Spring Refresh: Easy Detox

Spring is a time of re-newel, re-growth and rejuvenation! This season often motivates us to Spring clean our home, tidy up closets and re-plant the garden, so why not also apply this same revitalizing energy to your body! One of the best ways you can do this is to cleanse your liver. With over 500 crucial jobs, your liver is one of your hardest working organs. In addition to its vital role of detoxifying harmful substances, your liver’s other main roles include, filtering your blood, manufacturing enzymes, building proteins, producing cholesterol & bile, regulating blood sugar and helping metabolize carbohydrates.

Those of us with disabilities, who take prescription drugs, have even more reason to give our livers some much needed R & R because medications, while albeit necessary, do put extra burden on our liver to break-down and detoxify. When the liver is overburdened, it loses its ability to easily perform its essential functions, toxins build-up and this can lead to the body’s systems becoming unbalanced, which in turn can make us more susceptible to illness.

Signs and symptoms of toxic build-up in the body include:

Headaches
Fatigue
Joint pain
Allergies
Bad breath
Rashes
Insomnia
Indigestion
Constipation
Frequent colds
Anxiety

While you’ll find many detoxifying kits in your drug store and cleansing programs on the Internet, some of these are quite harsh on your system and unsuitable for our unique and somewhat compromised systems - not to mention the expense! So instead of providing you with a recipe in this edition, I’m going to give you a gentle, inexpensive detoxifying menu plan. Follow this plan for 3-5 days and avoid all caffeine, alcohol, dairy, sugar and refined foods. All of the fruits, vegetables and herbs listed are extremely nourishing to the liver and the grains are all very easy to digest.

This cleansing program will not only help improve your liver function by removing toxins from your body, but you may experience the added benefits of increased energy, improved digestive function, weight loss and feeling more clear headed.

Spring is an ideal time to cleanse and detoxify -you’ll feel healthier, refreshed and your liver will thank you for it!

Spring Cleansing Menu Plan

Upon rising:

2 glasses of water, with a quarter of a lemon squeezed into each glass.
Lemon water increases liver detoxification by improving digestion & alkalinizing the body.

Breakfast:

One piece (or handful) of fruit, such as an apple, papaya, peach, grapefruit, orange, blackberries, prunes, figs or strawberries. Chew well.
15-30 minutes later: 1 bowl of cooked grains, such as brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth or millet.
For flavouring use sea salt, turmeric, garlic, lemon, 2 tbs. of fruit juice or drizzle olive oil.
Turmeric helps support liver function by reducing free radical damage & enhancing detoxification.

30 minutes before lunch:

2 glasses of water, with a quarter of a lemon squeezed into each glass.

Lunch:

1 or 2 bowls of steamed or blanched vegetables (used a variety), such as: dandelion greens, artichokes, onions, garlic, radishes, brussel sprouts, beets, carrots, green beans, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, asparagus, peas, spinach, potatoes or turnips. Chew well.
Foods high in sulfur like garlic & onions help support liver cells.

30 minutes before dinner:

2 glasses of water, with quarter of a lemon squeezed into each glass.

Dinner:

same as lunch
after dinner, consume no foods and drink only water or herbal teas listed below.

Snacks/Special drinks - drink as much of these in-between meal as you like:

Miso soup
1 or 2 cups of veggie water (saved from the steamed/blanched vegetables)
Herbs, such as Dandelion Root and Milk Thistle strengthen, tone and stimulate the liver. These herbs can be purchased at your local health food store and made into a refreshing tea. Add 1 tsp of these herbs to 1 cup of hot water, steep 10 minutes, strain and enjoy.