As the days lengthen and winter releases it’s icy grip do your thoughts turn to spring cleaning?  What does spring cleaning mean to you? Visions that might come to mind are opening windows to air out the house, mopping floors, dusting hard to reach areas, shaking out rugs, washing windows, and storing winter clothes.  Our homes feel lighter, brighter and cleaner after the process.  But, have you ever considered doing a similar cleansing and rejuvenation for your body? Now is a wonderful time to lighten up and clean out winters sludge. A good internal cleanse sends your body on vacation.  Often restful and revitalizing, cleansing and detoxing also helps us create healthier lifestyle habits.

Research has shown that today’s toxic environment exposes us daily to harmful chemicals that can affect our health.  This exposure comes from a variety of sources such as pesticides in food, airborne pollutants, industrial chemicals in water, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical drugs.  Body burden studies estimate that each one of us carries in our bodies at least 700 contaminants!

These toxins overwhelm our bodies natural ability to detoxify and can cause fatigue, joint pain, digestive issues, headaches, and other symptoms of dis-ease.  Doing a spring cleanse will energize your health and boost your body’s ability to handle toxins.

Here are 7 ideas to get started:

1. Water yourself – Start the day with warm water and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Hydrate with pure water and herbal teas. Try to drink at least 2 quarts of pure water daily to help flush out toxins.  Take a break from coffee, soda, and alcohol.
2. Veg out – Increase the amount of fresh veggies in your diet, preferably organic.  Include beets, garlic, onions, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale and collards as they help support the liver’s detoxification process.
3. Fill up with fiber – Fiber speeds up the removal of toxins from the bowel, reducing your exposure.  Whole fruits, vegetable and beans are rich in fiber.  Try sprinkling ground flax seeds on your oatmeal, salads, or add to a smoothie.
4. Clean up your act – Eat a healthy diet by reducing the amount of refined and packaged foods.  Take a break from flour and sugar.
5. Get moving – Exercise stimulates blood circulation and the movement of lymphatic fluid supporting the flow of wastes out of the body.
6. Sweat it out – Therapies such as saunas, hot baths, and exercise promote the excretion of toxins thru the skin.  Be sure to sweat for 15-30 minutes several times a week.
7. Relax – enjoy a warm bath with Epsom salts to soothe, relax, and detoxify.