Hold On! ...winter will end

For those of us here in Michigan or somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, the beginning of March is a bit like a light at the end of a long, cold tunnel!  As the cold days with fewer daylight hours turn to longer and (a bit) warmer days; we may find ourselves getting Spring Fever!

This Spring Fever may have us wanting a change of pace that usually includes shedding some winter weight and or wanting to DETOX and CLEANSE.  These words have become very popular over the last few years.  And with good reason - we are exposed to so many toxins on a daily basis.  But here's what you need to know if you are thinking about doing a cleanse or some detoxing this spring.

I know you're anxious to lighten up your body, mind and spirit.  Hear me out.  This is not your body's best time to do a deep cleanse.  Not yet.

You see, when we welcome fall and winter, our diet changes from the cooling, energizing raw foods that are abundant during our summer months; to root veggies with their comforting, starchy and warming energy.  These colder temps can lead to cravings for richer ”comfort” foods as well as a slower and more inward pace.  Some of my friends joke that they hibernate during these months and there is some truth to this!  This is a natural process.  Just look outside - all of nature is hibernating right now.  Paying attention to nature's cues  will ensure your body has the warmth it needs to digest your food well and keep your health balanced.  

Now, I realize that we aren’t trying to stay warm in caves.  But, we do have access to almost any fruit and vegetable at any given time of the year so it can be tricky to eat  what's actually in season so that our bodies follow their natural cycles.  

That said, I understand that all these heavy, nourishing foods can make you feel more heavy and maybe even a little stagnate when you start to feel spring coming!  With this turn of the weather we all start to feel ready for the rejuvenation that spring brings.  This is why spring naturally brings greens that are especially cleansing and nourishing for our elimination organs (Liver and Gallbladder). Nature has it all taken care of.  You just need to be patient!

So don’t start that raw juice cleanse just yet!  You’re body still needs warming foods this time of year.  And just as it would be too much to ask the ground to start growing a garden right now; it is too much to ask your body to digest cold, raw foods when the weather is still cold.  

So what is one to do with this itch to welcome spring and start lightening up?  

Here are 10 ways you can help your body make this transition well:

1) Drink Bone Broth.  Bone broth is warming, nourishing and hearty without being heavy.  It is full of minerals and is easy to digest.  It is also packed with Glycine which is a building block of glutathione, one of your body's most powerful detoxifying agents.  Bone broth is also filled with collagen which will not only give you a beautiful, healthy glow; it will also help you reduce cellulite!

2) Do a little Intermittent Fasting.  Intermittent fasting can be as simple as waiting to eat until lunchtime.  Unless you're eating in the middle of the night, you're already fasting while you sleep, so extending this by a few hours can give your body a chance to "take out the trash" at a cellular level by allowing the body to focus on clearing toxins instead of digesting food.  Just make sure you break this fast with a nutrient dense meal of good fats and plenty of vegetables.  

3) Drink warm Lemon water first thing in the morning and stay hydrated throughout the day.  Many of us feel sluggish because we simply are not drinking enough water!  Start your day with warm Lemon water to stimulate the liver and gallbladder and help your body flush out toxins.  Then make sure you're drinking half of your body weight in ounces per day!  

5) Dry skin brush.  Dry skin brushing before you jump in the shower is a great way to help you transition into spring!  It helps your body eliminate toxins and  reduces cellulite by increasing circulation and stimulating the lymphatic system.  Start at the feet and brush in small patches upward toward the heart where the lymphatic system drains.  

6) Add chlorophyll to your water bottle.  Chlorophyll is great for helping to replenish our red blood cells as well as blocking the metabolism of harmful chemicals in our system.  It is great for reducing inflammation and promotes good digestive health which is central to overall health.  As a strong antioxidant, it is also great for its anti-aging effects.   

7) Journal and or practice mindfulness daily.  Even if  you're not someone who enjoys journaling year round, journaling or being mindful of your thoughts can bring awareness to your mental and emotional life.  Negativity, worry, and judgement may be weighing you down and you aren't even aware!  Start with observing your thoughts and putting your feelings into words.  The idea is to become aware of your thoughts and emotions and be mindful of the space they are taking in your life so you can begin to make a more empowering choice about what's filling your head! 

8) Take and Epsom Salt Bath.  Epsom salt baths are a great way to help you detoxify.  Epsom salt is actually a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate.  The sulfates in Epsom salt help flush toxins and heavy metals from your cells.  This is also great for clearing your body's electromagnetic field especially if you have had a lot of stress or negativity in your life.  Add a cup to your bath and soak for 30-45 minutes.  

10) Breathe.  The way you breathe says a lot about how you are living.   Breathing is absolutely essential to life, but it’s often overlooked as a necessity for good health. Breathing fully is one of the most powerful keys to enhancing physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing because it allows us on the emotional level to tune into what we are feeling.  Just look at how your breathing changes when you are stressed.  It becomes more shallow.  And if you watch a baby you see the breathe into their entire body.  Many people have closed off this deeper connection to the stop feeling and don't even realize it.  Just give it a try.  Start with 5 minutes per day of deep belly breathing.  Chances are it will be tiring for you at first.  You may even have emotions come up to be released.  But eventually you will feel more energized and alive by allowing your breath to inhabit all of you.  Releasing these tensions and emotions will contribute to your feeling lighter and more energized.