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Spring Detox
By Linda | April 10, 2012
My inbox is filled with inquiries about detox diets. Many are looking for a quick way to burn winter fat, while others want renewed vitality.
Your body, in particular your liver, naturally detoxifies in Spring. Signs your liver is having trouble with this duty include fat you can’t burn off, hormone problems, allergies, frustration and anger. Many toxins are estrogen mimics, which leads to the added pain of PMS, mood issues and fibroids.
You can stimulate weight loss and relieve such health issues by giving your liver what it needs: Spring foods, good fats, high quality protein and less toxin exposure.
Our livers can be overwhelmed from things like air fresheners dangling in our cars, flame retardants from our beds, BPA from plastic wrap, pesticides, perfumed laundry detergent and harsh cleaners. Not only do we stay fat in the face of such chemicals, we tend to get moody and sluggish. Stress compounds the problem.
It turns out such toxins may increase risk of autism spectrum disorders in unborn children. Maybe it is all the chemicals, not the added weight per se?
A healthy liver can get rid of most toxins with a little help from you.
Start by getting out in nature, especially lush green areas, and move. Walking and other movement stimulates the body’s qi, and thus energy, relieving frustration, balancing moods and burning fat. The stress-reducing benefits of exercise are also key. Taking in the color green also supports your liver.
Shift to appropriate Spring foods. Sour and bitter flavors, most abundant in Spring, give your liver a boost. Begin your morning with a mug of warm water with fresh lemon or grapefruit juice. The sour flavor on an empty stomach stimulates the liver detox pathway. You might even consider a morning detox cocktail (see recipe at end).
Incorporate greens into meals, especially bitter dandelion, rapini and mustard greens as well as asparagus, artichokes and salads with arugula, radishes and romaine. Cooked greens are best steamed or boiled, then flavored with a generous pour of extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. The broccoli family also helps the liver detox.
Include protein at each meal, including grass fed meats, lamb, wild salmon, small fish, soft boiled eggs and soaked almonds. Despite the juice fast claims, your liver needs protein to detox.
Skip the alcohol and sugar for a few weeks. Sugar, and fructose in particular, causes the liver to get fatty. Avoid fried foods and other sources of liver-aggravating vegetable oils. Stick with EVOO, grass fed butter, ghee and coconut oil. See if you can get most of your foods from the produce and meat sections, less out of cans and packages.
Depending on your constitution the right liver herbs brewed into a tea or tincture and sipped before meals will also help. Licorice, burdock, boldo, dandelion and milk thistle are a few to consider.
I enjoy liver-cleansing foods and herbs most of the year (who doesn’t like garlicy sauteed greens?), so I am almost always detoxing to some degree, more in spring less in winter. This enables me to stay size 2-lean and balanced without dieting, fasting or eating like a bird. Why not skip agonizing diets and eat in a more detoxing way year-round? You too can be a natural fat-burner and a happier human being in the process.
Liver Flush Cocktail Recipe
1 lemon, peeled
½ grapefruit, peeled
1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
½” piece peeled fresh ginger
1 large clove garlic, crushed
Blend all with enough water for a smoothie consistency. Sip slowly on an empty stomach each morning for 7 to 10 days in Spring. Follow with an appropriate liver-cleansing herb tea.
Topics: Weight Loss Diets | 7 Comments »
April 13th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Are you suppose to consume all of the Liver Flush Cocktail at one time?
April 14th, 2012 at 6:33 am
Yes! This is your breakfast each morning of the cleanse. Drink on an empty stomach.
April 16th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Will the grapefruit in the recipe interfere with the statin I am presently taking?
April 16th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
I have spoken to cardiologists about this and most say to enjoy half a grapefruit at a different time of day than when you take the statin. A GLASS of grapefruit juice is a lot of grapefruit however and not advised. Too much grapefruit prevents the breakdown of statins, and some other drugs, potentially leading to liver problems and drug build-up. The healthiest option is to figure out why your cholesterol is high in the first place, or better yet, IF it is high once you take into account your HDL and triglyceride levels. Remember as you age, you need more cholesterol to protect the brain and body. Many doctors now think it is the anti-inflammatory effects of statins (not the cholesterol lowering effects) that reduce heart attacks. You can get these same benefits from natural sources without the muscle problems and memory loss common with statins.
April 17th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
Linda, I love how your description of greens make me want to cook some up!
October 17th, 2012 at 12:20 am
1.TELL ME WHAT CAN I DO TO ALWAYS BALANCE MY ADRENALS WHICH AT TIMES ARE MAKING MY HORMONES NOT BALANCING OR VICE VERSA.
2.ALSO WHAT TO GIVE AND HELP MY HUBBY BALANCE HIS DIABETIC CONDITION. HE AT TIMES KEEPS ON GETTING STOMACH PROBLEMS.
PLEASE HELP!
October 17th, 2012 at 6:03 am
This is very difficult to answer in a blog. The keys to healing adrenals include reducing stress, 8 or more hours of sleep a night, no more sugar, preventing low blood sugar, regular meals with high quality protein and certain herbs including ashwaganda and certain supplements including vitamin C. For your husband, are you asking about diabetes or digestive problems? He should start with the advice above. You should consider a couples nutrition program. It is not expensive and can turn your health around. Email me to find out more. linda@lindaprout.com