Get Squeaky Clean and Fresh! How to Uplift your Body, Mind and Spirit with Nature’s Annual Detox Cycle

Ever notice that around the equinox at the end of March, you may feel a little “off,” fatigued, less hungry, or even feel a subtle “flow” in your system? Good! Ayurveda describes that ama or impurities deep in the body begin to loosen and “flow” out this time of year, not unlike the snow on a mountain melts and begins to trickle down towards the plains.

It’s spring and your body knows it! According to timeless Ayurvedic wisdom, these bodily shifts are Nature’s version of “spring cleaning,” and we can take advantage of this innate cycle by adjusting our diet and lifestyle during this time.

More than simply an interesting idea, a landmark study published in Nature Communications last May validates that our genes themselves change expression depending on the season, with over 5000, nearly 25% of those tested, varying seasonally.

As a result, for example, inflammatory tendencies are greater in the winter, while immunity is stronger in the summer (notice how rarely we get a July cold?!)

And very likely we are now only a few years away from “learning” in a future study that every spring, genes that enhance detoxification and elimination are especially active, validating the Ayurvedic wisdom yet again.

So what should you do now in light of this fascinating and important fact of your seismic seasonal genomic shift?? Take advantage of it!

Here are your Quick Detox Tips for 2016 (Do now! Your detox genes are up and ready. A 6-week course is ideal, but even a week or two will help.)

• Drink ½ c. of boiled warm-hot spring water every hour until 6 PM
• Add fresh ginger root to your daily diet. A thin slice with a dash rock salt and lemon before the meal will stoke your detox fire.
• Avoid cheese, yogurt (except as lassi, a fresh yogurt drink), cold foods and drinks, including ice cream and other frozen desserts, red meat, chocolate, sugar and alcohol.
• Include in your daily diet, ideally each meal: turmeric powder (an amazing detox enhancer,) coriander (supports liver detox enzymes,) fresh probiotic sources such as homemade lassi or kefir, hot water, fresh steamed or sautéed greens (chard, kale, dandelion, mustard, etc)

And finally, follow your body’s inclination for more rest, which itself aids detox. Go to bed early and spend time with family, friends and hobbies—which will also mellow out any accompanying emotional detox — and take some time to laze around. After all, Spring has sprung!

Photos by Jeff Kubina and Sue Sailsbury

Hear Nancy Lonsdorf, MD interview Suzanne Steinbaum M.D on the surprising rising incidence of heart disease in young women and how women can avoid this number one cause of death through simple preventative practices.

Dr. Steinbaum a top expert on heart health, is the director of Women’s Heart Health at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She has been named one of New York’s best doctors and is a practicing cardiologist. In addition she is the national spokesperson for Go Red for Women and is the author of Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book: Every Woman’s Guide to a Heart Healthy Life.

In the beginning of the interview Dr. Lonsdorf asks Dr. Steinbaum about her unique approach to women’s heart health and why, unlike most cardiologists, she focuses on preventative health.

Dr. Steinbaum explains that 80-90% of heart disease is preventable and that simple changes in diet, exercise and stress management choices can have a profound effect on the risk of heart disease. She also points out that women in particular are as vulnerable as men when it comes to heart disease and that the largest growing demographic of heart attack risk is women under the age of 55.

What’s causing this unexpected rise in heart disease in young women? The answer is simply, lifestyle. Dr. Steinbaum strongly recommends taking proactive steps to lower this risk. These steps include:

• Finding a way to manage stress levels
• Exercising every single day
• Choosing a diet that is sustainable and well rounded
• Minimizing sugars and processed foods

For her own personal stress management, Dr. Steinbaum says that she uses Transcendental Meditation. She explains that TM is a highly effective way to release stress and studies have shown there is a 48% reduction in cardiovascular disease in those who use the technique.

To hear more details about women’s heart health prevention and the latest research and studies watch the full video interview with Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf and Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum on Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf’s YouTube Channel.

To schedule a phone or Skype consultation with Dr, Nancy Lonsdorf visit Personal Wellness Consultation page.

Check out Dr Lonsdorf’s favorite supplements for Women’s Heart Health:

Stress Free Emotions – to protect your heart from anger, irritability and upset
Cardio Support – general all -around support for cholesterol metabolism, emotional balance and heart function