My body has been sending me a message for three years, and I am finally listening. I have been plagued by recurring Urinary Tract Infections and although sharing a bed with a sexy partner might have something to do with it, I don’t think the problem is isolated to my nether areas.

So as an exploration of what’s going on in my gut that is letting little buggers climb their way up my urinary tract, I am exploring what I am putting into my body that might make me more vulnerable to unwelcome guests. In addition to taking a bunch of cranberry juice and probiotics, I am going gluten, dairy, sugar, coffee and alcohol free for the next 30 days (and probably beyond!).

But you don’t have to have chronic infections to listen to what your body might be telling you. Do you have headaches? Stomach aches? Fatigue? Colds? Do you want to prevent all of those things and more? Here are a few easy food and drink recipes that I am indulging in to keep me green, clean, cool and satisfied.

Green Water Cocktail

32 oz chilled water

4-5 large sprigs of mint

8 cucumber slices

4 lime wedges

• put it in a pretty pitcher and enjoy!

Green Smoothie

1 cup of water

1 handful of kale or spinach

5-6 frozen strawberries

4-5 chunks of frozen pineapple

2 tsp ground flaxseed

1 tsp lemon flavored fish oil

• drink it for breakfast or pour it into a mason jar and stick it in the fridge for an afternoon pick me up

Clean Protein Salad

1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced

1 cucumber, thinly sliced

1 cup kale sliced in ribbons (even better if it’s from the farmer’s market!)

2 cups cooked quinoa

1/2 c toasted almonds

1/4 c fresh squeezed lemon

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup fresh, loosely chopped dill

raw honey (optional)

• Combine fennel, cucumber and kale in lemon juice, dill and olive oil. Let sit for 20 minutes. Scoop salad onto quinoa, add almonds and a drizzle of honey. It gets better the next day!

An important realization I had in this journey of clean eating is that it is based on what my body is telling me and not what I am telling my body. My body is asking me to reconsider what I consume, I am not asking my body to take a different shape or size. It’s all about teamwork. As always, it starts with your intention.

And in case you are wondering, I am on the hunt for new indulgences as much as new salads recipes. In fact, tonight after a cleansing practice, I am going to make these raw brownies and enjoy a stiff cranberry-mineral water spritzer.

Indulgence and health don’t have to be mutually exclusive. How do you create the balance?