Spring Detox & Renew
Spring is here! The trees are greening, birds are singing, our days are longer, and the sunshine seems to never end. Our transition from winter to spring is an opportunity to invigorate us for the warm season ahead. Most people think of spring as a time to clean out all of the clutter and junk that has accumulated throughout the year. So, instead of tackling your linen closet or reorganizing your garage, why not spring clean yourself? Imagine how refreshing it would be to detoxify your body so that you can start the spring feeling energized and rejuvenated.
Anybody can benefit from a cleansing. As we ease into spring the body is transitioning out of a hibernation period and cleansing can be a tool to help jump-start your metabolism and clear out the metabolic debris that has accumulated during the colder months.
Detoxification can often be difficult to adhere to, can sometimes require the use of laxatives, and potentially take weeks if not months to complete. So, let forget all about that and instead focus on small shifts that can reap tremendous detoxifying health benefits.
There are so many “fad detoxes” out there that I wasn't sure where to start and what people could realistically commit to. I LOVE good food so I knew right from the start that a juice or water fast to help with detoxification was out of the question! Like most people, I also don't have the energy for a time-consuming, complicated cleansing. So in my quest to find easy-to-implement strategies for spring cleansing and detoxing I was able to find some inexpensive, relatively easy steps to help cleanse from within.
STEP 1:
Detox with Lemon Water- Drink 8 ounces of warm, purified water with a half of an organic lemon squeezed into it first thing in the morning (yes, even before coffee). Lemons have over 200 detoxifying enzymes that help support liver function and as well as 20 anti-cancer compounds.
STEP 2:
Get your green, greens, greener on! From a nutritional standpoint one of the best ways you can detox is to eat plenty of fresh greens. The greener, the better! Forget the iceberg and even the romaine and instead reach for kale, broccoli, chard, spinach, and arugula, mustard and beet greens. These greens are packed with antioxidants that aid in the formation of new cells and chlorophyll, which literally sanitizes the digestive tract.
STEP 3:
Drink lots and lots of purified water. The human body is made up of over 70% water. Consuming purified water regularly will help flush the body of unwanted toxic buildup and ensure that our cells are functioning optimally.
STEP 4:
Consume 1-2 cups of green tea per day. Green tea is chock full of polyphenol catechins which have anti-cancer activity and help support healthy immunity. Don’t be overly concerned about the caffeine in green tea unless you’re highly sensitive to it. It would take 8-9 cups of green tea to equal the amount of caffeine found in 1 cup of coffee.
STEP 5:
Get moving! Whether you’re a 5 times a week cross fitter or daily yoga practicer, it doesn’t matter, just move. Exercise (even in moderate amounts) improves circulation, which brings oxygenated blood to the organs and tissues and rids the arteries of plagues and buildup.
Even just 30 minutes a day, most days of the week will be enough to reap tremendous health benefits.
STEP 6:
Take out the trash…. from your kitchen, that is! Eliminate or at least minimize the 3 P’s: processed, prepared, and packaged. Foods that fall into these categories tend to be full of trans fats, sugar, sodium, and food additives, which don’t support the body’s detoxifying abilities.
STEP 7:
If you can’t read it, don’t eat it! If you find ingredients listed on your food labels that you can’t read or pronounce then simply don’t eat it. Most of the harmful preservatives and artificial ingredients have very complex names so instead, choose fresh foods that come in natures packaging, fruits and vegetables!
STEP 8:
Take a long, warm bath. Relaxation alone boosts the cleansing effects of the body. By adding a cup of Epsom salts to your bath you alkalinize the water, which helps to neutralize acidic toxins. Epsom salt also helps the body absorb magnesium-a, which is required for hundreds of different cellular functions.
STEP 9:
Dry brush to help stimulate your lymphatic system. Dry brushing is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that promotes circulation and detoxification. It feels great and is very relaxing. Dry brushing is performed on clean, dry, bare skin using light pressure and working away from the heart.
STEP 10:
Go organic! Study after study from independent organizations consistently shows that organic food is higher in nutrients than traditional foods. Organic foods are also free of neurotoxins that damage the brain and nerve cells. Eating organic may reduce your risk of cancer by eliminating herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides from your diet. If detoxification is high on your list of healthy priorities then choosing organic foods is a must.
These easy to follow approaches to overall cleansing and detoxification will help your body get rid of some accumulated waste while also ridding it of energy-zapping toxins. You’ll look better, have more stamina, and open up your reserves of vitality!
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