Spring has officially arrived. The change of season is a perfect time to cleanse your body from the inside out. A natural detox eliminates toxic stressors and increases nutrient dense foods. Ridding your body of toxins that have harmful effects can boost your immune system, improve metabolism, reduce sugar cravings, cleanse organs, increase energy, and heighten mental clarity.

Toxins can come from many sources, including processed foods, pesticide sprayed foods, hormone injected meats, chemical fertilizers, tap water, body products, cleaning supplies, environmental pollution, and stress. All of these can strain the liver, our major detoxification organ. Start to reduce these burdens by eating organic whole foods. These are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, chemical free. Meats should be lean, free-range, hormone free and preferably organic. Avoid detox detractors such as caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, and refined carbohydrates. Flush out toxins by drinking at least eight glasses of purified water a day. However, avoid bottled water in plastic due to hazardous plastic leaching.

It is absolutely necessary to increase your raw vegetable and fruit intake during a detox. Fresh, seasonal, organic produce contains potent antioxidants that will quench free radicals released during a detox. Green leafy vegetables are rich in chlorophyll that purifies blood and support the liver. Bitter greens such as dandelion, arugula, and endive are excellent choice because they also stimulate digestion. The key to a successful detox is efficient digestion and elimination.

You can support proper elimination by cleansing your colon with fiber. Fresh fruits with skin, especially apples, raw carrots, flaxseeds, and psyllium are great fiber sources. They help scrub the colon clean of unwanted toxins and stored waste. As you increase your fiber intake, be sure to increase water to keep everything moving efficiently. Probiotics, beneficial bacteria that support digestion and a healthy immune system, may also be supplemented. You can find a good probiotic at your local health food store by the supplements. The best probiotics are refrigerated to preserve the living bacteria. Organic kefir, yogurt, or cultured sauerkraut also contain small amounts of probiotics.

A successful detox combines nourishing foods with exercise and relaxation. Low impact exercise helps to excrete toxins, increase oxygen intake, and improve circulation. Relaxation is equally detoxifying. When you are stressed, your muscles tense, restricting your blood supply, making it difficult to eliminate toxins. Massage, acupuncture, yoga, or just reading a good book can aid relaxation.

As you detox, you may experience food cravings, headaches, fatigue, and brain fog. These are normal signs of toxins flushing out of your system. Make sure you increase pure water intake, fresh juices, and avoid all detox detractors. Those with severe illnesses, pregnant or breast-feeding women, should not detox. I recommend consulting your health care practitioner before beginning a detox program.

Good luck on your spring cleaning! May you have a renewed sense of well- being this season.