Just like spring cleaning, spring cleansing is an effective way to transition into a new season feeling healthy, nourished, and balanced. A cleanse gives your digestive system a reset, allowing your body to get rid of harmful toxins stored in your colon and intestinal tract.
Contrary to popular belief, a cleanse goes deeper than simply losing a couple pounds or making up for bad eating habits over the winter - it affects the entire functioning of the body. There are also multiple layers to a cleanse, since the food we put into our bodies is only one aspect of our overall health. For a truly holistic approach to wellness, it’s important to cleanse several facets of our lives at this time of year, such as the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the products we use.
Here is my five-step process to a holistic, spring cleanse:
Step 1: Cleanse the air in your home
During a cleanse, our bodies are extra sensitive, therefore even the air we breathe can affect us. Research shows that air pollution can cause or exacerbate health conditions such as asthma and allergies. While we have less control over the outdoors, we can clean up the air in our homes. Start by eliminating artificial air fresheners, perfumes, and chemical-based cleaners. Instead, try using essential oils to clean your home, or purchasing an air purifier.
Step 2: Improve your quality of water
Detoxification requires water, and without adequate hydration, toxins can’t properly be eliminated and may re-accumulate. However, not all water has the same quality. For example, there can be chlorine in city water, and even plastic leaching in bottled water. During a cleanse, I recommend drinking filtered water. We use a Berkey water filter at home, but I also recommend the Santevia water filter. I recommend drinking at least 1-2 litres of water daily to ensure a safe and effective detox. You can also drink herbal teas and cold-pressed juices (depending on your cleanse), however avoid excess caffeine as it can be taxing on the liver which is already working hard to detoxify your system.
Step 3: Sober up your skincare products
Our skin absorbs everything we put on it, allowing chemicals to directly enter our bloodstream. During your cleanse (and ideally, all the time) limit the products you use on your skin. Instead of using your store-bought moisturizer, try using coconut or olive oil instead, and going makeup-free or purchasing natural makeup. Check out
