Spring is here and Summer is on its way! The start of each season presents an opportune time for internal cleansing and detoxing. By now, most have completed Spring cleaning in their homes and vowed to kick junk food and workout consistently in preparation for swimsuit season, but how about a seasonal cleanse to rejuvenate and stimulate the internal body?
Spring is a time of new life and fresh energy. Those residing in environments with harsh winters may have gained a few extra pounds of physical and emotional weight as a result of sluggish winter energy, cold weather, shorter days, and heartier meals. Stored in those extra few pounds could be a host of toxins that should be released from the body come Springtime.
A spring cleanse can be a helpful tool in activating internal organs, shedding excess waste, and getting the renewal pathways of our bodies churning again. Spring cleansing also prepares the body for exposure to pollen and other allergens that emerge as Winter comes to an end. First, toxins stored within the body are released. These toxins may otherwise cause disease, joint pain, acne, inflammation, or fatigue. Second, a Spring cleanse can optimize immune defenses because it promotes digestive function where up to 80% of our immune system is stored.
New to Cleansing? Keep it simple by combining one or more of these methods or cycling through them as we move through Spring.
Seven ways to create a gentle Spring cleanse:
- Give up sugary drinks and commit to drinking water only for a period of time. Aim for 3 liters or half your weight in ounces each day. Add lemon or lime for an added cleansing boost.
- Focus on consuming seasonal fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies that are in season will naturally give your body the “Spring” nutrition it needs and may reduce your exposure to preservatives and pesticides.
- Go raw more often. Eat completely raw for one meal and one snack each day, consume raw meals for 2-3 days at a time, or aim to make 70% of each meal consumed consist of raw food.
- Get outdoors and get things moving. Take a 10-30 minute walk outside every day to improve circulation and reap the benefits of fresh air and sunshine.
- Breathe like a yogi. Practice five or more minutes of Uujayi breathing each day, perhaps upon waking and after eating dinner.
- Get some good bacteria. Add a daily probiotic or consume more probiotic rich, fermented foods such as miso soup, kimchi, cultured dairy, sauerkraut, kombucha, tempeh, and pickles to support your digestive system and immune function.
- Focus your attention on the liver. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine suggest Spring as the best time for liver cleansing. While some liver cleanses can be intense and daunting for a person new to detoxing, the following offer gentle cleansing for the liver: dandelion, milk thistle, turmeric, and burdock root. Herbal tea blends with these ingredients can be found in your local natural food store.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/detox-your-body-with-a-spring-cleanse.html/2
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/11-detox-tips-for-a-super-spring-cleanse.html/2
http://www.naturalnews.com/041944_liver_function_detox_medicinal_herbs.html
http://womensquest.com/blog/2012/04/30/easy-spring-cleanse-for-the-liver/
http://www.naturalnews.com/043821_detox_breathing_techniques_pranayama.html
