It’s spring and there’s no better time to lighten up your diet! There are so many cleanses to choose from between the master cleanse, juice cleanses, green smoothies and more, but unless you’re working with someone who can guide you as to what would be best for YOUR body I suggest cleansing simply by cleaning up your diet for a week.
Here’s how:
Start your day with a tall drink of room temperature water and make sure to get enough throughout the day.
Focus on green vegetables. Bitter, leafy greens are known for having a cleansing effect, aim for at least one to three servings per day of leafy greens in addition to your other veggies. Lightly steamed veggies are a great choice for cleansing. If you prefer to stick with raw salads always be sure to dress them in high quality oil such as olive, avocado or flax oil.
Spring is a good time to eat foods that will support the liver and gallbladder, which are the body’s natural detoxifiers. Foods that support these detoxifying organs include those rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, raw bell peppers, broccoli and parsley; and sulphur-rich foods including asparagus, daikon radish, broccoli, cauliflower, onions and garlic. Raw radishes, with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, provides wonderful support for the gallbladder. Avoiding nuts, seeds and saturated fats during your cleanse also gives the gallbladder a much needed rest.
Eliminate all processed food during your cleanse, and reduce your intake of animal protein or focus on lighter proteins such as wild caught fish or chicken.
Get some rest and relaxation. Try changing your workout routine and incorporate some yoga and meditation and spend some time in a steam room or sauna.
Jacqueline Banks, who grew up in Casa de Campo, is a certified holistic health counselor and busy mother.
Her focus is on helping other busy moms in all stages of motherhood keep themselves and families healthy and happy. She uses natural and organic solutions to solve individual health problems and promote clean living.
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