Simple Steps To A Successful Cleanse

I try to give my body a break from inflammatory substances at least a couple of times a year. This is a simple reset to my system and hopefully renews my dedication to sustaining a mostly healthy lifestyle. None of these suggestions are particularly ground-breaking, but I do find that creating or renewing simple rituals are more likely to be the ones that stick. They are mostly gentle reminders things that we already know.

 

FOOD

 

I try to think about all the amazing foods that I can eat instead of all the foods that I need to cut out. Having a positive attitude is more than half the battle. So instead of dwelling on the fact that I can’t have a sandwich for lunch or pasta for dinner, I focus on how great I’m going to feel after I eat the vitamin packed salad and delicious simple supper made with whole foods. For those who know me, know that I can be just a tad bit dramatic, so I try to tone down the drama and just get down to eating better without having overly dramatic temper tantrums about how much I’m suffering without cheese! I put all my energy and my focus on eating as many non-starchy veggies that I can in a day.

 

I FOCUS ON THE FIBRE

 

If you've never cleansed before, take it super easy on yourself. Try just cutting out one or two things at a time. Ask yourself what the easiest thing would be for you to go without. Is it coffee? Is it dairy or bread? Is it sugar? 

 

Try to replace those foods with other, more heathy whole foods. Start your day off with some herbal tea, have a salad with some protein at lunch instead of a sandwich, make yourself a special Mocktail at "Happy Hour".

 

Start a food journal and write down how you are feeling in your body and how you’re feeling mentally and emotionally. This process is interesting to track. You can look back in a few months and have concrete evidence on how making a few small shifts in your eating habits greatly impacted how you felt in your day to day. 

 

Instead of spending hours on social media, spend your "phone time" looking up awesome and inspiring recipes.

 

My Naturopathic Doctor gave me a very simple way to start to change my relationship with food. The plate method: Half your plate is non starchy veggies, one quarter is protein and one quarter is starch. SO SIMPLE! This advice was a game changer for me.

 

WATER

 

Drinks lots of water with fresh lemon. I try not to be really strict about how much. I just drink when I'm thirsty and when I'm hungry and craving sugar which ends up being quite a lot!

 

If you are exercising regularly, you can also make your own electrolyte drink by squeezing half a lemon and a pinch of salt into 8 oz of water. You can add maple syrup to sweeten if you like. 

 

DO NOT PUT LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL INTO YOUR WATER!

 

ALCOHOL / OTHER STUFF

 

Sorry to say, but there is no cleanse in the world that says it’s ok to consume drugs and alcohol. So, this one is Non-Negotiable. If you aren't ready to cut those out, then maybe start planning for when you can. 

 

EXERCISE

 

These tips are meant for those of you who struggle with maintaining a regular exercise. 

 

Grab a friend or your dog or your headphones and get outside. Plan a time during the day that you won't have any excuses. Is it before work? During your lunch or after work? Maybe it's after dinner? Pick a time that is easiest for you to manage and just decide that it is Non-Negotiable. This is the time that you have set aside for yourself. Go for a walk, go to the pool or to the ocean, hike up a hill. Whatever it is. Just do it. Personally, I find that doing something every weekday is easier than doing it a few times a week, but that's just me. Find a schedule or pattern that feels good for you and make a deal with yourself that you can easily stick to. 

 

Sleep

 

It goes without saying that getting enough sleep is an integral part of having a healthy and balanced life. SO if this is something you struggle to get enough of, now is the time to look for tools to help you.

 

1. Try drinking a cup of herbal tea before bed. Here are the top 5 choices for bedtime tea.

• Valarian Root - this bitter root contains over 150 chemical constituents. It is used for insomnia, anxiety, depression, PMS, menopause, and headaches.
• Chamomile – this gentle herb smells like apples and tastes herbal and somewhat sweet and is used for insomnia and anxiety. It is also used for digestive upset and skincare issues.
• Lavender – Although you may not think about drinking Lavender as a tea, it really is quite lovely. Combining it with Chamomile is a nice option as well. Lavender is well renowned for its sedative properties.
• Lemon balm – I call this the happiness herb. Its scent is just so cheerful! It is used for anxiety, stress and insomnia.
• Passionflower is well renowned for its use in sleep aids and anxiety.

 

2: Have an Epsom salt bath before bed.

 

• Epsom Salts have an extremely high-mineral content that replicate the benefits of soaking in a natural hot spring. They have anti-inflammatory properties and when absorbed through the skin, they draw toxins from the body, sedate the nervous system, reduce swelling and bruises and relax muscles.

 

3: Add essential oils to nightly routine.

 

• You can add them to an Epsom Salt Bath
• Diffuse in your room before bedtime.
• Keep a Roll On by your bed and use as needed.

 

If you are interested in learning which oils are helpful with sleep learn more here.

 

You can shop aromatic sleep aids here

 

Hopefully this gives you a bit of inspiration to start or continue your own version of an annual or bi-annual cleanse!

 

Yours in love, heath & aromatics

Leah