Gentle Spring Detox

Spring is really in full swing right now-yay! In all the Spring excitement, have you thought about detoxing? Wait, don’t stop reading! Don’t let the word “detox” scare you! We aren’t talking about harsh or extreme fasting and cleansing. Instead, we are advocating a gentle and holistic approach that supports your body’s natural detoxing pathways. In this blog we look at why spring is the perfect time for detoxing and how to go about this in a gentle way.

WHY SPRING?

Spring really is the perfect time to detox!

1. Increased sunlight brings with it extra vitamin D and the chance to reset your circadian rhythm (the internal clock that regulates sleep, energy levels, and hormones). 
2. Warmer and longer days encourage more time spent outdoors and more physical activity.
3. During the winter, we have likely been inside more, less active and been eating heavier, warming foods. These things are not necessarily bad and are often what our bodies need during that season. But during the spring our bodies begin to crave cleansing and rebalancing.

These are all things that naturally benefit our detoxing pathways, so let’s lean in a little more to see how we can optimize the naturally occurring reset that happens in the spring! If we pay attention and get in tune with nature’s rhythms, we will see that our bodies respond to seasonal changes.

Leaning into a spring reset or detox for a week or so can bring increased energy, improved digestion, healthier skin, increased metabolism, better mood, and mental clarity.

GENTLE DETOX

Like we said above, we are not pushing a harsh detox using a juice fast or something similar. Our bodies are beautifully designed to efficiently get rid of toxins and waste. What we are suggesting is that you use the spring to partner with what your body is already naturally doing by giving it boosts in some areas! Let’s take a minute to look at the different systems we should aim to support.

First, the liver filters our blood, breaks down harmful substances, and converts toxins into compounds that can be safely eliminated. Supporting the liver is a huge goal of a spring detox. Two other essential detoxing systems are your lymphatic system and kidneys. These are both responsible for filtering and removing waste from your body. There are a few main things you can do to help these systems operate efficiently.

1. Eating for detoxing: spring onions, garlic, radishes, beetroot, cruciferous vegetables, turmeric, fermented and cultured foods, leafy greens, and citrus. Reduce or eliminate caffeine, alcohol and sugar as these make your liver work extra hard. Daily doses of herbal teas like nettle and dandelion root.
2. Help take some of the load off these 3 systems by aiming to eliminate toxins through sweat and breath by doing saunas, deep breathing and exercise.
3. Get 20-30 minutes outside in the morning. This does so many beneficial things for your body, mind, and emotional state. But specifically for detoxing, morning sunlight triggers vitamin d production which helps regulate these natural detoxing pathways. But don’t stop in the morning! Get outside extra during this focused spring detox-this lowers stress hormones like cortisol, reduces indoor air pollutants that your system must deal with, boosts your immune health, and helps regulate your circadian rhythm.
4. Hydration is so important for overall body functioning. Those detoxing systems will not be able to work at top notch without hydration. Water helps the breakdown of toxins, brings optimum blood flow to your organs, enables the transport of immune cells and metabolic waste through your lymphatic system, and promotes a healthy digestive system-essential for those toxins being eliminated. To make it a little more interesting and include in some digestive benefits, add in a pinch of salt, a lemon wedge, and some mint leaves! 
5. Sleep is another critical piece. The liver’s activity is closely linked to your circadian rhythm with its peak detoxing performance being between 1am-3am. Sleep also allows the brain to clear waste and for cellular repair to take place. During this spring detox focus on having a consistent bedtime routine that includes diming your lights in the evening, staying off screens an hour before bed, and keeping your bedroom cool to promote better sleep.

Want to take it a few steps further? Here are some other ways you can pursue health during this spring detox:

1. Eliminate processed and artificial foods and drink
2. Increase your fiber intake
3. Declutter your living space and add air purifying plants
4. Start a new activity or hobby you have been meaning to try
5. Feed your mind-read a classic book or two!
6. Try and keep a consistent and relaxed schedule

After you have been accomplished about a week or so of a spring detox, set some time aside to plan what practices and habits you want to continue in daily life.  

We hope this gives you a framework to participate in a spring detox that fully takes advantage of the time of year, leaning into the beautiful relationship between our bodies and nature, given to us for our flourishing. We hope that taking the time to reset and cleanse makes you ready for all that is in front of you in the seasons ahead. As always, we are here to help with services and supplements that can further aid and support your body’s amazing detoxing pathways. Below are a few ideas! Please reach out with questions or comments! Blessings on the journey!

Detox-N-Cleanse – Heart + Sol

Drainage Activator – Heart + Sol

Sauna Session – Heart + Sol

Ionic Foot Bath – Heart + Sol

Detoxification Formula 2 oz – Heart + Sol

Detoxification Formula 2 oz – Heart + Sol

Daily Liver Pro – Heart + Sol

Metal Free & Chemical Cleanse (60 serv./2 fl.oz.) – Heart + Sol