How to Cleanse Your Body for Spring
The following article was written by Heinen’s Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek RD, LD. The following post was inspired by Andrea Slobodian.
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Spring is in the air! With the anticipation of the new season comes a lot of excitement and a strong desire to clean out our life. We all know what it is to spring clean our house, but what about spring cleaning for our body?
Most people feel a little intimidated by the idea of body cleansing. They think they’ll be running to the bathroom every five minutes, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Your body is an amazing creation with inherent wisdom. When provided the proper resources, it will always default to finding physical harmony, balance, and health.
I consider cleansing as a continuum: any step up, or a few steps up, from where you are will help your body be in a better place. Take some time to evaluate where you are and what would be an improvement.
Cleansing 101
The point of a cleanse is to reduce the toxic load you take in and lighten the burden on your digestive system. This is achieved by incorporating specific foods and herbs into your meals, drinking more water, and by getting quality exercise.
The body stores toxins in fat cells and will produce extra fat cells to store toxins it cannot remove. Other Fx-approved foods supports the elimination of these toxins, helping you achieve optimal health. Addressing factors like stress and lack of sleep is important too because they can interfere with the body’s natural detoxification system.
There is no exact formula for cleansing. It’s best to customize a cleanse that will work for you and to go into it with a sense of ease. Take it slowly and work your way up, especially if you’ve been eating a diet high in processed foods with additives and preservatives.
I recommend starting with a one-to-three-day cleanse and repeating it once a month or when the seasons change.
Things to Eliminate During a Cleanse
If the thought of removing all the food on this list seems overwhelming, pick just a few to start and add as you feel comfortable.
- Alcoholic beverages
- Processed sugars and sugar substitutes (including stevia)
- Condiments, commercial salad dressings, iodized salt
- Caffeine and caffeinated beverages (including tea)
- Beverages with added sugar
- Processed and bleached white flour and/or grains
- Dairy, including yogurt (it is harder to digest)
- Animal-based protein (if you must eat meat, choose baked or broiled chicken and fish)
Things to Add During a Cleanse
First, get mentally and emotionally prepared for your cleanse by making a commitment to yourself and one other person who can offer emotional support and accountability. Next, clear your schedule to help you stay focused.
Here are 10 tips to help you stay in the cleansing game.
1. Drink eight ounces of hot water with 1-2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice or Lakewood Organic Pure Lemon Juice first thing in the morning.
2. Eat a diet with a minimum of 50-70% fresh, lightly steamed vegetables. Eliminate canned and frozen varieties and choose in-season produce when possible.
3. Sprinkle some fresh herbs on your meals. Organic cilantro is one of the most detoxifying herbs available in Heinen’s Produce Department.
4. Include low sugar fruits like berries, apples, and pears.
5. Eat more green leafy vegetables! They are especially cleansing, as are functional food powders like Heinen’s Organic Spirulina Powder, Bare Organics Chlorella and Bare Organics Wheatgrass (all found in Heinen’s Wellness Department).
6. Drink more pure water.
7. Enjoy teas or herbal supplements that support detoxification. Traditional Medicinals Dandelion Tea, Yogi Detox Tea, and Himalaya Livercare are three great choices.
8. Walk 30 minutes a day and get lots of fresh air.
9. Do lots of deep breathing to oxygenate your body.
10. Commit to getting at least seven hours of quality sleep each night.
How to End Your Cleanse
Take care to break your cleanse slowly. Ideally, you will transition back to a whole food-based diet over a period of two to three days for every day that you cleansed. Breaking it with pizza or fast food will defeat the entire purpose. The point is to make this a part of your life, not a temporary fix.
Treat yourself to a non-food reward when you complete the cleanse. See a new movie, schedule a massage or buy yourself a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Heinen’s top-notch Floral Department!
Key Takeaway
Cleansing is an upgrade from a whole-food diet. It can be quite effective because you are working with your body on a cellular level. It needs to be taken seriously because if done improperly, you can do more harm than good. Educate yourself, work with a holistic doctor or a trusted and proven program based on real food.
Whether you’re looking to cleanse or simply want to optimize your health, through our Club Fx program, Heinen’s Wellness Consultants can provide individualized support to help you reach your goals.
