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Spring Cleanse

Spring is the time of renewal and abundance. Now is a good time to assess whether what we have been doing to nourish ourselves is really working. How do you feel? How do you look? Are you healthy? Our body is the result of our life. Our genetics, our upbringing, our lifestyle, our diet, our exercise levels, and our stresses are all influential. Even illnesses that we have had over time and how we went about treating them can be a factor. So what can you do? You can start with a positive attitude. Keep in mind that this is the only body you have, so you must think, "I love it, and I am going to take care of it. I want to feel good. I want energy. I want a clear head. I want happiness." You will likely eat better and exercise and make sure you get proper sleep and can deal with stressors. Attitude is really an important factor. When you commit to a spring cleanse your body will feel lighter and clearer. You will learn to shift the enjoyment of certain foods to the enjoyment of feeling good and healthy. Many people would eat a diet primarily made up of items that really do not warrant the title of food: processed, convenience foods, fast foods, cakes, cookies, sodas and chips. Those are not foods we should be eating. When you start having these foods everyday you become dependent on them. You need them for energy or for relaxation. I will help you create a new, healthy relationship with these things, and to do that, you need to be able to break yourself of them and see what you are doing. Most of us should be focusing on vegetables, fruits, proteins, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds; items I like to refer to as whole foods to offer them the distinction they deserve.

In the winter our digestion is stronger so it is the time we can handle and are nourished by heavier foods, such as warm cooked grains, soups, heavier protein foods, more beans, hot teas, honey, and warm milk. These foods require and create more heat in our bodies. In the spring we plant the seeds of health for the coming year by choosing light fresh foods that are cooling and rejuvenating, like fresh fruits and vegetables. Spring is not a time of heaviness, of feeling weighed down or burdened. Our meals should feel light and airy; heavy foods and foods that weigh us down are anything but spring-like. The greening that occurs in springtime should be represented by greens on your plate. It is a healthy and wise philosophy for us to adapt, rather than get fixed on one, possibly monotonous, diet. There is no such thing as the perfect diet. Each of us is a little bit different, and you can find a good diet that represents you and what you need throughout the cycles of the seasons and the cycles of your life. Ideally you should not eat the exact same way in hot weather as in cold weather; in youth, middle age, pregnancy, and old age.

How do you begin? Take an honest self-assessment: What are you “addicted” to? What do you think of as your habits/abuses? How ready are you to pause from them? Now, write up a plan: state what you will do, for how long, and what you wish to achieve. The benefits you may expect are improved mental clarity, a feeling of being well, and the lessening of many bothersome “symptoms”. If you experience any of the following, you can lessen them too: lower your body weight, your blood pressure, your cholesterol level, and blood sugar levels.

Your spring cleanse depends upon what you want to do and where you are starting from. It can take many forms – you can emphasize whole, minimally processed foods with an abundance of vegetables and adequate water intake (~2 quarts); if you want to reduce your pesticide burden you can focus on eating organic foods; you could focus on minimizing your exposure to toxic chemicals and drugs; you can take a fiber supplement; you can do breath work; massage; yoga; exercise; colonics; fasting; bentonite clay; meditation; saunas; or a combination of any of these. Your cleanse could last anywhere from 1 – 2 weeks – maybe some changes will last a lifetime. Remember it is not all or nothing – it is moderation and consideration in what you eat, what you do, what you think and feel. Enjoy!

Jennifer Foege MS, CN All Rights Reserved