Sludge: thick, soft, wet, semi-solid, mud, dirty oil, muck are among the descriptive words for sludge. I hear and see people who feel like they have no energy, slow energy, tire easily, and have no “will-power” to do much of anything especially cooking meals and getting a little exercise into each day. Does this sound like you?

Try something new. Try to clean out the sludge that the foods you’re eating may be causing inside your veins, intestines and organs and even your brain causing foggy thinking. Cleaning out the sludge is pretty simple if you’re dedicated to doing it and staying “sludge-free” is important to keeping up your energy and best health.

What types of foods cause this sluggish feeling? You’ve probably heard it many times but processed foods that are filled with chemical preservatives, high sodium, high fats are all a large part of it. Fast foods that you can get at a drive through and from most chain restaurants are also a big part of that unhealthy, bloated, sluggish feeling inside. Chain restaurant commercials sell themselves by showing greens and reds alongside or in their foods and groups of friends laughing…etc. it all looks healthy, care-free and happy, just like life should be. In reality, when you go to those places for a meal it most often is not what you expected. The food doesn’t look quite as appetizing and it’s often swimming in heavy oils, thick ‘fake’ cream sauces and the so-called healthy chicken is pressed into breast-shapes but laden with salt with the texture of chewing a sponge. These things are not healthy meals!

Here’s how to clean out the “sludge”. There are two ways, 1 – quit cold turkey and a detox, 2 – small, steady steps & making changes each day and each week. If you want to go the “cold turkey route, it’s not impossible, it requires more detail so contact me, I’m here to help you. If you choose the small, steady step route, here are a few tips.

• Eat out less days per week so you have control of what you’re putting into your body; this includes lunch-time at work, bring your lunch.
• Eat smaller portions of meat and be sure to eat lean meats only.
• Eat more beans, there are so many different varieties and they are all easy to toss into practically any dish. If you use canned beans, be sure to rinse them well to remove excess sodium before using.
• Add extra vegetables to every meal. Add a handful of greens such as leafy lettuces, spinach, kale, arugula and broccoli, these items are quick to grab and toss into a salad, onto a sandwich or in any dish you’re preparing.
• Snack on walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios, sunflower & pumpkin seeds, fruit, plain yogurt with flax, nuts or seeds and fresh fruit added yourself.
• Eat less breads and bready type foods such as muffins, pastry, cake, cookies; eat less white pasta, rice and potato chips and fries.
• Don’t overeat. Stop when you are full and satisfied. Save whatever you don’t finish for another meal or for a snack – after-all, it’s healthy food now.
• Drink more water. Water flushes toxins out of your system, it helps remove excess salt from your system and it keeps your body lubricated and running smoothly.

Cooking at home doesn’t have to be a chore. When you plan your week of meals ahead of time, preparing them is easier. Choose one or two days during the week or on the weekend to eat out, to give the cook a break, but when you do, choose to eat at the local family owned restaurant over the chain restaurants.

Think of food simply as fuel for your body to run optimally. What you put into your tank is what you will get out of it. Lighter, airy, more colorful foods will lead to a lighter more airy sense of being; it will put a skip in your step and brightness on your face.

As always, if you’re unsure of how to make changes or of you simply want guidance and accountability, you can work with me in one of my programs that will get you to exactly where you want to be.