How to cleanse and rejuvenate your health for the spring season. By Sebastian Pole
Spring cleanse
Nutrition Zone:
om living
Why do we need to cleanse?
We all build up wastes through the natural course of life. This is
exacerbated by pollution, regular exposure to poor quality foods,
pesticides and pharmaceutical drugs. So, toxins can be internally
generated or come from the outside. We all cleanse naturally every
single day when we wash and go to the bathroom. The main purpose
of cleansing is to enhance our body’s ability to metabolise waste
more effectively. It cleans us of any built-up congestion that occurs
naturally in any tissue or organ as a by-product of everyday living.
The best times of the year to undergo a cleanse are at the turn
of the seasons. Around the spring and autumn equinoxes (March 21
and September 21) are the perfect times to reflect on how you are
living and to implement any health changes. For example, during
the winter months, there may be a build-up of accumulated damp
and mucus; during the summer months, heat and dryness can
accumulate, according to the ayurvedic perspective.
There are also some clear signs we need to cleanse such as
disturbed digestion and elimination, with bloating, acidity, or bad breath.
There may also be reduced resistance to infections with repeated colds
or skin outbreaks. Experiencing foggy thinking and poor memory with
fatigue can also be a sign your digestive system needs a break.How herbs can help our bodies to cleanse in the spring
The main organ in our body that supports natural cleansing and
detoxification is the liver. There are many effective plants that will
boost liver functioning and enhance these processes and some of
the best herbs for the job are those with a characteristically bitter
taste. Plants with a strong green colour indicate the presence of
chlorophyll, a natural antioxidant that protects our body from
damaging free radicals.
Most bitter tasting herbs such turmeric, neem, andrographis and
classic green algae packed with chlorophyll (such as spirulina and
chlorella) are the liver’s best friends, helping to aid detoxification.
Aloe vera juice is also a great, potent and rejuvenating tonic. Use an
aloe vera juice which is 100% organic and made from the inner gelof the whole plant to make the most of your aloe. Finally, ayurveda’s
most renowned formula for cleansing the digestive system is
triphala. Three Indian fruits, amla (high in antioxidants), haritaki and
bibhitaki, remove toxins from the digestive tract.The cleansing diet
Topping up with dark, leafy greens and foods with a slightly bitter
taste will boost liver functioning and stimulate natural cleansing
processes. You can even forage for spring greens which are naturally
abundant just when we need their bitter, cleansing properties.
Examples include wild garlic, nettles and sorrel. Wild garlic is one of
the easiest to collect from shady woodlands and parks.
It’s also important to support healthy circulation and encourage
a healthy blood flow to re-energise and oxygenate the body. So,
warming, stimulating and mildly spicy foods are great during a detox.
Kicharee (an ayurvedic rice and dhal recipe) is known as ‘the food of
the gods’ and is an all-round healing and digestion-kindling meal. It
is the perfect food while you are cleansing. Avoiding mucus-forming
foods such as sugar, dairy and highly processed fats, which are more
difficult for the body to digest and break down, will also support a
more productive cleanse.Herbal teas and the detoxification process
Teas play an extremely important part in the detoxification process.
Obviously drinking plenty of naturally caffeine- and sugar-free water
helps us rehydrate, enabling our kidneys and liver to remove waste
from our bodies. If it’s hot water, then all the better. Drinking hot
water strengthens our digestion and is a fantastic cleanser. Think of
washing up: if you have a greasy plate and you use cold water, the
fat will simply congeal. However, if you use warm water, the grease
melts away.
Finally, adding the right herbs to your hot water further aids the
cleansing process. Try infusing the beneficial properties of herbs like
fennel, aniseed and nettle in your tea. Alternatively, green teas (which
do contain caffeine, albeit in much lower quantities than coffee) are