Start The New Year With A Nutritional Cleanse
"Detoxing in January can be a really great way to mentally and physically let go of the old and make way for the new. January symbolizes a new beginning for many people, and post-holiday season, your body may be really craving a fresh start!” - My Health Essentials
Most of us are pretty good at eating, drinking, and making merry during the holiday season. All these festivities, however, often mean eating a bit too much and indulging in a few too many desserts or drinks causing us to feel tired, bloated, and even stressed. So after the holidays, as we feel the effects of these indulgences, the New Year’s resolution on most people’s minds is to get healthy, get in shape, or shed a few pounds.
The simple truth is that radiant health starts with what we eat. A nutritional detox purifies the body from the inside out. It's a way to simplify your diet, lighten your toxic burden and, this time of year, it's a nice way to reboot after dietary indulgences during the holidays.
One common mistake though is doing the wrong type of detox for the season. There is a rhythmic flow by which our bodies naturally tend toward throughout each different season. The traditional diets at each time of year change in conformity with our body’s needs at that time. In spring we are reattaining energy. In summer we are “alive” and full of energy. In fall our bodies are slowing down and our energy levels are naturally decreasing. And in winter our bodies tend to be at the lower end of the energy spectrum.
Most detox or cleanse programs don’t account for this natural ebb and flow. They are usually designed for spring and summer, when we naturally have higher energy levels. They revolve around eating mostly cold raw foods that cool and deplete us during this time of year rather than allow us to preserve the body’s optimal metabolic state. So, when we choose a detox plan that goes against what our body requires in winter, we may not end up feeling so great afterwards, and we may not be supporting ourselves the way we are intending to.
Winter is already a harsh season due to the natural increase of cold, rough and dry qualities in nature and our environment. During this time, the Spring “cleanse” approach is not an appropriate detox method. Don’t get caught up in an unrealistic diet or exercise regimen to lose weight quickly - these types of changes can be shocking and stressful to the body. This is the time of moderation - not extremes. So try setting realistic goals that you can sustain until springtime when a stricter cleanse is more in alignment with the natural cycle.
A safe and effective way to detoxify during winter is to simply clean up our diet while still eating seasonally. At the same time, we should be focused on nourishment and restoration - to build our "life force" and recharge our energy stores. Our body requires a lot of energy from food to make up for the lack of sunshine and our waning energy levels, so this is a time when we traditionally would be eating heavier, more nourishing and nutrient dense meals. While you should increase your intake of seasonal fruits and vegetables that winter has to offer, be mindful to eat most of those foods cooked and warm. It’s an excellent time to eat warm soups and stews full of root vegetables, nourishing grains, adequate protein and good fats, and warming spices.
"A winter detox allows us to harness our energy, hit reset on our food intake, and stay healthy and energized." - Dr. Alejandro Junger
In addition to diet, make time for nourishing, restorative, and replenishing activities such as sleeping more, spending more time in introspection, warm baths, deep breathing, walking in nature, yoga, massage or energy healing, and carving out more “you time” by doing activities you love.
“The new year is a great time to start over, try something new, or intensify what you already do, and take your health to new levels.” - Kristen Suzanne
The brand new year brings us a host of new opportunities, challenges, and possibilities - so why not reset your body after the holidays, flood your cells with nutrients while you release what no longer serves you, and kick off the new year feeling energized and rejuvenated?
Whether you are new to cleansing or an old pro and just want to tune-up your diet, the 23 DAYS TO A HEALTHIER YOU! Nutritional Cleanse Program is a gentle, easy, effective, and pleasurable way to cleanse the body from the inside out and transition to a more healthy way of eating for the rest of your life. This 23 day on-line program will guide you, step by step, to reduce and then eliminate the foods that rob you of your health, and replace them with lots of delicious, nutritious, whole foods that will satisfy you completely while helping your body to remove toxins, rejuvenate, and heal.
For information about the 23 DAYS TO A HEALTHIER YOU! Nutritional Cleansing Program that I offer, click below: