Spring Cleaning your Body

For good mental and physical health, we actually have two “houses” that need to be spring-cleaned: our physical homes and our physical bodies.  Just as we accumulate “stuff” in the form of outgrown clothes, magazines, and old junk, so do our bodies accumulate old food residues and toxins that need to be cleaned out.

Cleansing means paring down your food to simple whole foods and getting rid of processed and heavy foods.   You are basically giving your body a break and can do it gently through eating clean foods or fasting for a period of time.

It’s always a good idea to also clean out your home of toxins you may be coming into contact with such as toxic cleaners, body care products (like soap, shampoo, conditioners, makeup, fragrances, anti-antiperspirants etc.) and plastics and certain cookware that are in your kitchen (BPA and teflon).

Well, just as nature has it, spring brings produce that is excellent for detoxing!

1.  Asparagus is an amazing spring crop and was once called the “food of kings” by Louis XIV of France.  It has loads of fiber, iron, B vitamins and vitamin C. Asparagus has been known to have diuretic and laxative effects, both detoxing properties.

2. Radishes have amazing anti-oxidants and are part of the cruciferous family known for its cancer fighting properties.  Radishes have special compounds in them that are great to detox the liver.

3.  Artichokes helps the liver and kidneys detox.  It includes liver protecting agents like cynarin, a compound that stimulates the liver and gallbladder.  They are loaded with fiber to help things move through you, and have iron, potassium, magnesium, folate and vitamin C.

4.  Parsley is loaded with vitamins and minerals.  It’s a natural diuretic that helps with bloating and water retention, without the loss of potassium but at the same time helps the body rid of toxins. Parsley also has strong anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce swelling and helps with arthritis.

5.  Cilantro actually is thought to release heavy metals in the body by binding with them and carrying them out of the body.  Contains vitamins A, C, and K.

6.  Leafy greens, where to start!  They are so good for cleansing the body, from clearing up skin, blood purification, liver cleaner, diuretic, and moving things through the colon with fiber.  So many vitamins and minerals, leafy greens are some of the most nutrient dense veggies available.

Notice how many of these veggies help the liver?  Our liver is our body’s detoxing organ and taking care of our liver will naturally help us detox the rest of our bodies.

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water to help aid in toxin removal.  You want to limit meat, dairy and sugar during a detox as they aren’t as easy to digest (and we all need to cut down our sugar intake!) as well as simple carbs like processed wheat products.

Spring makes it easy to be good to your body and clean out the winter sludge we accumulate.

If you find you would like help to do a gentle detox cleanse, contact me at devi@simplywholebydevi.com!