Eat your greens
When in doubt eat a plateful of lightly cooked greens. This is of my basic tenants in life. It really fixes everything. Packed with vitamins and fiber they nourish your body and aid in liver detoxification. Try to make this a daily goal. I like to see half my dinner plate covered in cooked greens. I eat them first to make sure I get them all in. Use a salad plate and pile it high so it looks abundant. On a smaller plate portion size is much easier to control without leaving you feeling deprived.
Drink your water and herbal tea
Drinking plenty of water is especially important while cleansing. Once you mobilize all the crud that’s built up, it needs to be flushed out. Make sure you are drinking your water is filtered and take it without ice. In Chinese medicine cold water is thought to be damaging to the Spleen and Stomach, the main digestive organs. This time of year your food should also be lightly cooked to make it easier to digest. Adding in a detox tea will really ramp up your cleansing. I like dandelion leaf, nettles and mint in equal parts of a delicious and detoxifying drink. Remember most herbs have diuretic properties and you will need to drink a cup of plain water for every cup of tea.
Don’t push yourself
If at all possible take this time to get plenty of rest. This isn’t the time to burn the midnight oil because you are asking your body to do extra work eliminating toxins. This is a great time to become more introspective and tune in to what is nourishing you in life, what is stuck and what needs to be let go.
Move your body
Aim for some light to moderate exercise every day. This is not the time to train for a marathon. Some cardio is fine but if you start to feel depleted back it off. Yoga, Pilates, Bar method and swimming are all great choices. Aim to sweat but not go anaerobic, or breathless for too long.
Plan Ahead
There’s nothing worse than coming home from work while cleaning to realize you’re starving and there’s nothing to eat. Plan your menu and make sure you have plenty of healthy snacks around for emergencies. I love cooked beets lightly pickled in ( unseasoned) rice vinegar and olive oil. Easy, filling and detoxifying for your liver. I keep a protein supplement on hand for high protein breakfasts and snacks. This will keep you blood sugar even through the day and your energy high.
Want more information on how to do a food and supplement based cleanse? Try our Elemental Detox.
Lindsey Lawson MS EAMP is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Clinic Director at Glow Natural Health and Seattle Fertility Acupuncturist. She is passionate about healthy, happy living, food and is a regular blogger. For an appointment call Glow at 206 568 7545.
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