We survived winter. It was a tough season, and not just because of the weather.   It began with a flu scare -- a somewhat media induced panic attack.   

 

All in all, winter is winter, and it's going to happen again in about 8 month's time.     The great things about winter are that we get to eat heavier meals, hibernate a little, get a new wardrobe and most of all, it makes spring seem all the more wonderful.

Spring is here filled with hopes and dreams of a summer, just around the corner. The grass is getting greener each day flowers are popping up and the days are getting longer and warmer.

As the Earth unveils its newness and creatures return from hibernation, the human race catch Spring Fever and begin to clean up and get excited about summer, and bikini season--or not!

It's a natural urge to clean when spring comes. We throw open the doors and windows. We get rid of unwanted things. Then we take the mop and bucket to the walls, floors, appliances, cupboards and closets. We even clean our cars and yard. It's a mad dash to make everything shiny clean.

This urge is natural and it's most likely coming from a deeper source; our internal need to detoxify the body.

Cleansing

Cleansing has become a modern day buzz word that terrifies more people than it excites.   There are many different types, from weekend fasts to full 28 day detox's. There are more pills, powders and procedures available today than one could ever count, and most have their time and place.   

Some cleanses can stress the body and can be hard to follow, or stay on. Others give a false sense of good health as you pop pills and eat whatever you want. I'll never understand this approach.

You are a lean, mean, health seeking machine. Your body is constantly cleansing. Your lymph, kidneys, lungs and intestines are working nonstop on this very process. When we over feed the body we slow things down. When it comes in faster and heavier than what the body can handle, we need to help it out. Letting the body rest and recover, if you will, from the overload of toxins that we've been exposed to: pollutants in the air, chemicals in our water, hormones and additives in our foods.

The body can only take so much before it is overloaded.  It then begins to store unnecessary garbage in our tissues.  Enter the cleansing ninja's.

It could be time for a cleanse if you find you've got some of the following:

 

I prefer a temperate cleanse in the Spring, with real food.  Giving the body a much needed rest to recover and restore. It's a way to transition from the heavy food of winter, to the lighter fresher foods of spring/summer.   It helps to shed the extra p*unds packed on over winter.  It also improves sleep, energy, skin tone, mood and overall health. 

 Cleansing Principles

Addressing any one of the following principles is beneficial. Hitting them all will yield best results. It could take several cleanses to clean the body, and it may occur over several years.  You will certainly see results each time, even the first time.

1/ Remove harmful & high maintenance substances

Eliminate toxins and follow a hypo-allergenic or clean diet: this means no: sugar, dairy, gluten, heated oil, meat, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, processed foods or artificial additives (including sweeteners), fake foods.

2/ Increase cleansing & building foods

Raw produce are easy to digest and yield the highest nutrient density.  Cooking destroys enzymes and changes the nutritional value. Try to eat as much produce as you can in the whole raw state: the state it was born in.    Juicing is even better, as it allows the body to restore and rebuild as it isn't working overtime to process the food.   

Email me for some great raw recipes to add to your spring menu. 
  
3/ Maximize exit route functions 

No sense stirring things up, unless you're able to move things out. Autointoxication could put you in a worse state than before you started. Clear the exits, which are the skin, lungs, kidneys and intestines.  That's right, pee, poop, breathe and sweat to eliminate toxins. Get and keep these working well.  Drink 2-3 litres of water a day, away from food, and get sweating with exercise.  As things move out, you'll begin to feel lighter and morerefreshed. 

 
Helping the Body
The following are simple steps you can take, to help the body during a cleanse:

* Start each day with 2 cups of water, plus the juice of ½ lemon and 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper. This should be consumed 20 minutes prior to other food or drink. 

* Eat only fruit, or all fruit smoothies until noon each day.   Fruit passes through our digestive system quickly when eaten by itself. Its light and easy on the system, but filled with nutrients and enzymes that our bodies need for energy. 

  
* Warm bath with 1.5 cups of Epsom salts for 20 minutes every other evening. This helps detoxify the skin and relax the body for a deeper sleep. 

If you're interested in a more serious approach or structured cleanse, test drive the DIY 7 Day Mini Cleanse or deeper version The 4 Week Group Cleanse Program at Vitasential Group Cleanse Program

 

As the Earth unveils its NEWness, I encourage you to unveil your YOU-ness.   May you have spring in your step every waking moment of your day.

Until next time, eat like your life depends on it, and let your inner glow emerge. 

Send me your comments and challenges. Let me know what you are doing to ensure a happy healthy 2010, or what you're struggling with to incorporate a better healthy lifestyle. Email me at jody@vitasential.ca