Spring cleaning doesn’t just mean it’s time to clean the house. After a winter full of hearty foods and being stuck indoors, we can all use a little detox to prep our bodies for the Spring.

As you know I’m a massive advocator of detoxing. In fact, I recommend to all my clients to detox 3-4 times per year for many health reasons.

According to Ayurveda, a Spring detox is the perfect time of year for cleansing. Once it gets a little warmer, the human body is wired to shed off extra winter pounds that kept us warm during the winter and flush out toxins that were accumulated from heavy wintery foods.

So here’s 10 tips to help you get started.

TIP 1 – DRINK WARM WATER WITH LEMON

Start your morning with a glass of hot water and the juice of half a lemon. This will cleanse your digestive tract, release unwanted toxins and hydrate you.

TIP 2 – STAY HYDRATED

Drink at least 2 to 3 liters of fresh water per day, including herbal teas. Some people think this will make them more bloated, but the opposite is true – it helps the body flush out toxins and reduce bloat.

TIP 3 – USE HERBS & SPICES

Using herbs and spices improves digestion and metabolism. Cinnamon, ginger, fennel, and mint are all great options for teas. Also, cook your food with liberal doses of herbs and spices. Use culinary herbs such as basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano and spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mint, sage, and parsley in generous amounts.

TIP 4 – ELIMINATE ALCOHOL & PROCESSED FOODS

Cutting out alcohol and processed foods during a detox works wonders for fat loss. Alcohol and processed foods are full of additives and toxins. Believe me, you’ll be glad you ditched them. Give it a go, and see the difference to the belly bloat.

TIP 5 – CUT COFFEE

Cutting out caffeine will enable your hormones to get back to normal and for your body to work effectively. We are not supposed to run off coffee and if you need it to get up in the morning, something is wrong. Giving up coffee can be hard for the first couple of days, but the benefits are well worth it plus you’ll find that you sleep better.

TIP 6 – GO ORGANIC

Pesticides and other nasties feature so heavily in our food chain that it’s no wonder our bodies are fighting against toxins. Reduce your exposure to toxins in food by eating whole, fresh organic foods. This will massively benefit your health, reduce toxins in your body and so help fat loss. Also make sure you consume plenty of fibrous green vegetables every day to ensure you get enough vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients into your diet and also to support the detoxification process.

TIP 7 – DRY SKIN BRUSHING

Your skin is an organ of elimination, just like your kidneys, liver, and colon. Dry skin brushing helps keep the pores clear and the skin active to assist the body in this cleansing process. It also helps to increase blood circulation. Dry brushing exfoliates the skins outer layer and stimulates the sweat and oil glands, providing more moisture for the skin.

TIP 8 – MASSAGE

Massage is a great way to help improve circulation, activate the lymphatic system and aid in the detoxification process.

TIP 9 – SAUNAS & STEAMS

To increase the detoxifying effect try a sauna, steam room, hot bath and cardio for induced sweating. Most gyms have sauna and steam rooms that you can use after a workout. If you don’t have access to one, take a hot bath with epsom salts, ginger powder, and baking soda every night before going to sleep. Also, run, do yoga, jump, dance, whatever gets your heart pumping and brings a sweat on.

TIP 10 – BREATH

Seems pretty obvious right?! But in a rushed stressed out society our breath tends to be rushed and shallow. Our lungs rarely get a chance to open up and fill up with fresh air to completely cleanse from all the stale gases. Take a few minutes in the morning to just breathe deeply. Two-to-one breathing is a practice of exhaling twice as long as every inhalation. It’s a great technique for cleansing the lungs and calming the nervous system.

So are you going to jump on board and do a Spring detox with me? I hope so. If you do have any questions don’t be shy, reach out and ask me! Simply email GAYNOR@B-FIT.UK.COM or text/call to 07748 298728.

Love Gaynor x