Spring is certainly considered the best season of the year. Most people are fond of this season, inspiring poets and bringing love in the air. It is the season of the new beginnings, plans and projects and the season for stretching out after a long winter. Less light and longer nights can have a huge impact on both our psyches and our internal rhythms and this is why the arrival of spring is widely celebrated as it brings a flourish of new opportunities. Widely called the queen of seasons, spring is always the perfect season for a detox program.
From winter we commonly carry to spring two main issues to treat: weight excess along with energy stagnation and a lack of minerals that brings some weakness/tireness.
How to purify and re-energise your body
I’m not a fan of drastic changes, radical diets or intense fasting after a long indulging winter. Psychologically it creates an averse association about purifying your body, mainly because it’s like punishing yourself after having been rewarded. A detox program can be fun, and easy to undertake. You just need to follow these very simple steps. Only one at a time, introduce them slowly and don’t push yourself too hard. Purifying and revitalising your body will bring you a healthier lifestyle, harmony and balance.
Here are some steps to start with:
Slow Chewing:
Improves digestion
Reduces the total amount of food intake
Generates a relaxing mood
Makes us more patient and clear minded
Fortifies teeth and gums
Stimulates endocrine system
Practice visualisation
5-10 min/ day (nature, river, water detoxifying body...) our mind is a very powerful tool reaching results with our body.
Establish meals schedule
Establishing routines helps us getting back more balance and stimulates enhancing human body function. Besides, it will save you from nibbling all day long therefore avoiding higher calories ingestion.
Increase veggies vs. meats
Discover vegetable proteins
Seitan (wheat gluten)
Tofu (coagulation of soy milk)
tempeh (soy beans fermentation from Indonesia)
Legumes (kidney beans, lentils, peas...)
Seeds (pumpkin)
Kale, broccoli, soy beans, avocados...
Detox doesn't mean fasting
Increase detox fruits and veggies in your diet. Here are some examples of veggies (red radish, mushrooms, leek, celery, ginger, garlic, onion, Artichokes, asparagus, beetroot, fennel, cucumber...) herbs (mint, parsley, coriander, basil and chives) sprouts (alfalfa, mustard, soy, watercress) and fruits (blueberries, apples, grapefruit, lemon, cranberries, and pineapple) to introduce in your diet.
Decrease buns, cakes and breads, salt and salty snacks, fried food, animal fats, and refined sugars.
And if you fancy a cuppa... Here are 5 herbal teas to help you detoxify your bloodstream
You don't need to have them all together you might just prefer to include your favourite one into your everyday tea blend:
Arctium lappa, commonly called greater burdock
Urtica, commonly called nettle
Taraxacum officinale, commonly called dandelion
Sambucus nigra flower, commonly called elderberry
Hyssopus Officinalis, commonly called hyssop.
Increasing minerals ingestion to revitalise your body
One of the main causes for energetic stagnation and physical weakness/tiredness is a lack of minerals. This might be due to: the food we ingest that makes us to expend more minerals from our internal reserves like red meats or alcohol, living under stress and a fast pace of life, excessive consumption of raw food that have a high vitamin and fibre content yet it dilutes very easily our body minerals due to its high water/liquid content or suffering some kidney malfunction, the organ in charge to balance sodium and potassium.
There are different ways for you to reinforce your mineral ingestion and keeping optimal your mineral levels besides the inclusion of natural mineral supplements.
A diet based on whole grains, vegetable and organic proteins, fresh veggies, seasonal fruits, seaweeds and some natural condiments will bring us the vitality and strength we’re looking for. If you’re following this type of diet and you still feel weak and tired there are 5 points you need to check:
Continuity
Daily practice of this diet is mandatory in order to obtain the results we’re looking for.
Gut health
Optimal gut health and function is paramount in order to absorb properly all the nutrients and enjoy a healthy life.
Drastic protein switch
As mentioned earlier making a radical change is never a good way to go, if you’d like to switch to only vegetal proteins do it gradually, organic meats are a good alternative too.
Proportions
We need sugar to think, talk, study, walk... but we need a good quality sugar: cereals and raw unrefined sugars are good options.
Cooking styles
Have you had a look on how are you eating? Have a look on our previous blog posts Unfolding your potencial and The alchemical transformation through food (you will find below) and check which is the most suitable cooking style for you now.
And if you still lack on minerals think about increasing the intake of: seaweeds, salt, organic tamari, and miso.
In conclusion, don’t go wild with fasting diets wiping out the fun. As the days get longer your spirit will feel lighter and your mood uplifted. By following these simple steps and introducing small changes –that will feel natural because of the season, light and temperature - you will feel revitalised, more active and good in your own skin like never before. Always follow your intuition to unfold your alchemy.
Wishing you a magical week!
Sonia x