Happy Spring! The days are getting longer, the sun is shining and flowers are in bloom! With the changing of Winter into Spring comes the perfect time to do a little Spring Cleaning. Open those windows that have been shut all winter long, clean out the old and welcome in the new!

These same concepts apply to your body: most people exercise less, eat more and are less mindful of making healthy choices during winter months. The changing of the seasons is an ideal time to reboot your system and clear out the debris left over from the winter months. A cleanse serves as a reset button for your metabolism, it promotes healthy digestion and kick starts a more effective elimination of toxins from your body. Signs that you would benefit from a cleanse include bloating, gas, irregular bowel movements, loose stools, headaches, fatigue/sluggishness, skin problems and low mood.  Patients report improved symptoms and feeling more energized after completing a cleanse that is properly designed for their individual case.  There are some patients though who should put off undergoing a detox, such as pregnant or breast feeding women or those in an active disease state such as cancer, AIDS, MS, etc.

Here are some simple everyday things you can do to rid your body of toxins:
1) Drink 1 cup of warm lemon water each morning before breakfast. If you are putting the whole lemon wedge in, make sure you are using an organic lemon so you aren’t steeping pesticides into your drink.
2) Take an Epsom Salt bath a couple times per week: dissolve 1 cup of Epsom salts in a hot bath and soak for 15-20min. These salts pull toxins out of your body, help relax muscles and the magnesium in them is easily absorbed through your skin and used in many metabolic processes in your body.
3) Foods that help boost detoxification: garlic, turmeric, fiber (high fibre foods include berries, legumes, quinoa, spinach, apples, etc), beets, seaweed, dandelion greens, artichokes and many more.
4) Hydration! On average women should have a minimum of 2L/day and men should have 3L/day.

The key to Cleansing is to have a protocol that is specifically designed to fit your needs. We are all unique and the “one size fits all” concept of many commercially available detox kits can sometimes do more harm than good. There are many options out there including a homeopathic cleanse, lymphatic cleanse, various powders and supplements, as well as a whole range of dietary recommendations based on your current health picture and level of commitment.  A cleanse can be simple and easy, and you don’t have to be running to the bathroom 10 times a day for it to be effective.

Happy Spring Cleaning!