to be properly absorbed, the avocado is an ideal vehicle for these valuable nutrients.

Cayenne Pepper is a medicinal spice. Primarily used as a pain killer, immune booster and inflammation fighter. It is also good for clearing congestion and bringing down blood cholesterol levels. 

Flax Seeds When detoxifying your body, it's essential to ensure toxins are eliminated properly. Ground flaxseeds provide a wonderful source of fiber that helps to bind and flush toxins from the intestinal tract all while giving you a healthy dose of Omega 3’s.

Dr Oz 3-Day Detox: Lunch Shake

Celery: A great source of vitamins and minerals. Rich in flavanoids which help to protect from certain cancers.  Naturally low in calories, celery has a high soluable fiber content which helps keep the digestive track moving. It helps to boost the immune system and your metabolism all while helping the body to maintain a proper PH.

Cucumber: These have high levels of potassium, anti-oxidants and Vitamin K. Cucumbers protect the brain and the peel helps to sweep toxic compounds out of the gut. Cucumbers also have a mild diuretic effect which helps to move toxins out of the body.

Lime: A good source of phytonutrients, vitamin C, iron, calcium and other trace minerals. It also helps the body to flush the liver of toxins, and adds nice flavor to the shake.

Coconut oil: A medium chain fatty acid which means that it is broken down quickly by the body for quick energy rather than stored as fat. This amazing oil contains lauric and caprylic acids which are anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Coconut oil has also been shown to have properties that can protect the brain from alzheimers and other neuro-degenerative diseases.

Kale: The King of Greens. Kale is on a scale all of it’s own. Pound for pound it is one  the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. It has high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and phytonutrients. This fiber in this powerhouse also helps to bind and neutralize bile toxins which helps to keep cholesterol levels low.

Apple: "An apple a day" is an adage for a reason. Apples are full of fiber, vitamins, minerals and many beneficial phytochemicals. All of these substances are used in the detox process. These assist in stimulating bile production which helps with detox.. Apples are also a good source of the soluble fiber pectin, which can help detox metals and food additives from your body.

Pineapple: This contains an enzyme called bromelain which digests food by breaking down protein. Bromelain also has anti-inflammatory, anti-clotting and anti-cancer properties. It aids in digestion and in repair of damaged cells. Pineapple is also high in pectin, which helps to move toxins out of the body

Almond Milk: A rich source of Vitamin E, calcium, folic acid, as well as the minerals magnesium, selenuim, phosphorus and zinc. Almonds are wonderful for maintaining skin elasticity as well as helping to lower cholesterol. They are also a good source of protein.

Grocery stuff not making the grade? Check out my homemade almond milk recipe.)