By Angie Comer
Now that we’re wrapping up the spring season, why not clean your body as well as your home? This is the perfect time of year to give your health a boost, and prepare for summer. Summertime is right around the corner, and with the change in season comes the unavoidable task of spring cleaning. While uncluttering one’s home is usually the first thing that comes to mind, we rarely think about giving ourselves a spring cleaning — or should I say spring cleansing.
The human body is great at detoxifying itself, but today’s modern world exposes us to so many impurities and pollutants that our bodies simply can’t keep up with the toxic overload.
Detoxification essentially means cleaning the blood. This is done by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, and skin. However, if this system is compromised, impurities cannot be properly filtered, which in turn adversely affect your entire body.
Here are some tips to help jumpstart your spring cleansing.
Lighten up your toxin load. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars and saturated fats. All of these act as toxins in the body and are obstacles to your healing process.
Replace animal products. Meat and dairy products create an acidic environment that opens the door to disease. Give your body a break from the acid, and choose alkalinizing plant-based foods, such as leafy greens, cucumbers and avocados. Some other great plant-based protein sources include lentils, hemp seeds and chia seeds.
In addition, start your day with hot water and lemon to help alkalize your body and further jump-start your detox.
Drop toxic products. Minimize the use of chemical-based household cleaners and personal health care products. Many of today’s household cleaners and personal cosmetics are loaded with carcinogens and other health destroying ingredients. Substitute these items for natural alternatives.
Sweat it out. Go to a hot spa, hot yoga class, or take an Epsom salt bath. Our skin is our largest organ, and sweating can be an effective method of detox.
Reduce your stress levels. Stress triggers your body to release cortisol into your system, and while this hormone can provide the adrenaline rush, large amounts can create a toxic build-up, which can slow down detoxification enzymes found in the liver. Yoga and meditation are simple and effective ways to relieve stress by resetting your physical and mental reactions to the inevitable stressors in life.
Drink at least two quarts of water a day. Water carries nutrients to our cells, aids digestion by forming stomach secretions, flushes our bodies of wastes, and keeps our kidneys healthy. Without enough water flowing through our systems to carry out wastes and toxins, those pollutants can build up and wreak havoc on our bodies.
What is the most important way to detoxify? Exercise.
Spring is the perfect season for detoxification. With nature already trying to clear out the toxins, it’s up to you to help your body efficiently detoxify. Take advantage of this change in season and give yourself the healthy boost you need to step out of the doldrums of winter and prepare for the summer sun.