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6 Easy Ways to Detox for Spring

By Nancy Lonsdorf on March 30, 2021 6 Comments

Ever notice that in the springtime you may feel a little “off,” sluggish or fatigued, less hungry, or even sense a subtle “flow” in your system?

All good! It’s spring, and your body knows it. According to timeless Ayurvedic wisdom, these feelings mark a predictable seasonal shift that is nature’s version of “spring cleaning.”

Ayurveda describes that “ama,” or impurities deep in our bodies begin to loosen and “flow” out at this time of year, not unlike the mountain snow, melting and trickling down towards the plains.

Best of all, we can take advantage of this innate cycle by adjusting our diet and lifestyle during this time, to support maximal detox, with the added benefit of strengthening immunity.

How Our Genes Express Themselves Seasonally

This is more than simply an interesting idea. A landmark study published in Nature Communications validates that our genes themselves change expression depending on the season: over 5,000 genes—nearly 25 percent of those tested—vary seasonally.

As a result, for example, inflammatory tendencies are greater in the winter, while immunity is stronger in the summer. Predictions are that COVID-19 will recede during the summer, and enhanced immunity may play a role. Ever notice how you rarely catch a cold or flu in July? Hopefully, this year will be no exception! (See 6 easy tips below to shore up your detox and immune systems.)

Initial studies hint that genes responsible for detoxification and elimination vary seasonally, and further research will likely validate this aspect of Ayurvedic “wisdom of the seasons,” as well.

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

Watch Dr. Nancy’s video Head Up: Your Genes Are Changing!

6 Quick Tips to Detox Now!

Here are your Quick Detox Tips* for 2020. Do them now while your detox genes are up and ready. Six weeks is ideal, but even a week or two will make a big difference. After all, Spring has sprung!

1. Drink half a cup of boiled, warm/hot spring water every hour until 6:00 p.m.

2. Add fresh ginger root to your daily diet. A thin slice with a dash of rock salt and lemon before each meal will stoke your detox fire.

3. Avoid or reduce cheese, yogurt (except as lassi, a fresh yogurt drink; see recipe below), cold drinks and foods like ice cream and other frozen desserts, red meat, chocolate, sugar, and alcohol.

4. Include these detox enhancers in your daily diet, ideally in each meal:

• turmeric powder, an amazing detox enhancer

• coriander, which supports liver detox enzymes

• hot water

• fresh probiotic sources, such as homemade lassi or kefir

• fresh, steamed or sautéed greens, such as chard, kale, dandelion, mustard

5. Follow your body’s inclination for more rest, which itself aids detox. Go to bed early and be regular in your meditation practice. I recommend the Transcendental Meditation® (TM) technique due to the deep, rejuvenating rest it gives to mind and body both. In addition, it nourishes the root of all spiritual development and traditions, our own pure consciousness.

6. Remember to stay safe—socially distance and wear your mask! Yet, also spend time outdoors, on favorite hobbies, and give yourself permission to laze around now and then. This will help mellow out any emotional detox, which also ramps up in the spring.

Mother Nature provides another built-in remedy for spring moodiness, with research showing the more time spent outdoors in the Spring sunshine, the better the mood!

Final reminders: get outdoors, take ample screen breaks, “short” the news, and enjoy this salubrious season with a naturally purified, strong and uplifted body, mind, and spirit!

Detox and Digestive Lassi

1/2 cup of fresh, plain nonfat yogurt (ideally made fresh at home the night before)
1 cup of water
1 pinch of rock salt
1 pinch of black pepper
1 pinch of cumin powder (lightly toasted in a dry pan on the stove is ideal)
mint leaves or cilantro, finely chopped
Blend all ingredients, and drink with your meal.

Check out my favorite detox herbals here: Choose up to three herbal supplements to take this month to support your body’s elimination of toxins and deep, inner “spring refresh.” (As always, check with your doctor before beginning any new diet or supplements, especially if you take medication or have a medical condition.)

*If you have a health condition or take medication, please consult your physician before adopting any new dietary recommendations. Although unlikely, if any discomfort occurs, stop the above recommendations.

To schedule an Integrative Ayurveda “Comprehensive Wellness Transformation” or consultation by phone or teleconference, please contact Dr. Lonsdorf’s office at 641-469-3174 or healthoffice@drlonsdorf.com.

Dopico, X., Evangelou, M., Ferreira, R. et al.Widespread seasonal gene expression reveals annual differences in human immunity and physiology. Nat Commun6, 7000 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8000
Gunderson MP, Nguyen BT, Cervantes Reyes JC, et al. Response of phase I and II detoxification enzymes, glutathione, metallothionein and acetylcholine esterase to mercury and dimethoate in signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). Chemosphere. 2018 Oct;208:749-756. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.05.183.

Categories : Uncategorized

Brain Health: Ayurveda Tips

By Nancy Lonsdorf on April 30, 2016 2 Comments

As we get older there’s probably nothing that we value more than maintaining our brain health. A healthy brain means healthy memory which is such an important part of who we are. In this video, Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D, talks about what makes the brain healthy and what compromises
brain health.

Factors that increase brain health:

Healthy Fats
Ayurvedic Herbs such as Gotu Kola and Youthful Mind
Enough Sleep

Factors that compromise brain health:

Sugar
Heavy Metals

A recent study looks at the effect of sugar on brain health. Our brain uses sugar primarily as its main fuel. However, if we eat too much sugar, we take too many refined carbohydrates in our body and our daily diet, that is not good for our brain. In fact, it can make the brain resistant to insulin, which brings glucose into the brain tissue to nourish it and give it fuel. As long as you’re not overdoing it on refined sugar and refined carbs you don’t have to cut all those good healthy natural sources of carbohydrate out of your diet, but do it in balance.

According to a study that was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, people who are 70 years and older have a 3.5 times increased risk of memory loss if they followed a high-sugar diet. However, those who had diets that included healthy fats had a 42% reduction in the risk of losing their memory.

Another factor to consider for brain health is the presence of heavy metals. For example, aluminum and lead have both been associated with loss of cognitive ability. Clearing these from the system can usually be done effectively with supplements, diet and natural products, but levels must be followed up with testing to be sure the metals are gone.

The natural system of healthcare from India, called Ayurveda, has preached for thousands of years the benefits of an “unctuous diet”, meaning a diet rich in healthy fats. In modern day times fats have been something we have been told to avoid. Recently, however, this advice is starting to change. This is just another example of how at times this ancient wisdom was actually understanding the brain and the body better than we have with all our modern science. Eating eating fats such as nuts, avocado, and healthy organic olive oil help to protect our brain, which is itself 60% fat.

Another way to promote brain health is with the healing herb from the Ayurvedic tradition called Gotu Kola. It has a few different names including, Centella Asiatica, Indian Pennywort, and sometimes Brahmi. Gotu Kola, in animal studies, has been shown to offset every known mechanism for creating dementia. For example, it reduces the toxicity of aluminum. It also reduces free radicals and an abnormal protein called beta-amyloid that is associated with Alzheimer’s. In addition, Gotu Kola has been shown to increase learning and increase memory in animals.

Gotu Kola is a great herb to have as part of your daily routine. You can make it as a tea and drink it throughout the day. Nancy Lonsdorf reports that many of her patients find that it gives a natural alertness without jitteriness that is sometimes found with caffeine.

Something to keep in mind is the Ayurvedic principle of synergy, meaning several herbs working together is greater than any of the herbs in isolation. For this reason Nancy Lonsdorf recommends a MAPI formula called Youthful Mind that combine Gotu Kola with Shankhpushpi and Tinospora Cordifolia. This additional herbs make for an excellent combination for increased brain health.

In addition to healthy fats and certain herbs, one of the most important factors for a healthy brain is enough sleep. In sleep, it’s been recently discovered, our brain cleans itself; it actually flushes out toxins. We want to keep our brain healthy, so be sure to get enough good sleep.

To hear the full talk by Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf including the all the tips for a healthy brain, watch the video here.

Check out Dr Lonsdorf favorite supplements for Brain Health:

Youthful Mind – to give your mind an extra boost and to protect from detrimental effects.

For a Personal Wellness Consultation over Phone or Skype with Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf, go to the Nancy Lonsdorf’s consultation page.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of this video is to provide information about healthy lifestyle. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult your personal licensed health practitioner who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively.

Check with your doctor before taking herbs during pregnancy or taking herbs once you become pregnant.

Categories : Uncategorized