Extraordinary Health Magazine EHMagazine Vol 36 | Page 15

“There is nothing more empowering than deciding you want to feel better, making progress and
that every bite counts toward your health,” she says. “One bad meal or workout is not going to
make you unhealthy, but habits make a difference.”
organic, fruits and veggies, leading with leafy greens,” says
Ibrahim, whose new book details an exact plan of action for
eating clean. “When we start vilifying categories of food, this is
what I have a problem with and in no way, shape or form are
you going to deprive yourself of calories.”
Naysayers, she’s heard it all before—over the years people
Ibrahim has coached and mentored have worried they or their
loved ones wouldn’t be able to stick to eating cleaner.
“Go from zero to 60 and you’ll have a hard time. So instead, just
start with cutting out artificial flavors and preservatives,” says
Ibrahim. “Build a healthy food wardrobe with staples you can
always rely on, including lots of fresh produce and lean meats
and do a pantry overhaul.”
Ibrahim counsels that the body likes routine when it comes
to food, with some days feeling hungrier than others. She’s
a believer in intermittent fasting, which doesn’t mean failing
to eat at all—but rather compressing the eating window to
eight hours.
“Consider the plant-based, 90/10 rule and don’t eat a bag of
cookies, because when your status quo is just kind-of getting
by day and night, you’re burning your adrenaline glands out
and poor health becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy,” says Ibrahim.
“You can feel the life force of food and your whole body shift.”
Ibrahim understands the challenges of beginning the
process of eating cleaner. But in that initial phase, there is
commanding motivation.
“There is nothing more empowering than deciding you want to
feel better, making progress and that every bite counts toward
your health,” she says. “One bad meal or workout is not going
to make you unhealthy, but habits make a difference.”
Ibrahim advocates a taste bud reset, to re-acclimate taste buds
to the bitter and sour flavors that lead to better eating habits
and retraining the most powerful muscle in the body­—the
tongue. It takes eight days to reset the taste buds by sampling a
few bites of specific foods, she says, and the new book contains
specific recipes to test out towards that goal.
“Put your goals on your phone, mirror, fridge everywhere you look
since those goals are what will lead you to success. Just keep your eyes
on the goals and ignore anyone making fun or poking at you, because
it is not their body and they don’t have to live in it,” says Ibrahim.
“Don’t succumb to the pressure of negative Nellies in your life, as you
ultimately know what you need.”
Those goals could include fitting into an old pair of jeans or just
feeling the energy to get up in the morning without hurting all over.
Supplements and helpful products also play role in Ibrahim’s own
success.
“Everyone who follows me knows I am a Garden of Life girl,
so I use Garden of Life for everything including mykind
Organics Vitamin C and me and my kids take Dr. Formulated
Urinary Tract probiotics since that problem runs in our family,
plus I take enzymes for digestion for breaking down the food
and nutrient absorption,” says Ibrahim. “I take Garden of
Life’s spray called mykind Organics Sleep Well and it helps get
me restful sleep to regulate hormones and prevent excessive
hunger, plus a multivitamin, greens powder and collagen.”
Ibrahim’s own products are in line with her philosophies—part of
her EAT CLEANER line is a Triple Action Fruit + Veggie Wash, which
she developed with her father.
“After he got cancer, he was told to avoid raw produce due to
chemical residue,” says Ibrahim, whose fruit and vegetable wash is
formulated for the environment and helps produce last up to five
times longer. Garden of Life readers can visit Ibrahim’s website at
eatcleaner.com to request a free sample. And Eat Like You Give
a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive is available for pre-order
on Amazon.
“I really want to help people get balanced again, because when
you get balance in your food house, there is nothing you can’t
do,” says Ibrahim. “Sometimes we limit our own ability because
we just don’t feel well, but the most vibrant version of you is
within reach.”
Extraordinary Health ™ • Vol 36 13