Renew Your Vitality in Spring

Spring is a season of new beginnings and possibilities and time to ‘spring clean’ our bodies and minds. During winter we can often stay indoors more, snuggle up and eat more comfort food.  So when the warmer weather arrives our systems and energy can tend to be slow and sluggish due to increased toxins in the bloodstream. This is a time to regenerate healthy cells in our tissues, organs and systems and restore natural vigour but also a perfect time to release mental cobwebs to awaken and heal our minds and emotions.

Spring Clean Your Diet

A cleansing diet is the ultimate “tonic” that helps prevent disease, supports natural biological systems, and simply make us feel more energised. The following dietary suggestions are cleansing, but more importantly, they can also be incorporated into a long term eating plan to enhance health and vitality.

Reduce your intake of animal protein, particularly red meat and dairy. Eliminate factory-farmed animal products, as they are laden with chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics. Instead, buy organic free range meat and eggs and increase your intake of organic plant proteins and green vegetables. Eating vegetables raw increase enzymes in the body and improves digestion. Avoid foods in your diet that promote inflammation such as refined and processed foods, sugar, trans fats, alcohol, and caffeine.

Incorporate alkaline foods.  One side effect of cold weather is that acidity builds up in the blood and tissues leading to aches and pains and reduced immunity. Alkalizing foods such as asparagus, lemon, cucumber, kale, sea vegetables, parsley, sprouts, spinach, avocado and broccoli are all excellent in helping to counter acidity and help the body shed toxins (and weight!).

Lemon Juice & Apple Cider Vinegar – are both wonderful digestive stimulants and alkalisers. Kick start your digestion and liver first thing in the morning by drinking the juice of half a lemon in warm water before breakfast. (Please note: it is important to wait until after breakfast before brushing your teeth to protect them from any acidic residue from the lemon juice). And/or try having 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a small glass of water before main meals as this will improve digestion.

Always hydrate

Ensure an adequate intake of purified water, herbal teas and vegetable broths. Reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol as these dehydrate.

Nurture the Gut

Ensure adequate fibre (soluble and insoluble), which will sweep through the colon and help to eliminate toxins from the digestive system and keep it healthy. Slippery elm, rice bran, chia seeds, and flaxseeds (whole and ground) are good sources. In addition, probiotic foods support healthy flora in the digestive tract. Sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, coconut kiefer, plain yoghurt and other fermented foods and drinks offer good sources of probiotics. Supplementing with a high-quality probiotic supplement is also very helpful during a cleanse, as well as afterwards.

Exercise and Mindfulness

Next to a good diet, exercise is the most important thing we can do to ensure good health and vitality. When we want to cleanse the body, exercise performs two important functions. Firstly, it boosts metabolism and circulation to encourage elimination of toxins. Secondly, it assists in reducing body fat, which also stores toxins. Simply – move as regularly as possible. Develop a manageable daily exercise routine and enjoy other physical activites such as walking to the shops or playing with your children.

As well as removing physical toxins, many of us also have mental and emotional “baggage” that needs to be released, otherwise it suppresses our overall sense of wellbeing. The stress, anxiety, and neural hyperactivity that come with modern life actually inhibit physical detoxification and weaken health in numerous areas. Studies have even shown that pessimism can negatively affect aspects of our genetic expression, increasing our risk of depression, heart disease, cancer and other ‘dis-ease’ in the body.

The practice of mindfulness –  or ‘staying in the moment’ has proven to reduce cortisol, the primary stress hormone, and improve numerous areas of health, including cognitive function, cardiovascular wellness, immunity, and more. Methods to improve mindfulness include meditation (moving and still), yoga and getting out and connecting with nature. Essentially, mindfulness practices support our innate detoxification capacities and boost our overall health and vitality.

Tongue Scrapping & Dry Skin Brushing

These are two Aryuvedic methods of reducing toxins which can be easily included in a daily routine.

Tongue Scrapping – clears out toxic deposits that are released overnight. It also reduces foods cravings as taste improves. Tongue scrapping can be done using a tongue scrapper or the side of a metal spoon which is placed as far back on the tongue as possible and is then drawn forward applying slight pressure. Wash off toxic residue and repeat the process about 2-3 times.

Dry Skin Brushing – your skin is an organ of elimination and 1/3 of our impurities are eliminated through the skin. Dry skin brushing helps remove these toxins, keeps the pores clear and skin active and encourages cell renewal. As we age our bodies become less effective in doing this and dead skin can build up and and result in a thick, dry and/or slightly leathery look. This practice helps to stimulate sweat and oil glands providing more moisture to the skin and keeps the skin toned and fresh.

Before a shower and using a natural bristle brush you brush in small circular motions starting from the feet. You continue this process up the body, including the arms finishing around the heart. Your shower will wash off the dead cells.

Helpful Supplements

Selected botanical supplements and nutraceuticals can encourage detoxification of heavy metals, pesticides and other toxins in the digestive tract and circulatory system. They also reduce inflammation and improve immunity. In cases where a thorough detoxification is necessary it is important to take a comprehensive approach to pull toxins from the organs and other tissues.

In clinical practice I like to use herbs such as milk thistle, dandelion, coriander and also garlic, chlorella and medicinal mushrooms. Lemon juice also helps remove toxins and is an excellent tonic for the liver and gall bladder. In addition, plant-based ingredients like cardamom, licorice, and cinnamon and enzymes like amylase, lipase, and protease accelerate detoxification and support healthy digestion.

Make a Plan

Remember, a spring cleanse is a wonderful opportunity to refresh and renew yourself. This can be a simple plan which simplifies and refreshes the food you eat and gets you moving more and breathing deeply. Otherwise you can make a program which can be as short as three days or can be continued up to 21 days or longer. I find most people do best with a 10- to 14-day cleanse and wellbeing plan. Create some healthy detoxification meal recipes and incorporate them into your plan. Visit local farmer markets and stock up on foods and herbs you need. Schedule specific times to exercise which can be as easy as a 30-minute walk each day. Importantly, make room for meditation or short periods of mindfulness.

At first these efforts may seem difficult, but as you begin with small changes and start to shed toxins, the vitality and energy you receive in return will help you stay committed. Remember – enjoy the transformative process along the way :)