Spring has sprung…time to cleanse!

Life unfolds in Springtime

After a long winter, I think most of us are ready to see the hot, sunny days.  But first, I’m going to crawl out of my hibernation cave and give my insides a little makeover.  Spring is a great time to transition from the heavier foods, lose a little winter poundage, and let the sunshine help us stock up on some Vitamin D, which is actually a hormone we make.

The purpose of cleansing is to strengthen the eliminative organs to help fulfill their maximum function.  This includes the lungs, liver, kidneys, colon, skin, and to a different extent, the lymphatic system and the blood.

Why would someone cleanse?  We clean the outsides of our bodies in the shower on a (hopefully) regular basis.  Why not give the inside a nice little breath of fresh air?  Clean up the diet, eliminate artificial foods and kick the nasty fried garbage to the curb.  Help some headaches, clear some acne, balance those hormones, and get that circulation going!  Cleansing also lets the colon absorb vitamins and minerals easier!  The benefits to doing an herbal cleanse are countless!

Cleansing your body internally can be a gratifying and beneficial process, but you must proceed with caution.  There are a wide variety of cleanses out there that use various herbs and methods to accomplish individual goals.  But if you are an individual with weakened immunity, a digestive condition, colon concerns, or are underweight, you might have to reconsider.  Cleansing is not for everyone and should be tailored to each individual’s needs, as the length and contents may vary.  A beginner should never jump right in on a drastic cleanse, as this will provide no benefits and has potential to be dangerous.  Always do your own research and always consult a natural health care practitioner before cleansing to determine what might be right for you.  If you suspect any kind of colon complication, be safe and have an M.D. check it out for you.

I notice that anyone can go out and buy an herbal cleanse.  Often times these kits come with no recommendations as to the corresponding, equally important, dietary regimen.  If you cannot, or will not, participate in unpolluted dietary choices, do not attempt the cleanse.  50% of cleansing is the supportive herbs, and the other 50% is our food choices.  By choosing to cleanse your body internally, it would be pointless to keep putting junk in and expect good results.  That is why it is imperative that you keep away from meat and dairy while cleansing.  Eggs are acceptable to some people, not for myself personally, but if animal protein in general should be avoided on a cleanse, as it is harder to digest and most likely contains hormones added.  The whole point in cleansing is to eat easier to digest foods; ones that support eliminative processes in the body: steamed veggies with fiber as opposed to grilled chicken without fiber.  Dairy is to be avoided since it is a mucous forming food and will ruin the cleanse.  So for optimal results while cleansing, choose a vegan diet and get some daily exercise.  Pair these two with an herbal cleansing kit if you wish and block off some time to bud into a whole new springtime you!