Spring Clean Living
Awaken Your Senses
Spring Clean Living
Hey folks!
Are you feeling the wonderful effects of the Spring Season?
Well below are some smart and simple tips for a Spring Cleanse to get you through the season and beyond.
Spring is a time for new life, new beginnings and a spring clean of all sorts…but unfortunately it also brings hay fever, allergies, a sense of stuffiness, sneezing, sinus, congestion and brain fog.
Does This Sound Like You?
For many years, I had experienced all of these debilitating symptoms including chronic asthma, but since introducing the principles of Ayurveda into my life, and implementing a new lifestyle approach which included changing my eating habits, I can honestly say my body has significantly improved over the years.
If you are experiencing a feeling of heaviness, having a cough, cold, wheezing, feeling congested both in the head and chest…or just feeling sluggish – these are my easy steps to begin your Spring Cleanse and to restore your body back into balance.
As a general rule I do not consider it advisable for people to change their eating habits suddenly or all at once. I can vouch for this, it was quite a torrid experience many years ago, (I won’t explain now, that is for another blog) so go slow with a cleanse.
It’s often better to make the change gradually, for example, removing processed foods from your diet one at a time and simply replacing them with a wholefood instead like a piece of fruit.
1. Detox
Sipping warm water with slices of lemon throughout the day will help detoxify the system removing metabolic waste, reducing congestion, and inflammation improving circulation and finally alkalising the body.
2. Foods to Include and Avoid
Following these dietary guidelines for the coming months will help pacify the Kapha Dosha. Changing our eating habits during this season and incorporating smaller, light, dry, warm foods throughout the day with grains such as amaranth, barley, buckwheat and quinoa can be very beneficial.
Include Dahl made with lentils, mung beans, split peas, chickpeas and including leafy greens, seasonal fruit and vegetables. Introduce a Kapha-pacifying diet which favours the bitter, pungent and astringent tastes, while limiting the sweet, sour and salty.
Eat the biggest meal of the day at lunch when the digestive fires are at their peak rather than having a heavy breakfast and/or dinner.
Why not try my Primavera Spiced Veggies with Quinoa?
Delicious and very healthy. CLICK HERE…
3. To Dairy or Not to Dairy
We all enjoy having ice-cream on sunny Spring days, but during this season ice-cream, cheese, yogurt and cold milk all create congestion within the body due to their qualities being cold and heavy in nature – especially when eaten at night.
The effects are noticed considerably first in the morning so try to reduce these foods while the body is experiencing these symptoms (have them on occasion if you can’t resist!), otherwise aggravation of the bodily tissues will simply continue.
Raw honey is not only just a sweetener, but due to its healing properties (antibacterial and antifungal) Ayurveda recognises its powerful therapeutic action. It penetrates deep into the tissues, dissolving Kapha in the body and helping reduce the build-up of phlegm and mucus.
Take it on its own or in a drink with Lemon and Ginger. Remember always to cool your drink down before adding the honey. Never cook with honey as it changes its molecular structure and creates ama, that is, toxins within the body.
When preparing food, include spices into your cooking to enhance flavours like asafoetida (hing) cumin, black mustard seeds, black pepper, turmeric, fennel, curry leaves, ginger, cardamom and cinnamon.
Not only will they create wonderful exciting meals, but also boost digestive enzymes. This will help to increase digestive fire and improve nutrient absorption to build a stronger immunity, ultimately giving you an abundance of energy and vitality.
4. Exercise
What a perfect time to implement an exercise regime. It doesn’t need to be big, start with a walk, get your body moving and soon you will start to feel better.
Our bodies are such powerful beings. Your body has the ability to heal itself if you listen to it and take more notice of the signs during the seasons. Doing so will help you to have better control of your body and not rely on the medical system. LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE!
By following these Seasonal Tips you will begin to start feeling the best you have felt. Have a go… you have nothing to lose.
Remember, Your Body is a Temple, treat it with KINDNESS and it will serve you well!
I would love to hear from you about your commitment in creating a better life.
Want to know more about how Ayurveda can simply change your life and bring so many amazing benefits? Make an appointment by contacting me, Anna, on 0415 279 020 or email anna@vibrantandhealthy.com.au.
