Spring Cleaning, the Old Fashioned Way

It has been a never-ending winter here in Rye, New York. Finally, it is evident that spring has arrived!   Purchase Street has transformed into a lovely promenade. Residents are getting outdoors and looking forward to all Rye has to offer in the warmer months.

As the seasons shift, so do our body rhythms.  We may be staying up a bit later, feeling more energetic or looking to kick old habits, replacing them with healthier alternatives.

As I discussed during the winter, our bodies enter the equivalent of a “human hibernation” in colder months, which may include cravings for heavier, more calorie dense food options, cravings for healthy (and unhealthy!!) fats, and the potential for excess weight gain.

It isn’t surprising that the opposite of this phenomenon occurs in the Spring.  Your body is naturally seeking ways in which to detoxify and rejuvenate itself.  Or to put it another way, perhaps you are panicking about shedding all of that winter clothing in place of shorts and a t-shirt!

Whatever the motivation, I would like to discuss ways in which to provide your body with cleansing detoxification, which will ultimately increase your energy and support your overall goals for a healthy lifestyle.

To begin, a toxin is any substance that creates irritating or harmful effects in the body, which can sometimes even damage our tissues and organs. Everything we breathe, eat, drink, and even touch, can contain toxins. We can acquire toxins from our environment by breathing them, ingesting them, or through physical contact with them.

“Detox” is a relative term, because anything that supports elimination helps us detoxify. As a matter of fact, our body cleanses itself by an absolutely natural process. If the body is working well, we can handle the basic every day exposure to toxins. We do need to cleanse our bodies to achieve optimal health, but what type of cleansing will work for us?  

The words “detox” and “cleanse” have become very popular over the past few years.  There are many companies and products claiming they will help to “cleanse” our bodies.  

Drinks, dried foods and supplements are among the list of substances claiming to help our bodies do a job it can perform naturally!! Further, many use the term cleanse or detox synonymously with “drop five pounds in a week”! 

Unfortunately, rarely is this method healthy or productive for our bodies.  Quick weight loss often turns into more weight gain in the long run.

Now that we know what not to do, let’s discuss more importantly how to best cleanse and detoxify your body during this season. 

First and foremost, following a diet increasing consumption of raw vegetables, fruits and pure water is perhaps the most effective method of detoxification.  Eating a diet rich in these foods, and limiting consumption of processed foods, meats, alcohol and tobacco (even temporarily), will put you on a path to increased energy and well-being.  More specifically, make sure to increase consumption of dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach.  They are rich in calcium, iron and fiber, and support your body’s efforts to cleanse. 

But don’t stop there!  Add in the orange as well.  Squash, carrots and sweet potatoes will immediately boost your immunity, and by the way, often help to quell sugar cravings.  It is as simple as that, although many products will claim that cleansing is a difficult and arduous process. 

Eating pure, whole foods, getting a good night’s sleep and ensuring proper hydration are the key components to allowing your body to thrive in the coming months.  Although the process is in fact simple, for many I know it can be a challenge to actually implement.  If you need a “kick start,” try this simple morning drink to assist your body with the detoxifying process:

What you need:

• A pitcher
• Pure drinking water
• Sliced cucumbers
• Grated ginger
• Sliced lemons
• Fresh mint leaves
• Ice

This unique combination of cleansing ingredients combine to make a delicious and refreshing drink.  Keep in your refrigerator and enjoy frequently!