Who’s ready for a spring cleanse? I love this time of year, the buds on the trees, the flowers and shoots coming up, it’s a time when we awaken from our winter hibernation and get ready for the summer.
Where winter is a time of rest and reflection, as humans we also slow down, spend more time indoors and naturally, in the colder climate, eat more calories to sustain us through the cold months.
And I think we can all agree that after a year in various lockdowns, a lot of us have probably eaten and drank more than we normally do.
Spring is the perfect time for a spring clean of your body, to get rid of the build up of toxins and to build up your immune system for the year ahead, and get ready for summer.
As Robert Ulrich says: ”A healthy outside starts from the inside”.
So read on for some tips on how to manage a spring detox and why it’s good for you.
Why a Spring Cleanse?
Cleansing is a great way for the body to remove toxins, making you feel lighter and full of vitality and energy.
I don’t believe in diets or restrictive detoxes, as so many find them hard to stick to. My message is, find what works for you, it has to be easy and doable and you will stick to it.
There are many types of cleanses. Many people partake in juice cleanses which are great but can be a little high maintenance for some. I normally incorporate one juice daily, especially when doing a cleanse.
If we are honest, although most of us know what we should eat, many of us still consume more sugar, caffeine and alcohol than we should. Pair that with not eating enough fruit and vegetables, and this will put a strain on our internal organs. And when our organs are not in optimal health, that will show up in how we look and feel.
But we can do something about this! The body is pretty amazing and is very good at healing itself when we feed it with the right nutrients and minerals.
First, we need to give a little attention to the major organs which detox the body. They are the liver, kidneys, bowels and skin.
If we put too much strain on these organs, then they won’t be able to get rid of all the toxins accumulated. When the toxins remain in the bloodstream, they can lead to a whole variety of problems.
A Spring Cleanse is a fantastic way to give your body a reset and reboot. It helps to eliminate those toxins, helping your major organs regenerate and recover.
Ways you can cleanse the detoxification organs
Let’s have a look at those organs and what we can do to support them.
Lymphatic system
This is tonsils, bone marrow, spleen and thymus are all part of the lymphatic system. The lymph system has four main functions, it includes protecting your body from illness-causing invaders, maintaining body fluid levels, absorbing digestive tract fats and removing cellular waste. If your lymphatic system is clogged up, you are more likely to store toxins. If our lymphatic system works properly, it is much more difficult to become ill.
Daily movement is an excellent way to help the lymph system eliminate toxins and improve our circulation. Yoga is particularly good for the lymphatic system as the muscle contractions help keep it moving.
Daily skin brushing is also great as it stimulates circulation and removes dead skin cells. I do it using a hard bristle brush, start at the feet and brush upwards towards the heart.
Lymphatic drainage massage once a week is also good. A cheaper alternative is using a foam roller daily.
It’s also important to drink two litres of water a day to flush out the toxins.
Skin
Skin is the largest organ in the body and a major organ of detoxification, it allows toxins both out and in through the layers.
Himalayan salt and Epsom salt baths are fantastic for the skin. A soak for at least 30 minutes will help draw out toxins and absorb magnesium into your body, an essential mineral that has so many benefits.
Ensure you use at least 1kg of salts and add a few drops of essential oils for the ultimate relaxation. Rosemary oil is good for circulation.
Saunas and steam baths are great for getting you to sweat out toxins from the skin. Saunas are considered better, as they make you sweat naturally, allowing the pores to open and sweat out all the toxins. For the ultimate benefit, have a cold shower afterwards, which will wash away toxins.
There is a sauna called infra red which is far more superior to normal saunas and is fantastic for a number of health issues like arthritis.
Contraindications for saunas and steam baths; low blood pressure, pregnancy, heart disease and kidney disease. If you are suffering from a health condition, always ask your doctor before doing a sauna/steam bath.
The Liver
The Liver is the major organ of detoxification, and probably the most overworked organ in the body. Everything you put in your mouth filters through the liver. If you overload it with too much alcohol, caffeine, over the counter medication, prescription drugs and sugar, it will struggle to eliminate all the toxins.
To help the liver, you need to eat organic whole foods. Some foods that are particularly good are; broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, asparagus, beetroots, artichoke, broccoli sprouts, chicory, endive, rocket, lemons, grapefruits, garlic and onions.
Whilst cleaning the liver, it’s important to eliminate alcohol and caffeine and avoid junk food and trans fats.
You can also take liver supporting herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root, rosemary and turmeric.
Again, drink lots of water, at least two litres daily. As I have mentioned before, water eliminates toxins for the body.
The Kidneys
Your kidneys filter the total volume of the blood nearly 300 times a day, producing about 1 litre of urine. The kidneys are responsible for the elimination of toxic protein breakdown, e.g. ammonia, urea, and other toxic elements broken down by the liver.
Drinking plenty of water and avoiding excessive animal protein intake supports the kidneys and takes some load off the liver.
Drinking dandelion leaf tea, celery seed tea and nettle tea aids the kidneys. Avoid table salt which is full of sodium and use pink himalayan salt or nori flakes instead.
The Bowels
The bowels are functioning properly when you are having regular bowel movements every day. If this does not happen, then all the toxins will remain in your blood causing a toxic environment setting you up for illness.
You can help by including fibre in your diet. The daily requirement for fibre is 30g. Fibre will encourage healthy bowel movements. Some foods rich in fibre include whole grains, fruit and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds.
Again drinking two litres of water a day will help.
Get yourself ready for spring
Doing a Spring Cleanse is a great way to boost your immune system and improve your energy levels. It can also result in improved sleep, better skin, weight loss and balanced hormones.
Who does not want all of that?!
I hope you have found this useful and I would love to hear how you get on!
If you have questions or need support, please get in touch.
I’m currently running my Spring Cleanse wake up course. The next one will start 19th April. In my 7 day spring wake-up programme, I will guide you through a series of simple challenges and changes you can make which will improve how you feel about yourself, your sleep, energy levels and weight.
You will get access to a 24/7 WhatsApp group, where I will be on hand for support and guidance and much more. If you would like to find out more please check Coaching Packages or get in touch.