Cleaning and Greening Benefits your Body in Spring

Cleaning and Greening  Benefits your Body in Spring

Kathi Bratberg, RN, MS Holistic Nutrition

Spring is the greening season; a time for planting and new beginnings. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM includes acupuncture and herbal remedies), the organs that predominate in the spring are the liver and gallbladder. Spring is the perfect time for liver detoxification and balancing.

The liver is the body’s master laboratory. It stores and distributes nourishment for our whole body and filters toxins from the blood. We have plenty of toxins here in America: bath and body products we apply in the morning, chemical additives in the food we eat, and the chemicals in the air, water, and surfaces we touch keep our livers busy throughout the day.

The liver cells make bile to break down the fats we eat. The bile is then stored in the gallbladder. The liver stores glycogen, which can be converted to sugar for the body’s emergency energy needs, or if our blood sugar falls too low. These are but a few functions of our mighty liver!

As the weather gets warmer in the spring, our bodies no longer need the heavy, warming, oily foods that were good for us in the cold weather. It’s time to lighten up and “green” the diet with fresh vegetables; the following are particularly good for supporting your liver:

Beets

Cabbage

Celery

Parsley

Cilantro

Carrots

Kale

Arugula

Dandelion greens

Mustard greens

Spinach

Make sure they are organic or your liver will be busy eliminating the herbicides and pesticides that are used on regular commercial vegetables! Try paring them in recipes with low glycemic foods, organic raw nuts and seeds, wild caught fish, organic eggs, organic chicken, and organic turkey. Use organic cold pressed extra virgin olive oil as well but remember not to overheat it as this will damage the oil and destroy its nutritional benefit.

Put some lemon in your first glass of water; then try to drink at least 64 ounces of filtered water throughout the day to help flush toxins from your body.  Exercise regularly and use infrared sauna to work up a sweat. The skin is your largest organ and one of its functions is to aid in removing toxins through sweating. Look out for your liver during “spring cleaning” your home environment by using non-toxic cleaners and chemicals. Avoid skin contact with the cleaners.  

Two supplements we recommend that are available at Alternatives are Milk Thistle and Olive Leaf Extract to support and disinfect the liver. To cleanse your liver we offer a Spring Liver Detox program at Alternatives. It is an 18 day restricted diet that includes a specially formulated protein shake with ingredients that cleanse and detoxify the liver. Cleansing your liver is a great way to jump start any weight loss program, increase your energy, and prepare your body for the hot summer months to come!

Blessings for a great spring season! –Kathi Bratberg, RN, MS Holistic Nutrition

For more information about our Supplements, Cleanses, Saunas, Detox and Weight loss programs call Alternatives at 402-827-9450 or email us at alternativesomaha@gmail.com.