How to Spring Cleanse Your System Naturally
Spring is Here!
It’s amazing what longer, brighter days and warmer weather can do for a persons outlook on life. Things always seem better when the sun is shining. I don’t know about you but my energy immediately increases and I get a huge smile on my face as I shed my layers.
Maybe it’s the same for you.
Do you find yourself waking up more easily? Do you have more energy in the afternoons?
In Spring my diet immediately shifts from heavy warm stews to lighter spring foods. Yes I still eat beans because I love them, and they are a superfood high in fiber which is great for my gut health. This time of year i toss them with whole grain salads vs stewed in heavy curries and vegetable stews. I find lentils a great Spring time transition bean, because they are filling, fiber rich but lighter in texture.
Want to try adding beans to your diet? Try tossing a can of green lentils with spinach and cooked brown rice or quinoa. Add olive oil, lemon and honey dressing for a filling nutritious Spring salad.
Hudson Farmers Market, Hudson, NY
My favorite place to be every time of year is my local farmers market. Eating locally is for me the best way to eat, organic and local is my first choice but eating locally grown non organic food is the second best. Local foods are fresher and provide more nutrition because the food wasn’t shipped across the country to get to your grocery store.
But I know not everyone is used to shopping at their local farmers market. And if you haven’t, or can’t don’t worry, there is plenty of great produce at your local grocery store. Check your grocery store produce aisle to see if they partner with local farms to offer in season produce.
If you do have a farmers market close by, you can use it to help you transition your diet from winter to spring. It’s blood cleansing food season; Fiddle heads, stinging nettles, chives and spring onions are everywhere.
Fiddleheads are a nutritional powerhouse rich in antioxidants, high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and chock full of fiber. They can’t be eaten raw but with a quick rinse, saute them in olive oil, salt and pepper for a yummy side vegetable.
This time of year I take note of what I’ve been eating and how my body feels. As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer I immediately crave spring foods.
I do an audit of my body to see how I feel.
Have I gained weight?
Do I feel heavy and bloated?
Am I waking up with energy?
Do I feel tired in the afternoon?
This year marks my first full year of eating a whole foods vegetarian diet and I’m thrilled to say that my husband and I lost weight. Eating vegetarian, that is a whole foods plant based diet vs. eating meat and processed foods is a sure fire way to lose weight and keep it off. My energy has spiked, my body is less achy and we both lost weight.
Cleansing your system naturally is a great way to boost your energy. You don’t have to do a full overhaul of your diet to make a huge difference in how you feel.
Try adding spinach into your pasta at dinner. Try a meatless Monday. Add avocado to your sandwich at lunch time. Swap out french fries for a whole grain like quinoa or brown rice.
These are just some suggestions to help you naturally cleanse your system with seasonal foods.
But if you are feeling tired all the time and you are ready to see how eating well can help you have more energy and feel better, reach out so we can talk. I’m a lifestyle medicine expert and I want to help you make small changes to your diet and lifestyle that will help you feel better and have more energy. Plain and simple.
If you aren’t ready to take the plunge, grab a copy of this free guide Glorious Greens to learn the benefits of adding greens to your diet.
