Yesterday I promised to answer some of the questions coming across my desk about the EstroZen Detox. Whether you’re on the fence or NOW is just not the right time for you to engage in a detox, there’s good information here for you to delve into and read.
I’ve chosen five of the top questions to keep your FAQ short and sweet. (And there is a sweet treat for you at the end as well. )
If you want more, you know where to get it! Join us for EstroZen.
Class #1 is TONIGHT!
Detox starts Monday.

Now for those questions. . .

Snacks for Protein Fat & Fiber

During the free ‘Tipping the Scale’ class on hormones last week you mentioned snacks with Fat, Fiber & Protein for maintaining blood sugar as an important baseline for hormonal balance. I am wondering if you have some suggestions for snacks like this. You mentioned miso soup, and Flax Max bars, but what if you are on the go?
This is a great question. I definitely encourage people to travel around with things on hand so they don’t get caught in a pinch, with their blood sugars down. This is going to lead to the kind of desperate spontaneity that rarely serves our goals. (Low blood sugar = grabbing whatever is convenient.)
Both the miso soup and the Flax Max bar (see recipe below), can be prepared in advance. Thermoses are great and the bars hold up well in a wax bag or small container (especially as the weather cools ~ your good fats won’t melt as easily!).
I also advise people to carry nuts, seeds or some kind of healthy bar option to help keep even and balanced.

Tips for Belly Weight

Do you have any other tips about helping women who have belly weight and are around menopausal age beyond what you shared in the call?
Absolutely! This is one of the things we’ll be diving into in the EstroZen Detox.
Sometimes the weight falls off during the detoxes and other times it lingers, here or there. One of those places is right on the belly. Belly fat that won’t budge is a good indicator that there is some hormonal imbalance at play.
As I discussed in the ‘Tipping the Scale’ class, it’s important to balance blood sugar. That’s #1. Then we need to support adrenal issues. If you’re living in a state of fight-or-flight, as many of us are, you’re producing excesses of the hormone cortisol. Excess cortisol = belly fat.
But we can’t produce excess cortisol forever. We’ll run out of steam. What happens then? We produce less than we need. So then we don’t just have less fight-or-flight and diminished get-up-and-go, we’re stuck with the fatigue and the flab!
But there’s another hormonal imbalance that can easily lead to belly fat. That’s estrogen dominance. This is a situation that has become epidemic in our society, for men, women and children alike. In EstroZen we’ll explore How & Why this is happening, as well as WHAT to do about it! That’s what EstroZen is all about!
We’ll beat the belly fat by cleaning up our diet, our environment and discover what BALANCE really means.

Dietary Questions

Will you provide Gluten Free & Vegan Alternatives?
The entire protocol is Gluten Free. You can rest assured that anything you ever do with me or Replenish PDX is gluten free and sugar free. Our protocol through the weeks removes some other food constituents as well.
There is some other non-dairy animal protein included in the protocol if you want or already eat it. There’s only a couple animal protein dishes each week and that way you can eliminate those to suit your dietary needs or restrictions, or include a bit more as your body requires.
I’ll be there for you on the Message Board to help navigate your unique needs dietarily and otherwise. If recipe substitutions are needed, I’ve got those ready too.
What if I eat a grain-free diet? Can I do this detox?
As noted with the animal protein, there is little to no grain on this protocol. Where it is included, it can easily be substituted. (Note: I do not eat grains either, so it’s easy for me to help you navigate this!)
If you always wanted to see what a grain-free diet could do to reduce your inflammation, pain, help with weight loss and mental clarity, then this is a great opportunity for that, among other things. If you’re scared of a grain-free diet, don’t be! You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how good the food is and you’ll have so many recipes to carry you forward with a new way of eating beyond the cleanse ~ no matter how you decide to eat beyond the three weeks.
What are good supplements to take?
We have actually set up a supplement store to help you make the choices that will best benefit your detox experience. You have immediate access to that store upon registration for EstroZen. The recommended supplements are not required, but instead meant to support your explorations and inquiries should you choose to bring in that additional help for your hormone balancing.
The bottom line? We’ve got your diet and supplement needs covered!

I’m scared of a detox! I’ve heard horrible things about detox.

I’ve heard about friends doing detoxes and starving or living off of lemon and water drinks. I’m busy and don’t have time to slow down or not have enough energy. Can I still balance my hormones without starving myself?
Deep breadth. We’re going into Zen territory here.
I know many people use the terms detox and cleanse interchangeably. But at Replenish PDX, we’ve created a distinction between the two. It’s this distinction that will help you to make the appropriate investment of your time and resources to reach your optimal health goals.
In a detox, my goal is to remove the foods and food categories that are muddying the waters. We’re taking out the substances that slow you down, make you sick, clog your sinuses, cause gas and bloating, make you retain unnecessary weight and leave you feeling tired and foggy. Hormonal havoc!
Sometimes the things we’re removing are foods and sometimes they’re more than foods. . . behaviors or beliefs, patterns and habits, environmental toxins, all the things that are holding us back. The protocol all depends on the intent of the detox. Our intent here is hormonal balance and understanding how to achieve that for yourself. We’ll be getting into the nitty gritty while nurturing ourselves with delicious foods and grounding practices.
And at Replenish, we never remove without replacing. So you know exactly what to eat and what to do to help you feel great.

What about my man?!

Is this detox good for men too?
You betcha! We’ll be exploring the ways in which men experience estrogen dominance too. Like I said, its an epidemic and the problems are reverberating throughout your entire household ~ affecting not just you, but your partner and children as well.

Flaxie Maxie

This low-glycemic version of my Flax Max Bars was created by one of my clients who’s been experimenting with her Fat, Fiber & Protein snacks to maintain her blood sugar (. . . to balance her hormones), for some time. Thanks EI!
ingredients:
1 1/2 cups almonds (soaked and toasted in the oven is ideal)
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup cacao butter
1/2 cup crunchy almond butter
1/2 cup goji berries
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup fresh ground flax
a little vanilla extract
a couple pinches of salt
handful of cacao nibs
6 drops liquid stevia (add the stevia, mix and taste to bring it to your liking)
preparation:
1. Pulse nuts, ground flaxseeds, coconut, nut butter and salt in a food processor until coarsely ground.
2. Gently melt the coconut oil by placing the glass jar into warm water to soften enough to scoop or pour and measure.
3. Add coconut oil to food processor along with remaining ingredients.
4. Pulse to create a coarse and pasty mixture.
5. Press mixture into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish
7. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, until mixture hardens. Cut into bars and store in refrigerator.
Note from chef: I have used cashews, sunflower seeds, sunflower seed butter. All are yummy. I like using the cacao butter because of the flavor and it doesn’t melt when traveling.

Featured Program

Estrozen: The Detox Diet to Restore Your Hormonal Balance

We often don’t realize that our hormones exist in a delicate balance to one another. When they get off balance, you not only feel it in your body, but you see it in the mirror.

It’s time to be the Zen Master of your own biochemistry.

The EstroZen Detox inlcudes three online classes to discuss the Whys & Hows of your Detox Diet.
group detox start date: October 20th
detox duration: three full weeks!
In EstroZen you’ll learn how to. . .

• tackle chronic weight concerns
• rediscover your sex drive
• decrease your risk of breast and ovarian cancer
• reduce your vulnerability to diabetes & metabolic disorders
• support your bone health
• and enhance your mood & memory

Gain key information for your health while eating great food and living the best life possible to support not only your own wellness and aging, but that of your entire family.
click here to learn more and GET IN THE GROOVE!