Hello everyone! I’ve just read a VERY interesting book called THE RED TEA DETOX. This book, by Liz Swann Miller, advises people to use intermittent fasting, combined with a low carb diet and a special red tea, to detox the body and lose weight, FAST. (Up to 14 pounds in 14 days!) It sounds too good to be true. However, I realize lots of people are going to be drawn to this detox diet, so I decided to buy the book, find out the details and give it a go. I want to be able to experience the diet, should future clients ask. I’d never recommend or discuss anything I haven’t tried myself.

It’s not the detox tea that interests me as much as the intermittent fasting. So, being the curious researcher I am, I decided to delve into this intermittent fasting concept a bit more. It goes against EVERYTHING I’m being taught in school, and have been preaching to all of you. How? You SKIP BREAKFAST and only eat 2 times a day, instead of 5 or 6, as most nutritionists recommend.

Well, if you’re not familiar with the concept of intermittent fasting, you fast either every day, or 1 or 2 days a week. The theory is that your body remains in fasting/fat burning mode more hours of the day, thus losing more weight, and burning more fat, quicker.  (There is science to back up these claims) You are still getting your normal calories, but just in a shorter window of time. Here are the 2 main ways people fast:

• The 16/8 principal – You eat for an 8 hour window, and fast for 16 hours every day. For example, you skip breakfast, eat a healthy lunch at 12:00 pm and a healthy dinner, at 7:00 pm, finishing your meals by 8:00 pm. Then repeat the process the the next day, skipping breakfast and not eating until noon.
• 24 hour fast – with this you eat normally 5 days a week and fast for 24 hours 2 days a week (non-consecutive). On the fasting days, for example, you’d eat lunch at noon one day, then not eat again until lunch the next day.

The odd thing about this is, there is a LOT of scientific research to back up the claims of intermittent fasting proponents. I must admit, my curiosity has been peaked.

The RED TEA DETOX recommends a 7 day detox, which includes a 72 hour herbal tea fast. I’ll be starting this fast on FRIDAY of this week. I’ve already begun the 16/8 principal and am drinking the special red tea. (The recipe is in the book) I’ll try to write as many logs as time allows.

In the mean time, the following article from NERD FITNESS, contains a detailed explanation into intermittent fasting, what it is, some of the science involved and how to do it.

Below, is a video of Hugh Jackman, Wolverine himself, discussing his diet, and how he gets into such good shape. (HINT-He uses intermittent fasting!)

Learn what intermittent fasting is, why it works, and how you can use it to lose weight and gain muscle immediately.

For the full article, follow this link:

A Beginner’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting | Nerd Fitness

Author: Tamara Hoerner

Welcome to The Purple Almond Wellness I’m Tamara Hoerner, MHNE, wellness educator and founder of Purple Almond Wellness. I work with middle-age individuals to help support brain health and develop whole body wellness, in order to improve the quality of their mid-life years. Heart and Alzheimer’s diseases run in my family and I struggled with weight loss, so I strive to help others with similar conditions. Using only nutrition, I rid my body of seasonal allergies, Psoriatic Arthritis and migraines. I know what it takes to use food as medicine, especially in middle age. As a wellness educator and Summa Cum Laude graduate of Hawthorn University, I develop personalized nutrition plans and wellness education sessions, to help clients. For me, the name Purple Almond symbolizes “Good, nutritious, whole food bringing light and life to the body, awakening the inherent healing mechanisms within.” I'm all about getting back to the basics, good old fashioned traditional organic, whole food, the kind your great-grandmother used to eat. You'll find no processed foods here. Just good food to heal your whole body. I also believe a healthy body isn't just about food. Stress plays a large part in the physical health of our body. I, therefore, believe in using anything that relieves stress and heals the body, including: mediation, yoga, music, laughter, inspiration and helping others. You'll find all these included in my blog as well. View all posts by Tamara Hoerner