Shannon Schafer is a certified Nutrition Educator and graduate of Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts in Berkeley, California. www.mintnutrition.com. April 2008Spring CleaningBy Shannon SchaferSpring is a perfect time to cleanse yourself. Ridding your body of harmful toxins can boost your immune system, reduce sugar cravings, increase energy, and heighten mental clarity. Toxins come from many sources, including processed foods, hormone injected meats, beauty products, cleaning supplies, and environmental pollution. You can reduce the amount of toxins in your body by eating unprocessed and unrefined organic whole foods. Choose meats that are lean, free-range, hormone free and preferably organic. Avoid caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, and refined carbohydrates. You can flush-out toxins by drinking at least eight glasses of purified water a day. However, avoid bottled water in plastic due to hazardous plastic leaching. Green leafy vegetables are rich in chlorophyll that purifies blood and supports the liver. Bitter greens, such as dandelion, arugula, and endive, stimulate digestion. You can support proper elimination by cleansing your colon with fiber. Fresh fruits with skin, especially apples, raw carrots, flaxseeds, and psyllium are great fiber sources. They help scrub the colon clean of unwanted toxins and stored waste. As you increase your fiber intake, be sure to up your consumption of water to keep everything moving efficiently. Low impact exercise helps to excrete toxins, increase oxygen intake, and improve circulation. Relaxation is equally detoxifying. When you’re stressed your muscles tense, restricting your blood supply, making it difficult to eliminate toxins. Massage, acupuncture, yoga, or just reading a good book can aid relaxation. As you change your eating habits you may experience food cravings, headaches, fatigue, and brain fog. These are normal signs of toxins flushing out of your system. Make sure you increase your intake of pure water and fresh juices. Those with severe illnesses, pregnant or breast-feeding women, should consult with their health care practitioner before beginning a detox program.
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