Spring Cleansing While at Home: 7 Natural Tips

While stuck at home, we have more time to focus on our health. Turn shelter in place into a mini detox retreat.

Now that the initial shock of social distancing and sheltering in place has settled in, and we're feeling the effects of comfort food and alcohol over-indulgence, it is time for some self-care.

"Spring cleaning" is a cliche for a good reason. It is the most natural time for cleaning the house and cleansing the body after winter's stagnation. In fact, springtime health regimens are old. Across the world, traditional healers have used diet, herbs, and tonics to detox the body, cleanse the liver and purify the blood. Particularly important for these times, having a clean body boosts the immune system. It also helps clear your mind, improve sleep and lift your spirit.

As this article prescribes, a spring cleanse can be as simple as a lighter diet, avoiding certain foods and adding in extra herbal support. It focuses on digestion, elimination of accumulated wastes, and improving body functions. Try it over a long weekend. That’s enough time to give it a whirl, see what it takes and how you feel afterwards.

Once you get going, however, you will find it's easy to extend it for a week or two.

You can even amplify the purifying effects by creating an at-home spa day with a facial steam, body scrub, and Epsom salt bath.

As your systems are revitalized, your hormones follow suit. Here are 7 tips for an easy-to-do, all-natural spring cleanse at home:

Fiber

Clear out the gunk! To keep your digestive system flowing, and help guard against heart disease, kidney stones, and cancer, make sure you are getting at least 25-30 grams of fiber per day. Good whole food sources include oatmeal, split peas, lentils, beans... and even more enlivening foods like avocados, Asian pears, kiwis, and raspberries.

There are actually two different types of dietary fiber: insoluble and soluble. We need both kinds, which are present in almost all whole carbohydrate foods. Do you need to worry much about which type of high-fiber foods you’re getting? Not really — just make sure to eat a high-fiber diet with a variety of different fibrous foods to make sure you cover your bases for both types. Unless you’re looking to improve a specific health condition, such as constipation or high cholesterol, you shouldn’t have a problem getting enough of both kinds of fiber if you eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and beans.

Milk Thistle

Cleanse your cleanser! This plant is not only beautiful but is also great for protecting and supporting the liver, the organ that works hard to detoxify our bodies all day, every day. Milk thistle has also been found to lower blood sugar and help alleviate indigestion. It is available as a yummy tea or in capsule, tablet, or powder form and you can order it online, of course. For a more complete liver cleanse program, we recommend this one from Global Healing.

Water

Yes, good old water! You should drink 70-100 oz of filtered water per day, depending on your body weight. Make sure the water is itself cleansed with a high-quality carbon filter or by reverse osmosis. If you need to buy bottled water, go for "spring water," as it is the most natural. Bottles labeled as "drinking water" or "purified water" usually come from municipal sources. It's basically tap water!

Simple Foods

Now is the time to empty your cabinets of all the processed foods you may have left. Au natural is the new theme. Start nurturing your body with lots of dark leafy greens, natural herbs for seasoning, and luscious fruits. This is also a good time to eliminate dairy, sugar, and gluten (if you are still eating them) and see how much better you feel. Give it a try, you might like it! You don't have to sacrifice tasty treats by doing so. Here are some wonderful recipes that are healthy and indulgent at the same time.     

Adrenal Support

Supporting your adrenal glands is super important during detoxification. This will help keep cortisol, the "stress hormone", in its regular daily cycle. Herbs that promote good kidney and adrenal gland health include Rhodiola, ashwagandha, and licorice. No, not Twizzlers! Real licorice root is from a natural plant and is also a stomach soother and stress reliever.

Green Tea, Red Tea, White Tea

L-Theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, helps with hormone and neurotransmitter balance. Breakaway from your morning latte and especially that mid-afternoon espresso. This will also give your adrenal glands a rest. Don't be surprised when you find your regular coffee drink is quite intense when you revisit it. Really, it was always that intense—you've just grown tolerant. You may find some new tea drinks that give you the same boost your coffee does for you now. Your body will thank you profusely.

Plant-Based Supplements

Choose organic supplements that read like a recipe for good health. They're filled with organic fruits and veggies, and never any toxic additives. All the ingredients are sourced straight from the earth, including plant-based enzymes and probiotics.

Flush Out Environmental Toxins

Toxins such as heavy metals inevitably make their way into our bodies. Yikes! They can affect our thyroid gland and all hormone production. Therefore, eliminating such elements from our bodies is an important facet of any cleanse program to maintain a healthy endocrine system. While ongoing avoidance is ideal, spring cleaning or intentional detoxification periods can be very effective at alleviating symptoms and reducing health risks. Fiber, milk thistle, water, and other herbs listed above help rid the body of toxins.

Now you are on your way to a healthy spring, summer, and beyond. You will be more balanced, focused, and full of energy. Let the winter blues and shelter-at-home stagnation go. Purify your body and refresh those hormones now!

We recommend the following Canary Club at-home tests to check your toxin and hormone levels. Get your baseline now, then test again after several months to see the difference!

Comprehensive Elements + Thyroid
Measures levels of toxic heavy metals, including mercury and cadmium, as well as essential nutrients such as iodine and selenium. Also contains thyroid hormone testing.