Is There Value in Doing a Spring Cleanse?

I hear this question often.  My answer: Absolutely! During the winter we tend to eat “building” foods needed for metabolism and warmth in colder months. Now the body needs the fresh plant foods emerging in spring to cleanse and lighten itself for the warm days of summer.You may find that you naturally seek out or even crave lighter, healing, plant foods as the days lengthen and warm.

There are dozens of different “detox” and “cleansing” programs available. Some are just books, while others offer a variety of foods, teas, supplements, and other products to support your efforts. There is, however, a common thread. Most all of them include a focus on nutrient-dense foods from plants, especially vegetables, and the benefits of eating lots of salads and drinking fresh juices.

Juiced Veggies

Vegetable and fruit juicing allows you to consume more nutrients from these powerhouses than you would be able to consume if you ate all the whole pieces. A juicer can be a fun investment in your health.Of course eating entire fruits and vegetables is important too as we all need the insoluble fiber that is lost through juicing. Juicing, however, temporarily reduces the digestive burden on your body while giving you a big dose of powerful antioxidants. Regardless of whether you choose to add a daily, small glass of fresh juice first thing in the morning or to try a three-day juice fast, I encourage you to explore the benefits of juicing. Involve the whole family!

Carrot,celery, apple, parsleyHere are a few pointers to get you started.Make sure to wash your produce carefully.Wherever possible, use only organic produce (we’re trying to remove toxins, not put more in!). To avoid sugar overload, focus primarily on vegetables and use fruits in small amounts for flavoring. Don’t forget to try herbs you enjoy (e.g. parsley, mint, basil, ginger), though be aware that a little goes a long way when juicing herbs. You may
wish to water down most fresh juices for taste or to add cucumbers which have a particularly light flavor. Excellent spring cleansing fruits include oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, and apples. For vegetables, choose a mixture of things such as cucumbers, beets,carrots, broccoli, heavy greens (e.g. kale or chard), parsley, and celery. One of my favorite combinations is entire bunch of kale, 1 small cucumber, 1 broccoli stalk, 2 carrots, a bunch of parsley, and ½ of an apple. If you’re new to the flavors of juicing, start simple and try a diluted mixture of carrot and cucumber. I don’t recommend a multi-day, juice-only cleanse fast unless you are otherwise healthy and strong.

Thanks to Scott Kahn of www.healthy-juicing-habits.com for his great juicing photos I shared this month.